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Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) on Wednesday released Safari 5.0.1, the latest version of its Web browser. It has extensions enabled by default, as well as security 
patches.
The extensions include tools for Twitter and other social networks, news and shopping. They are organized into categories and are available at the Safari Extensions Gallery.
Apple is also calling on developers to create more extensions.
The Safari 5.0.1 Road Trip
Safari 5.0.1 has extensions turned on by default, unlike its predecessor, Safari 5.0, which required users to turn the extensions on.
The browser also features Safari Reader, which presents single- and multi-page articles on the Web in a scrollable view without distracting content or clutter, Apple said. Its Nitro JavaScript engine runs JavaScript up to 30 percent faster than Safari 4, depending on the system configuration, network connection and other factors, Apple pointed out.
Safari 5.0.1 is available for both Mac OS X and Windows as a free download. The Mac version requires Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.8 or 10.6.2 or later. The Windows version requires Windows XP SP2, Windows Vista or Windows 7 running on a system with a 500 MHz Intel (Nasdaq: INTC) Pentium or higher and at least 256 MB of RAM.
This latest version of the browser comes with several security patches. They include a patch for the Safari AutoFill feature flaw that could expose users to theft of their personal information.
This patch is CVE-2010-1796. It's available for Mac OS X and OS X Server versions 10.4.11, 10.5.8 and 10.6.2 or later. It's also available for Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP SP2 or later.
Extensions, Anyone?
The Safari extensions are created with HTML5, CSS3 and JavaScript. Each extension is signed with a digital certificate from Apple to prevent tampering and to let users verify that updates to them are from the original developer.
For further security, the extensions are sandboxed so they can't access information on a user's system or communicate with websites apart from those specified by the developer. This may protect them from Trojans that fire off calls to malicious websites after being downloaded.
The extensions run solely in the browser, which provides increased stability, Apple said.
"I like the fact that every Safari extension will be signed with a digital certificate from Apple," Laura DiDio, principal at ITIC, told MacNewsWorld. "Also, the fact that they're sandboxed provides another layer of protection and isolation."
The extensions are grouped in categories and stored in Apple's Extension Gallery. The categories include news, shopping, social networking, Twitter, security, productivity and email.
"I like the fact that they group these extensions into neat categories," DiDio said. "As a user, I just want to be able to look and find an extension, and not have to search around," she added.
Safari Extensions are a new way for developers to enhance and customize the browsing experience, Apple said. It's urging developers to create Safari extensions.
Who Needs Extensions?
Apple lags behind the competition in providing extensions to its browser.
"I guess it's trying to compete with Firefox or launching another volley in the Google/Apple war," Andrew Eisner, director of continuity and content at Retrevo, suggested.
"On the one hand, it seems like a logical move, in order to compete with Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) Chrome, especially now that you have the Chrome operating system looming around the corner and nobody's quite sure what that's going to do," Eisner told MacNewsWorld.
"On the other hand, what does that say about apps? Although the world still uses browsers, there's a trend towards using apps, which are for more of a mobile platform," Eisner pointed out. "I think users prefer clicking on an apps icon instead of using a browser," he said.
"Do I think developers will flock to writing extensions? No," ITIC's DiDio said.
"Still, it will attract some people. It's a way for developers to get some visibility for not doing a lot of work," DiDio pointed out.
"Also, this announcement is a way for Apple to keep its name in the news," DiDio said. "Any publicity is good publicity."
