Apple released a 3.1 version of its Safari Web browser on Tuesday with several improvements. Apple said the new version loads Web pages 1.9 times faster than Microsofts Internet Explorer 7 and 1.7 times faster than the open-source Firefox 2 browser. It also said Safari 3.1 runs JavaScript up to six times faster than any other browser, and it is the first to support new Web standards.

Apple said the speed benchmarks were based on VeriTests iBench Version 5.0 with default settings, running on an iMac 2.4-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo system with Windows XP and 1GB of memory.

For Mac and Windows
The browser is available as a free download at www.apple.com/safari, and works on both Mac OS X and Windows operating systems. For Mac, the browser requires either the Tiger 10.4.11 version of Mac OS X, or Leopard, with at least 256MB of memory on any Intel-based Mac or any Mac with a PowerPC G5, G4 or G3 processor. For Windows XP or Vista, at least 256MB of memory is required and at least a 500-MHz Intel Pentium processor.

Apple Senior Vice President Philip Schiller said Safari 3.1 is "blazingly fast, easy to use" and features an "elegant user interface." Best of all, he added, the newest Safari supports audio, video and animation standards needed for the next generation of Web 2.0 experiences.

In particular, Apple noted that Safari 3.1 is the first browser to support new video and audio tags in HTML 5, as well as the first to support CSS animations. It also supports CSS Web fonts that offer new design choices.

Support for MacBook Air
The interface includes drag-and-drop bookmarks, easy-to-organize tabs, and an integrated Find that shows the number of matches in a page. A built-in RSS reader enables the user to scan and view news and information from feeds. Other features include double-clicking on the tab bar to open a new tab, URL metadata that accompanies images when they are dragged or saved from the browser, and support for trackpad gestures of back, forward and multiply on MacBook Air computers.

The new Safari also supports offline storage for Web applications in SQL databases, support for SVG and CSS images, and support for SVG advanced text. The Windows version improves on back and forward controls, supports signed Java applets, shows the Caps Lock icon in password fields, and adds support for international domain names. In addition, a contextual menu in the Windows version permits opening a link in a window or tab and there is improved pop-up blocking for plug-ins.

For the developer, Apple noted that there is now an option in Safari preferences to turn on the new Develop menu, which has Web development options. There is also access to a Web inspector with CSS editing, an improved snippet editor, and support for a custom user agent string.

Source- http://news.yahoo.com/s/nf/20080318/bs_nf/58863;_ylt=AurBddrxpUpG_v.8vTxN_PgjtBAF

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At the WWDC 2013 opening session yesterday, Apple WOW the whole world with the new iOS 7 that was unveiled. Although, the rumor of a flat iOS User Interface (UI) had been in the air weeks before the unveiling, yet we were not ready for what was to be. In fact, mock ups were just tardy compared to the original thing.

John Ive, who is the man in charge of this iOS 7 design have made his mark and we are ready to gulp in this new iOS UI. Below are set of images to keep you surprised with your mouth watering.

This iOS 7 is design to be simple, colorful and vibrant. A whole new iOS that will bring out the color and charm in the iPhone, iPad and iPod. 

According to Apple, iOS 7 would only be for iPhone 5, iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, iPod 5th generation, iPad 3, iPad mini. Also, AirDrop is only supported for iPhone 5 and iPad 3.

A small comparison to iOS 7, Android Jelly Bean 4.2 , Windows Phone 8 and Blackberry OS 10

That is our take on this design. It is good, colorful, and thoughtful. A whole lot have been changed: icons, notification centre, multi tasking pane etc. 

What are your opinions?

Download links (for Apple developers only):

- iPhone 5 (Model A1428)
- iPhone 5 (Model A1429)
- iPhone 4S
- iPhone 4 (GSM Rev A)
- iPhone 4 (GSM)
- iPhone 4 (CDMA)
- iPod touch (5th generation)
- Mobile Device Installer Package

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If you havent read our round-up of the best tablets in the world yet, wed advise you do it now, because were about to spoil the ending.

For the first time in history, weve given the full five stars to a tablet. And no, it wasnt the Argos MyTablet. Of course the recipient was Apples spanking new iPad Air.

As Gareth Beavis explains, its a lovely and very powerful thing, and his review was so persuasive that we promptly spent money we didnt really have on an iPad we really didnt need. Its that good.

Put it this way: when was the last time you read a device review that talked about "joy"?

The iPad Air wasnt the only thing we lusted over this week, though. Were pretty keen on the new Nikon Df too. Angela Nicholson reckons its "superbly retro" while boasting state of the art technology, and while its pricey at £2,649.99 (about US$4,650, AU$4,500) - Nikon used the 99p because £2,650 would have looked expensive, ho ho - the "considerable excitement" appears to be entirely justified.

Camera dealers say that if its as good as it looks, it will "fly off the shelves".

The greatest console story ever told

With the launch of the next generation games consoles mere days away, its time to ask the big question: who won this generations console wars? Was it the PS3? The Xbox 360? Or, um, the Wii? Phil Iwaniuk reckons its the Sony console, and hes certainly convincing.

"Any fool can see PlayStation 3 ends the era victorious," he says. While Microsoft had "an open goal" in the early days, "PlayStation 3 cunningly built a wall of fantastic first-party titles in front of that goal in the six years that followed."

Did the Xbox 360 win the last console war?

Not so fast, says Jon Hicks: the winner has to be the Xbox 360. The Xbox 360 is "the most influential console on the market", "king of the hill" and the bestest console ever.

Hugh Langley reckons theyre both wrong. There can only be one winner, and its the Wii. "Did it have the graphical might to stand shoulder to shoulder with the PS3 and Xbox 360? Hell no. Did it have the hardcore library of the GameCube? Nope. Did it have a stupid name? Yeah, we sniggered. And guys, it couldnt even play DVDs."

Wait, everyone! Theres a twist!

The Wii did "something much, much bigger: it got the whole world playing videogames." The Wii wasnt just a souped-up version of an existing console: it was new, and different, and amazing, and it had Super Mario Galaxy. Game over!

Samsung folds

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