Safari 4 brings multi-touch browsing to the desktop
In addition to introducing the lightning fast Nitro JavaScript Engine that renders Web pages up to four times faster than Firefox, Safari 4 is also the first desktop browser to integrate a multi-touch user interface. Now where’s that Apple Netbook?
While I don’t think we will see Apple release a netbook any time in the near future, multi-touch is a nice addition to the world’s new fastest browser. Safari 4 could become a big hit among buyers of touch-friendly netbooks like those being teed up for launch by Asus.
The integration of these features could mean that Apple is trying to stay ahead of the touch computing revolution, or it was just easy to incorporate the features originally intended for the iPhone’s Safari browser. It’s just a shame there are no Apple devices where you can fully take advantage of the new features.
Creating a mobile browser seems to have been a good experience for the Safari development team. Developing for a mobile platform requires a lot more attention to speed and usability constraints than on the desktop.
As devices get smaller and more powerful, users expect them to perform at the same level as their desktop counterparts. This can be very trying for developers who have less processing power and often weaker Internet connections to work with.
These constraints are what make the Nitro JavaScript rendering engine such an edge for Apple. As people go mobile, they are often relegated to public Wi-Fi or 3G data services from their mobile carrier.
Browser developers have no control over the limitations of the devices’ Internet connection, so they have to optimize their applications to gain an edge. While the Safari browser will download data at the same rate as Firefox or Internet Explorer, faster rendering will make it appear more quickly for the user.
Anyone tried using the multi-touch gestures in Safari 4 yet? Is it as warm and cuddly as the rest of us might imagine?
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June 10th, 2009
Multi touch in Safari 4 is nowhere near as good as it is in Firefox 4 Beta….I’m very surprised, and disappointed!