Initially met with some skepticism, the Windows version of Apple's Safari browser has developed into a strong Web-surfing candidate. Previous versions felt unfinished, but Safari 4 can stand should to shoulder with the other major Windows Web browsers--depending on what kind of experience you want.
Safari lacks most customization features. Skins and other aesthetic tweaks exist in the Mac version, but not here. Just about the only thing you can alter is the font. However, the new version represents a radical departure in look and feel, and the changes are for the better. Safari now looks much more like Google Chrome, although the tabs are placed below the navigation bar, not above it. The status bar and menu bar do exist, but they're hidden by default. You can make toolbar changes and customizations by clicking on the gear icon--another similarity to Chrome.
Both browsers are built on the open-source Webkit rendering engine, although they use different JavaScript engines. Safari's Nitro is definitely fast, although Apple's claims that it's the fastest browser on the market might depend more on your hardware than anything else. In our testing, it ran a bit slowly after heavy tab and video playback, and still consumed more RAM in general than Firefox. You can also opt out of automatic updates when you install Safari.
Features unique to Safari 4 include Cover Flow, for visually searching your history and bookmarks, and Top Sites. This presents a "speed dial"-style list of favorites on blank tabs, melded with the visual flair of Cover Flow. There's a decent built-in roboform, too. Overall, this Safari is the best one yet, and graduates from mere Windows-based developers' tool to a reasonable choice for average users.
Favorites manager
Download manager
Remember passwords
Spellcheck
Searchbar
Privacy mode
Auto update
Tabbed browsering
Portable edition
Skinnable
Plugins
Active X
Adobe Flash
Sun Java
RSS/Atom
• kimberlicious: When you visit Kenya again i'l take you on a Safari so that you can explore Magical Kenya! @Karen_Davila • Dave Clark: @paulawhite_uk @ovationchris Yes, caching is normal. There'll be an 'Empty cache' option in your browser (top bar under Safari on a Mac) • Selim Zemni: Going all out or Safari day • Jan Lukacs: @amazon invoice download still broken in Safari • Ian Carlos??: Can't wait for the field trip! Our field trip is going to Desert Safari with free BUFFET!! ? • DaGhetto Shakespeare: RT @UberFacts: If you go into Safari on your iPhone and search for "tilt" using the google search bar, the whole results page will literally tilt. • andli ?: couch muluu RT @virairnadya couch ._. RT @Afilareza: gaada hehe._.v RT @virairnadya google crome?RT @Afilareza: main di Safari lelet-_- di e • Masimba Hills Safari: have you booked your kenya Safari.... the migration!!!! book early save money • Jesscca!: RT @Tasyaffimmy: Worked at RWS = Free entry for USS. Then if I work at Night Safari got free entry to Zoo. Wahhh so shiooookkkk. • Danny Redfern: Website looks far better in Safari than IE.. Might need to make some changes..
We don't have any screenshots yet.
Despite its slightly non-standard interface, Safari wins a "Thumbs Up" from us for its lovely interface, startup speed, Top Sites feature (despite the mechanical manner it decides what to display there) and other innovative features, as well as its rock-solid stability. We are sure that future versions will sport a more standard interface (for Windows users), while continuing to exhibit Apple's excellent innovation skills!
. - Welloiledpc.com
Overall, it was nice to see Safari back on my desktop. Welcome back. - Larry Dignan, ZDNet.com
A perfectly decent Web browser, but not one that adds a great deal new - apart from its looks - to the PC world. Worth a try if you're an Apple devotee, otherwise stick to one of the other three main browsers. - ITReviews.co.uk
• is based on Safari for Mac OS X? • is included on the iPhone? • wasthe first browser with a RSS reader? • has marketshare of 4.42%? (Net Applications, Q4 2009) • has 150 features?