Safari is a good browser, without any doubt. I didn't say "perfect," I didn't say "great." For now, "good" is enough, but things are getting better with each version. I just hope they won't drop this browser's tremendous speed along the way, and exchange it for more features. Anyway, it's interesting to see what's the current status of the Windows version of Safari on the market, so let's check it out, shall we?


In the image above, the green graph belongs to Safari 3.0, and the blue one, to the 3.1 version. Of course, we're talking about the Windows versions. Despite the fact we're talking about a very small market share, way below 1 percent, I think it is important to notice that Apple's decision to add Safari install as an option to the Apple Software Update application had such an impact.

Apple's move to add Safari already checked into the "updates" section of the Software Update tool, although this was a new program to install, made a lot of people to speak against them. In the end, they slightly changed the Software Update program, but Safari is still available there for those that don't have it yet.

Was this a smart move? After all, Safari 3.1 jumped from 0.07 percent to 0.21 percent in 6 weeks, which is still way below Firefox, IE, and even Opera. Yes, it was, and I don't think Firefox or IE were saints with their ways chosen to promote their browsers. Obviously, Mozilla was very smart in promoting their product, while Microsoft has chosen the brute force path.

At last, I want to ask you one question... Looking at Opera, which is a great browser, but didn't use any smart method to promote itself, I see a barrier. As long as Safari for Windows doesn't get more "aggressive," do you think Apple will succeed in pushing its browser above the 3 percent mark?

Since Apple's software updates arrive in packs, and without providing too many details about the changes, I guess the only thing to do is update your software and check what's new for yourself, or wait to see what others have to say about it. Since I am not the one to test Apple software for you just yet, today I'll tell you only a few things about the updates the Cupertino-based company released in the last 24 hours, so let's go!


First, you should know that Apple seeded a new build for Mac OS X Leopard Server 10.5.3, labeled 9D25. This new build fixes a handful of bugs, such as various issues with the Mail and Web Server components, the Server Assistant, and Slapconfig, but the best part is that rumors say we should get the 10.5.3 version finalized within the next two weeks.

Yesterday, the ATI Radeon HD firmware got updated, bringing the current version to 1.0.1 and increasing stability for those using the Radeon HD 2400 XT or Radeon HD 2600 Pro. The 848KB update can be downloaded from the Apple website, of course.

Java for Mac OS X Leopard also got an update, which installs Java SE 6 1.6.0_05 for all compatible Macs. The Java for Mac OS X 10.5 Update 1 is also available on Apple.com, of course. Just click the link above and you'll end up on the official product page.

At last, it should also be noted that Microsoft released Messenger for Mac 7 with video. Since this is not a release from Apple, I won't get into it. After all, you have the link above, so you know what to do...

Well, this is it for today, I hope at least one of the updates above proves to be useful to you and you won't have any problems while bringing your software up to date. Good luck!

On my road to reviewing Safari 3.1 for Windows, I was so fortunate to end up facing a new version, and since the 3.1.1 update comes with no less than four security issues, I thought you have to find out about it as soon as possible. Before we talk about this new version, let me suggest you to take a look at the Quick site access in Safari article, because that may help those of you still getting started with this browser, and maybe even those that have been using it for a while, but didn't find the time to digg in.


Now, let's see what they fixed in this update, apart from the widely known bug that allowed a MacBook Air to be compromised in public, shall we?

The 3.1.1 release, available for Mac OS X and Windows, can be downloaded from the official Safari page, and Apple recommends all users of previous versions to move up, since this new version comes with stability, security and compatibility improvements.

Out of those three security issues remaining, two are only encountered on Windows XP or Vista, both related to maliciously crafted websites that can control the contents of the address bar or lead to arbitrary code execution, and the remaining flaw affecting both Windows and Mac OS X versions of the browser allowed hackers to use maliciously crafted URLs to conduct cross-site scripting attacks.

These being said, I hope you'll take your time to try Safari, especially if you're a Windows user that ended up here looking for the iPhone or the iPod, because there's more to Apple than meets the eye!

As usual, Apple updated more of its products at once, and since we're talking about compatibility issues and various bug fixes, I can't say anything else than "Great!" The applications updated are iTunes, QuickTime and Front Row.


First, iTunes has been updated to version 7.6.2. This new version brings improved stability and performance, according to Apple, has 45 MB in size, and can be downloaded from this page, if you're not using the software updater utility, or if you're a new user.

Next, QuickTime for Panther, Tiger and Leopard was updated to version 7.4.5, improving compatibility with third-party applications, reliability, and fixing some security issues.

At last, we have Front Row 2.1.3, only for Mac OS X Leopard systems. This is a 20.5 MB download, and its purpose is to improve compatibility with the iTunes 7.6.2 update.

Usually, Apple's software updates come at least two at once, and today it seems we also have some interesting news about the upcoming 10.5.3 version of Mac OS X, but until we get to that, we have to discuss about Aperture 2.1 and Apple TV 2.0.1, which both arrived Friday.


Since February, when Apple introduced Apple TV Take 2, with a completely new interface and support for iTunes movie rentals and streaming podcasts, there was no update until now.

Anyway, the update released Friday night is not documented by Apple, so it seems to be simply a minor maintenance update. For now, the only thing that seems new is the Genres category, located in My Movies, which allows you browse your media hub's content by type. If you see something else that has been added, don't hesitate to let us know!

Next, we have the update to Aperture, available for free, and including the Apple-developed plug-in, Dodge & Burn, which adds brush-based tools for dodge (lighten), burn (darken), contrast, saturation, sharpen and blur, but the best part is that Aperture 2.1 now allows its users to use third party plugins easier than before, with the help of the new open plug-in architecture.

At last, it seems Apple started testing Mac OS X 10.5.3, the third major update to Leopard. The latest build, 9D10, already has over 75 bug fixes and code corrections, especially critical memory leaks in CoreAnimation and iCal, as well as various issues in Dashboard, Installer App, Spotlight indexing, and more.

Without any official date for release, the rumors go that Mac OS X 10.5.3 should arrive in April or May, but I guess we should wait and see. After all, it's better to have a later release, rather than an early one that skips fixing some problems, don't you agree?