Browser Review: Safari 4 Beta for Windows
Things are getting serious in the browsers war arena. Apple has just released the latest version of its web browser – Safari 4 Beta. I’ve decided to test this browser and relate my first impressions. In this post, I will review this new application from user experience, user interface and performance perspective. So we will start with the user interface since it is the first thing you will notice.
New user interface
The 4.0 version of Safari has a new interface. For those of you users of the 3rd version, I want to tell you that only the back and forward buttons have the same look in this new version. Everything was redesigned and repositioned for this new release. Let’s see what changes were made in the user interface:
When you want to create a new tab, beside the CTRL+T shortcut and the command from the File menu, you have now a new way. A plus sign was placed near the minimize, maximize and close buttons. But that is not all. Now the visual representation of a tab is no longer below the bookmarks bar. Now you can identify the tabs in the titlebar.
The overall look of the top section is changed. You will notice that now the address bar and search have the same visual design. Also the bookmarks bar has a revamped style with new mouse over effect. In the right side now you can find 3 new buttons. The overall feeling of the new Safari from the user interface point of view is – lighter compared to the previous version.
Safari 4 looks like Chrome
As a conclusion regarding the user interface, I must admit that the first impression was that Safari 4 looks like Google Chrome. For the Apple fanboys that will sustain that Safari is unique and has a new user interface, I’ve made a little composition. In the next image you will see the top sections from Google Chrome and Safari 4 Beta.
You will say that some elements from Safari we’re in their place before Google Chrome. I will say that I agree. But I also agree that Chrome has now a visual identity and a strong one compared to other browsers. And in this case, using the same two buttons in the right side and also the same tabbing system makes you look like Google Chrome. But don’t think of this like it is a bad thing.
Elements for a Better User Experience
First I have to go back one step and say that the new interface is a good step in improving the user experience. The setting and action button from the right side represent a smart shortcut towards common actions. Also a wise choice was that of dropping the File menu from the standard interface. In this way screen space is gained.
Top Sites Module: This is something that exists on all other browsers and now Safari has it too. I am talking about Opera’s Speed Dial and similar concept for the rest of the browsers. For Safari, this is entitled Top Sites and it has a Apple’s particular design.
Cover Flow: A new apple-ish feature that is part of Safari 4 Beta is the Cover Flow. This is something similar to iTunes with the difference that Safari is browsing through links and not albums. It is a simple yet catchy way of browsing the history and bookmarks.
As you can see Apple has made some new visual modules very appealing to the user in order to boost the user experience. Great approach and hopefully we will have many of these modules.
Performance
Regarding performance, I will not quote from benchmarks and tests. I will say from my Safari 4 Beta experience so far. I want to tell you that you can feel the difference. The new browser is lighter and faster. Even the kit has a smaller size than Safari 3. Overall, the performance is increased and from the first use you will feel this.
New Text Rendering Option
In the first Browsers War article the covered topic was Text Rendering. Safari 3 had some low ratings because of the blurry/bold rendering. It seems that my test was quite accurate since Apple added this default operating system rendering. This is a great feature since Windows’ Clear Type is an awesome enhancement to user’s eye.
Conclusion
I can’t say that this is it – no more searching for a better browser. Even with this new features, Safari has other drawbacks like the lack of extensions. Anyway, I think this new version of Safari represents a nice leap towards performance and user experience. I will try it for several days and maybe I will leave it as my default browser. Who knows?! Cheers!
Andy Gongea is a passionate UI/UX designer with a great appetite for technology and trends. Currently he owns, a future wife, a loan that comes with a monthly fee and some strange ideas about user interface and user interaction. Cheers!7 Responses to “Browser Review: Safari 4 Beta for Windows”
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Although claimed by Apple as fastest browser, I dont think its qiute that fast! I have used many other browsers and feel that google crome is the fastest of them all. By the way they have added new features such as “cover flow” which I like very much.
Cover Flow is nice. The thing that I like most is the performance.
Apple Safari takes more resources compared to Opera and Firefox. sometimes it also freezes so i would still stick to Opera.
i like the design of Safari 4 but i think it uses more resources compared to Opera.
Safari 4 is a bit slow compared to either Opera and Firefox. but i like the interface and graphics of Safari 4, it is cool though.
i really love the layout of Safari 4. the graphics of this browser looks much better than firefox.