Apple has released a new beta version of its web browser Safari 4, which is not only available to Mac OS X users but also the Windows platform. As if it wasn’t enough with the different browsers we already have, Safari is starting to shape up and look like a serious alternative. Safari 4 beta isn’t just a regular clone of the Mac platform, Apple has actually tweaked it to fit better into Windows environments.
Among others they have developed two more Windows-like user interfaces that will make the browser blend better with Windows Vista and Windows XP.
Safari 4 beta with Windows Vista interface and Cover Flow effect
Apple claims that Safari 4 is the world’s fastest browser with support for HTML 5 and awesome JavaScript support. Even if the choice of benchmarks can be questioned, especially i-Bench, Safari does look like a really fast browser.
Performance aside, Apple has contributed some company-specific features like Cover Flow navigation of bookmarks and Internet history, and a Top Site function with some Apple-esque mirror effects.
Safari 4 beta with its new Top Sites feature
Over at Ars Technica they have had the time to take a closer look at the browser and the performance is very good, especially with media-heavy sites. Where both the processor usage and RAM gets a surprising amount of breathing space.
There is no doubt this is still a beta, but Apple seems serious with its Safari venture for the PC platform.
:: Check out the entire preview at Ars Technica
:: Download Safari 4 Beta at Apple.com
