Apple has added extensions to the latest version of Safari, 5.0.1
Extensions are add-ons to the browser that can display notifications and other interactions.
A good example is the Gmail notification extension (pictures with the red 7) that simply let’s you know how many unread messages you have in your Gmail account.
Extensions have been around in Firefox for a while so it’s good to see them make there way into Safari. The install process for the extensions is almost instant and no restart of the browser is required. There are already a good mix of extensions for sites like Twitter, Bing, The Weather Channel and of course, Fox News.
After you’ve updated to Safari 10.5.1, you can access the Safari Extensions Gallery under Apple Menu>Safari.
[ Safari Extensions Gallery ]
Apple has released 10.6.2 via Software Update.
This updated includes numerous bug fixes including the guest account bug that could potentially delete user data.
Also on the list are fixes for video distortion that can occur in Safari and when using external monitors.
You can view the full list of items in the update here.
So far, everything with this update appears ok and we are recommending installation.
Apple’s closed ecosystem and tight controls over their products has always been both their greatest asset and biggest liability.
With Google apps (Latitude and Voice) getting rejected from the app store because they duplicate features on the phone, the press and users seem to be lining up against Apple. Keeping a baby shaking app out of the App store is fine but removing Google apps because they could compete with Apple is going too far.
Apple is in a great position with the iPhone. They are building the critical mass needed to become the “Google” of smartphones, but they’re not there yet. By allowing competing apps from Google and even other web browsers like Opera, to come to the iPhone, they’re keeping the development on the Apple platform. These are good apps, by big companies, that provide features users want.
If Apple alienates these devs, they’ll leave, and it will only benefit the other mobile platforms. I say bring them into the fold and encourage these companies to bring their apps to the iPhone.
Some iPhone users may prefer Opera to Safari, but they at least they won’t switch to a Blackberry.
Firefox 3.5 for the Mac is now available for download.
This version comes with lots of new and improved features including better private browsing and an enhanced location bar (aka Awesome Bar.)
Speed is advertised as twice as fast as Firefox 3 and after a few hours of using the new version, it’s noticeably faster.
I still use Safari 4 as my primary and Firefox as my secondary browser but this new version is got me thinking about a switch.
[ Download Firefox 3.5 ] [ Features List ]
If you’re like me, you often send your friends links to webpages via email.
Usually I just copy the address in the address bar, create a new email and paste the link. The message sometimes looks like spam and is not very inciting to click.
Using Safari, you can easily email the page itself, rather than just the link.
File> Mail Contents of This Page or Command-I
This will open your email client and place the entire page in the email.
The email looks great and shares the info without having someone click on a link.
