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At the WWDC, Apple announced updates to Safari for macOS Sonoma, featuring new privacy controls, profiles for work/personal browsing, and significant WebKit improvements.
Key Takeaways:
- Apple unveils the latest Safari version at WWDC, featuring the ability to separate work and personal browsing, and improved privacy controls.
- The company places a renewed focus on WebApps, introducing the ‘Add to Dock’ feature, and announces significant upgrades to WebKit, the engine behind Safari.
- Apple continues to promote Safari as the fastest and most efficient browser, with all third-party browsers on iOS and iPadOS mandated to utilize WebKit.
Apple Unveils Advanced Safari Profiles and WebKit Upgrades at WWDC
Apple, during its keynote at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), revealed the latest version of Safari for the upcoming macOS Sonoma. Not only does the updated browser come with extended privacy features, but it also allows work and personal browsing to be segregated, significantly improving user experience.
New Safari Includes Enhanced Privacy Features and Browser Profiles
The highlights of the latest Safari iteration include robust privacy features such as the capacity to secure your browser window, block tracking scripts, and eliminate URL trackers. The feature to share passwords and passkeys with groups through iCloud Keychain has also been introduced, ensuring secure, end-to-end encrypted transfers.
The introduction of browsing profiles, arguably the most impactful upgrade, facilitates compartmentalized browsing for different activities, such as work and personal. This function is designed to prevent the blending of data and tracking information between profiles, promoting a more structured and secure browsing experience.
Apple Focuses on WebApps: Introduces New ‘Add to Dock’ Feature and WebKit Enhancements
In a step toward empowering developers and enhancing user accessibility, Apple is placing a renewed focus on WebApps. The tech giant is introducing a new ‘Add to Dock’ feature, enabling swift access to applications.
Safari, developed atop the WebKit engine, is set to receive substantial behind-the-scenes updates. These enhancements include the incorporation of controller vibration support, external webcam support for the iPad Safari version, and AVIF support for macOS versions starting from Big Sur.
Safari: ‘The Best and Fastest Way to Browse the Web’
Apple is promoting Safari as “the world’s fastest browser” and “the best way to browse the web”. Notably, all third-party browsers on iOS and iPadOS are still required to utilize WebKit as their underlying engine.
