Mozilla and several other browser developers have voiced concern over the dominance of WebKit-based browsers, notably Safari and Chrome. World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) co-chairman Daniel Glazman suggests programmers have begun to disregard alternative browsers, such as Firefox and Internet Explorer, when optimizing website compatibility.
Apple has begun seeding a beta Safari 5.1.4 release to developers. Mac and Windows distributions are available, although if not on Snow Leopard the Mac version requires OS X 10.7.3. The Lion and Snow Leopard disk images measure about 44MB and 47MB, respectively, while the Windows ZIP file is 109MB.
Apple on Wednesday afternoon posted Mac OS X 10.7.3 (release notes). The Lion upgrade adds several languages, including Catalan for Spaniards as well as Croatian, Greek, Hebrew, Romanian, Slovak, Thai, and Ukrainian. RAW photo compatibility has expanded to several new cameras, including the Nikon J1 and V1, Olympus' current PEN cameras, and current Sony Alpha and NEX cameras, such as the NEX-5N.
Versions of the upcoming Firefox 12 in the nightly build phase have shown major changes coming to its interface. New tabs can now open to a hybrid portal page that mixes in features seen in Chrome and Safari. Along with seeing the most frequently visited sites and a search bar, it now has top web apps, the most recently shared apps, and a Google Talk status section to launch directly into chat.
The team at Tom’s Hardware have run their latest head-to-head test of web browsers. All the leading browsers for the Mac and PC platforms were tested and included Opera, Firefox, Safari, IE 9 and Chrome. Coming out on top for the Mac platform was Apple’s own Safari browser, while Mozilla’s Firefox is currently the fastest browser available on the Windows platform.
Microsoft's claims that Windows Phone 7.5 would beat iOS in web browsing speed have already been rendered obsolete after a follow-up test run. A comparison from YouTube user 359gsm posted at My Nokia Blog of a Nokia Lumia 800 pitted against both an iPhone 4 using iOS 4.3 and an iPhone 4S on iOS 5. While Microsoft's showcase HTML5 Speed Reading test sees the Lumia beat the iPhone 4, even the older, 1GHz Apple phone and OS beat the 1.4GHz Windows Phone soundly in every other test, including Browsermark, the JavaScript-focused Sunspider test, and the generic HTML5 Test.
New scoops both public and private have suggested that Palm, and later HP, may have ultimately had hurdles at the corporate level, not just technical, to ever challenging Apple or Google. WebOS didn't have either the needed management or engineers to bring it to completion, a New York Times source said, and there were few WebKit-savvy developers weren't already working on iOS or Android. This was compounded by a rush to finish the OS in nine months, which required taking shortcuts such as skipping proper APIs (app programming interfaces) until later, hurting the ability for third-party developers to sign on.
In spite of its device share, Android is losing ground in terms of actual use online, NetApplications found on New Year's Day. Android slipped to 16.3 percent of mobile web share in December, or the same share it had in September. Unusually, most of the loss came to otherwise shrinking platforms: Java ME bounced back to get just under 21.3 percent, Symbian returned to 5.8 percent, and even the BlackBerry recovered slightly to 3.5 percent.
Microsoft is said to be looking into a new vulnerability in the 64-bit version of Windows 7 that can be exploited through Apple's Safari web browser for Windows, according to a report on Threat Post. The flaw, reported a few days ago by an independent researcher on Twitter and confirmed by Secunia, would allow an attacker to run arbitrary code on victimized machines.
Apple is seeding a new pre-release build of OS X 10.7.3 to developers. Listed as 11D24, the build is only the second for v10.7.3, following two weeks after the original. The new code is said to make additional bugfixes, as well as bring Safari and Spotlight into the list of components Apple would like tested. Address Book, iCal, Mail, and iCloud Document Storage also remain areas of interest.
Windows saw a rare increase in its share of the web in November, NetApplications found on Thursday. Microsoft bounced back slightly from a low in October to just over 92.2 percent. The increase pushed the Mac down half a point from its all-time high, although still giving its second-best result to date at 6.46 percent.
Foursquare picked Tuesday to show a heavily redesigned version of its main website. The page depends on HTML5 and uses it for a fully location-aware map; users can browse nearby areas without having to search for them or use their phones. The interface is also suited to the iPad, although users can't yet check in.
The HTML5-based web app that is Amazon's Kindle Cloud Reader is now available for Mozilla's Firefox browser. The web app lets users access their Kindle e-books , adding to the already avaialable Chrome and Safari versions. It can now be viewed for all of these supporting browsers, as well as Safari for the iPad.
Very late yesterday, Apple seeded a new version of Safari to developers. The v5.1.2 beta includes a fix for PDF viewing and printing issues that were present in earlier versions of Safari, and the company recommends developers test it against mouse and keyboard interaction as well. The release notes on the beta also note a "known bug" that can cause some Safari extensions to crash, but does not yet offer a fix for the problem.
The latest data on mobile and desktop browser use is in and its shows that Apple has extended its lead as the dominant mobile web browsing platform. Safari usage rates increased from 55.6 percent of all mobile web traffic in September to a new high of 62.2 percent in October. Google’s mobile browser leap frogged Opera Mini by taking 18.7 percent of web traffic, while Opera Mini dipped from 18.9 percent to 13.1 percent.
Today in the MacNN forums one Grizzled Veteran has "A couple questions about iOS multi-tasking and data usage …" and has turned to the forums for some advice. Also today forum goers express their angst about issues with Safari in iOS 5 in this thread.
Included with OS X 10.7.2 and also available for Windows is Safari 5.1.1, an update of Apple's signature web browser. The release adds iCloud support and is said to increase JavaScript performance by as much as 13 percent over Safari 5.1. Much of the upgrade, though, is dedicated to patching up bugs, such as ones causing hangs, excessive memory use, instability and opening links in windows instead of tabs.
Apple is now seeding OS X 10.7.2 to the public. The update is available through Lion's Software Update function, and should measure about 435.5MB in standard form. The main upgrade is support for iCloud, allowing Lion users to sync and backup data such as email, calendars, contacts, and Safari bookmarks and Reading Lists. It is also required for Back to My Mac remote access functions, and Find My Mac device tracking.
Google is previewing Dart, a new programming language for building web apps. The language has been designed to be flexible, meeting the needs of a one-person project, without much structure, and scaling up to a large-scale project needing formal types in the code. Initially the code will support at least Chrome, Safari 5, and Firefox 4 browsers, but not Internet Explorer.
The Mac hit a pair of record highs in web share during September thanks to the back-to-school effect, NetApplications found in its monthly roundup. The Mac saw one of its sharpest gains in the past year and was up nearly half a point in desktop share to 6.45 percent. Helped by the new leap, Apple's stake in computers has grown by nearly a quarter in the past year, the close look found.
Marc Hoyois, who created the popular ClickToFlash and ClickToPlugin extensions for Safari to selectively block Flash and other plug-ins from appearing on webpages, using HTML5 to deliver the content if possible, has taken a user suggestion and released an update to ClickToFlash (v2.5.2) as well as an all-new extension called Media Center 1.0. The new tool allows embedded videos to be sent to an Apple TV or other device using Apple's AirPlay technology.
Apple gave developers a full view of iCloud integration in Mac OS X for the first time with an unusual Sunday release of a new Mac OS X 10.7.2 beta. The new 11C55 build already includes iCloud instead of requiring a separate install, like in earlier releases. No known bugs exist with the build, but users are expected to test both iCloud itself as well as Address Book, iCal, Mail, Safari, and legacy MobileMe support.
Apple broke through a symbolic barrier at the start of September as a study of desktop market share from NetApplications revealed that it had broken through the six percent mark in desktop usage share for the first time. The Mac hit 6.03 percent in August and had gained nearly a full point over the course of one year. Although it had yet to dislodge Microsoft from its dominant spot, almost all the gain was at Windows' expense, as the OS dipped from nearly 94 percent last August to 92.9 percent.
One of Android's better-known apps, Dolphin Browser, has been given a long-requested port to the iPhone (free, App Store). The iOS version of MoboTap's software uses Apple's WebKit engine but brings features that have yet to reach Safari. It already has tabbed browsing ahead of iOS 5, a Firefox-style address bar with search results, and gesture-based shortcuts for common tasks.
Apple hit new highs for market share of the web in July, Net Applications found on Monday. The Mac saw a sharp uptick and hit 5.59 percent of OS traffic online. iOS saw its own boost and reached 2.98 percent, almost triple what it had a year ago.
The Snow Leopard version of Safari is failing to block cookies properly, says security firm Sophos. Users running the browser on Mac OS X 10.6.8 in particular are reportedly seeing the software continue to keep some cookies active, even when settings have been changed to block all of them. Even the Safari 5.1 update hasn't solved the problem, according to Sophos.
A new Safari Extension that implements the OpenSearch technology into Safari 5.1 has been released. OpenSearch for Safari allows users to search across Wikipedia, Amazon, the iTunes store, Flickr, and Engadget without leaving the current tab or page. The software also include an auto-discovery feature that allows users to add new search engines. When visiting a site that offers OpenSearch implementation, a notification is placed in the toolbar allowing users to add the search engine. Due to the use of the popover functionality the extension is only supported on Safari 5.1.
Agile Bits, makes of the popular 1Password utility, had already brought Lion support and Safari 5.1 support to its product before either was actually released, but updated its blog post on the topic to keep readers informed on issues that have come up with the inevitable changes. The Safari plug-in for 1Password was completely re-designed for Safari v5.1 as a "proper" extension, and as a result is still missing a few features from the previous version.
The Safari 5.1 and 5.0.6 updates released earlier today also close numerous security vulnerabilities, according to official release notes. Among these are one in Java that could result in "unexpected" text being displayed on various websites, and another in the Windows and Snow Leopard instances of AutoFill, through which hackers could steal information using non-visible form fields. Safari now shows all fields to be filled and requires consent.
In addition to OS X Lion, iTunes 10.4, iWork 9.1 and Safari 5.1, Apple has pushed out several minor software updates. These include the Server Admin Tools for Lion Server, which also incorporate Podcast Composer, Workgroup Manager, Xgrid Admin and the System Image Utility. The download is 193.25MB and will run only on Lion Server.
(Updated for iWork, iTunes, Safari releases) Apple is preparing several important software updates that should arrive in the near future, Software Update images from AppleInsider indicate. Perhaps the most significant of these is iTunes 10.4, which is said to be designed for Lion, for instance incorporating an iLife-style fullscreen mode which supports app switching using gestures. The program is also being made a native 64-bit Cocoa title, and cleaned up with a variety of stability and performance tweaks. iTunes is one of the few flagship Apple titles still operating with 32-bit code.
The release of iOS 5 beta 3 has brought a large number of superficially hidden but significant extras. The new release finally lets users set a custom sound for an SMS, whether from Apple's presets or custom sounds. The feature has been common to most phone platforms but wasn't an official option until now.
The web versions of Apple's WWDC 2011 session videos are being blocked for browsers outside of Safari, according to complaints. Both the stable and Canary versions of Chrome, for instance, are unable to access the videos. Similarly, neither Firefox nor Opera will work, regardless of whether the browsers are running on a Mac or Windows system.
Opera's creator Jon S. von Tetzchner surprised the industry on Friday with word he was leaving the company. The web browser developer is due to leave June 30 and will do so on friendly terms. He has made no public mention of why he will be leaving but currently has "ideas about new projects" that are being kept secret.
The New York Post took a risky move to try and push iPad readers to its native iPad app. Those who try to visit the home page from mobile Safari, even from an alternate link, are redirected to a page linking to the app. Desktop users and even other mobile platforms, like Android, don't face the same limit.
Developers have confirmed that iOS 5 solves a slowdown for home screen web apps. A confirmation Thursday showed that Web.app, the gateway for web apps operating outside of Safari, has the same "dynamic-codesigning" privilege as Safari and can use the Nitro JavaScript engine key to the speed-up in iOS 4.3. Regular apps that need a web view don't get the speed, but here the issue is with security as it could act like a workaround.
Apple has made a mild nod in Google's direction with a just unearthed feature of the WWDC preview version of Mac OS X Lion. Much like Chrome OS, a Restart to Safari option will load directly to the browser instead of having to login. The step seen by MacRumors would not only speed access for those who just need to check the web but sandbox the system by preventing access to other apps or personal files.
Apple has released to developers a preview of Safari 5.1, which is expected to accompany the release of Lion and offers media caching for audio and video data, new "sandboxing" for the rendering process and for plug-ins, the expected full-screen mode and support for better keyboard control, AppleInsider reports. It also adds a new architecture for extensions, making them more powerful and customizable, and enhances support for CSS3 and other web formats.
During the course of today's WWDC 2011 keynote, Apple executives elaborated on a number of business milestones the company has achieved. The Mac App Store, for instance, is now claimed to be main channel for buying computer software, ahead of Best Buy, Walmart and Office Depot. The ranking does not reflect the actual popularity of Mac software versus Windows titles, the latter of which are often bought directly from publishers and developers, or through services like Steam.
Apple today previewed iOS 5, the next version of its firmware for the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. The firmware represents a major overhaul, for instance completely changing the notification system to more closely resemble a mix of Android and webOS. Notifications are no longer temporary, but viewable in a Notification Center by swiping down from the top of the screen. The notifications themselves are no longer pop-up bubbles, but text that briefly swivels down while users are busy in another app.
Comm-Unity Networking Systems has announced the launch of CNS Image 1.5, an updated version of its FileMaker tool for working with images stored in container fields or on a hard drive. The plug-in allows users to perform custom imports and exports, change image formats, apply filters, and more. Version 1.5 is a complete rewrite of the plug-in, which fixes several issues and adds a Server Edition for use with FileMaker Server. The update also removes the plug-ins dependence on QuickTime, and has replaced original convert function with a new one featuring simplified width and height parameters. Version 1.5 is a free update for anyone with a 1.x.x license, while a new single user license for the client versions costs $65. Alternatively, a 10-user license for the server edition can be purchased for $319.
Plum Amazing has released new versions of three productivity tools, iKey, yType, and CopyPaste. iKey 2.5.1 is an automation utility that allows users to create shortcuts that can perform a number of common tasks. Users can select the command, a context in which it runs, and a launcher that defines how the shortcut is activated. yType 1.0 is a brand new application that can automatically enter a defined string of text when a selected snippet is entered. Finally, CopyPaste 3.1 provides a graphical interface to a user's clipboard, allowing them to edit, display, and archive clipboard content. iKey and yType are available through the Mac App Store for $30 and $10 respectively, while CopyPaste can be purchased online for $30.
Apple's newly active Reading List in Safari for Lion Developer Preview 3 is now known to be syncing with iOS devices. Handheld owners syncing Safari bookmarks either through iTunes or through MobileMe are now seeing a rough "com.Apple.ReadingList" folder in their bookmarks list with the relevant articles loaded inside. It's presumed a later preview or the final version of Lion will give the folder a new name and possibly treat it differently in software through an iOS version of the Reading List.
The launch tonight of Mac OS X Lion Developer Preview 3 has shown Apple bringing in many of the finishing touches ahead of its final preview at WWDC. The new build was shown by Dan Bennett to have a much more polished login screen. The metallic-finish page has both a subtler look and shows status info like the clock and wireless signal without having to sign in.
Security research firm Context has issued a report criticizing WebGL, the 3D graphics standard used in popular browsers such as Firefox, Chrome and Safari. The report points to several serious vulnerabilities that are said to leave systems open to attacks. Experimental exploits reportedly used malicious code to gain access to a computer's core operating system.
Amazon in an unannounced step extended an olive branch to iPad and iPhone users by fixing Cloud Player access over the web. Having previously been denied access, iOS users can now play songs from Safari much as they would on the desktop. It works with multiple tracks and will even pause properly for an incoming phone call.
Various sites combing over the pre-release developer versions of Lion have made two further discoveries of changes to OS X, both influenced by Apple's other operating system, iOS. A more thorough uninstalling option appears when users click-and-hold on an application in Launchpad, making it "wiggle" and offering the chance to uninstall. In addition, Safari in Lion sports a new icons that appears to the right of the search bar with a visual progress indication of downloads.
A new piece of malware called MACDefender is currently targeting users of Mac OS X, says security firm Intego. The exploit begins with a person clicking on a link to a malicious site with special embedded JavaScript code. The code triggers a ZIP file download; if a browser like Safari is set to open downloaded files automatically, people are then presented with an installer interface.
Apple made one of its best strides in recent memory for market share on the web last month, NetApplications determined on Sunday. The Mac reached a new adjusted high of 5.4 percent market share, but its gains were small relative to iOS. Led mostly by the iPhone, Apple's combined mobile platform jumped 16.5 percent and staked out 2.24 percent of all web traffic.
A leak Friday night has shown that Mac OS X Lion when it ships should have a version of Safari borrowing cues from Instapaper, Readability, and other offline web readers. Reading List will let users queue up links and websites for later reading through a combination of HTML and JavaScript. How it would exactly work wasn't said through a MacRumors exploration, but there weren't immediate signs it would sync between devices.
