SafariSpeed 2.1 is a free upgrade for licensed users of SafariSpeed 2. It adds behind-the-scenes changes for an even greater performance boost, an improved registration interface, and support for multiple localizations (which will be added in a future minor update). All current users are strongly recommended to upgrade to version 2.1.
When Apple initially created Safari, they included a one-second page loading delay. Because of this delay, Safari would always wait one second before beginning to display a page. While this delay does not exist in Safari 1.3 and higher, SafariSpeed 2 can be used to remove this delay in older versions, allowing web pages to be displayed sooner, especially for users with high-speed connections.
By default, every time you visit a web site, Safari downloads and saves to your hard drive a small image representing the site. These images are then displayed in the address bar next to the site's address and in the Bookmark Manager. Each time you start Safari, the browser loads all of these small images that it has collected up. This drains your system's memory, and makes Safari more sluggish. By allowing you to easily prevent Safari from storing these "favorite icons," SafariSpeed 2 increases Safari's performance.
Most browsers include a feature called a cache. Whenever you visit a web page, that page and all the images on it are downloaded into the cache and saved on your computer. In theory, this allows your browser to call up the page more quickly in the future, since it only needs to access your hard drive rather than a remote web server to do so. Some believe that the cache in Safari is not well optimized, and, particularly for users with broadband connections, can actually slow down the browser. In addition, the cache sucks up hard disk space. SafariSpeed 2 allows you to disable Safari's cache, increasing performance for some users and reclaiming lost disk space.
Features
SafariSpeed 2 also allows you to switch off Safari's built-in PDF support (added in Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger) and read PDF files from within the more full-featured Preview application rather than from within Safari itself. This feature of SafariSpeed 2 is compatible only with Safari 2.0.
If you feel like you are trapped inside a high-end kitchen showroom every time you open Safari, you'll be glad to know that it is finally possible to replace Safari 2.0's dark brushed metal interface with a bright and airy Aqua one. SafariSpeed 2 allows you to switch between the two interface styles quickly and easily. This feature of SafariSpeed 2 replaces our previous Safari Aquafier application, which was not compatible with Safari 2.0. The version of this feature included with SafariSpeed 2 is compatible only with Safari 2.0.
Simplicity
SafariSpeed 2 is not only a powerful utility - it is also a simple one. All modifications can be made with just a few easy clicks of the mouse. Once you have made a modification using SafariSpeed 2, you won't ever have to open SafariSpeed again unless you wish to undo the modification or you upgrade to a new version of Safari or SafariSpeed. With SafariSpeed 2, you can literally "set it and forget it."
System Requirements
We recommend using SafariSpeed with Mac OS X 10.4 and Safari 2.0 or higher. The page loading delay, favorite icon, and cache disabling features are additionally compatible with Safari 1.3. Using the brushed metal/Aqua interface features with any version of Safari other than 2.0 is likely to cause unpredictable and undesirable results.
Pricing
SafariSpeed 2 is shareware, and you may use it 11 times before you will need to register. The registration fee for SafariSpeed is $8 and can be securely paid via our online store. Your license allows you to use SafariSpeed 2 on up to five personally-owned computers and entitles you to free upgrades to all future releases of SafariSpeed 2. When you register, you'll also get priority support.
* The Debug menu enabled by SafariSpeed 2 allows you to change your browser's user agent. For websites that rely on user agent detection to determine the user's operating system, the use of this feature often allows access to "Windows-only" websites.
&dagger All features except the brushed metal/aqua interface feature are compatible with Safari 3 Public Beta at this time. SafariSpeed is not yet compatible with the final release of Safari 3.