- Efficient: Safari 4 is just as fast as its counterparts and works well.
- Simple Layout: Safari 4 has a much simpler layout than Safari 3 and beats Mozilla Firefox on this as well.
- Innovative Design Features: The Top-Sites function is very similar to Opera's Speed Dial function but looks better with a nice glossy theme.
- Limited Customisability: Safari 4 has little or no options to change the browser's design or features.
- Bland, Uninteresting Design: Safari 4 has a very boring and bland theme, the layout is practical but there isn't a colour in sight ecept for the generic blue and grey Mac theme.
Safari 4 is Apple's new internet browser and response to Google Chrome. First released on the Mac, Safari has spread to Windows and although almost completely different from the Mac version the release of Safari 4 on Windows still bears the Mark of Mac.
Features and Design
This brings me onto my first section of the review. Unlike ITunes 9 which has changed little from ITunes 8, Safari 4 has had a massive revamp of design. The first thing you notice is the layout changes - the navigation bar at the top has shrunk to a simple layout of the tab bar at the top, followed by the navigation bar with extra settings and finally the bookmarks bar with links to Top Sites and the Bookmarks Manager. The new simple layout is a lot better, especially for people not that technologically apt. However, The theme is unchangeable and is also very bland - one tone of grey, all the way through. As well as this, there aren't any other customisability options either and if you're one of the more technologically apt people then Safari 4 may feel limiting. A good point, however, would be the Top Sites feature. As I said, the Top Sites function is similar to Speed Dial on Opera 10 but with a much nicer mirror theme as shown in the screenshot below.
Efficiency
As I said earlier, Safari 4 runs just as well as its opponents - Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. It has hardly any problems with security or general efficiency and doesn't freeze often. There are hardly any bugs or problems with Safari 4 and it improves on speed from Safari 3. Safari 4 is easy to use and its simple layout helps people that are less technologically apt to use an internet browser.
Safari 4, although bland, is perfect for the person who cares little about how his/her Browser works or looks as long as he/she can do what he/she wants without too much fuss. If you are one of those people, then Safari 4 is for you!
