Safari in iOS 8 will receive a large number of improvements

While people are arguing that the built-in applications are superior to their party counterparts, Apple makes improvements in silence a mobile version of Safari: adds new features, improves performance, and achieves the functionality close to the desktop version. Despite the fact that these updates are not announced, they attract enough attention. Recall that the original iPhone, introduced in 2007, was positioned as a smartphone with a full browser. The emphasis on web-technologies and continue to put in iOS 8. The new system will bring, perhaps the biggest innovation in Safari since its inception in the first version of the iPhone OS.

Speed ​​and security

In iOS 8 applications, able to display web-pages, receive gain in speed due to the work of the WebKit, is used in Safari. Even in 2011, WebKit has been equipped with high-performance scenarios, allowing to effectively translate the JavaScript commands into machine language.

This compiler, called the Nitro, had a significant drawback - it can only work when you open the page in Safari, requiring different privileges that are not available for third-party applications. However, in iOS 8, developers can embed engine for rendering directly in your code, which will have a completely different level of performance.

In fact, web-page will be displayed as separate processes using the resources of an application in which they are running. This means that heavy JavaScript code will not slow down the work program and the failure of the engine operation will not affect other applications.

The third dimension

The second major innovation is that Safari on iOS 8 will be able to use hardware acceleration for 3D graphics display. To be fair, it is necessary to clarify that this function is not entirely new. WebGL technology that allows you to create interactive 3D graphics, available in Safari since 2011. However, Apple disabled it by default, and also prohibited the use of this software library for third-party applications.

When will iOS 8 this fall, WebGL is enabled, which will allow users to visit websites based on this technology. This will open the door to new applications, up to the full-fledged 3D games right in your browser.

Improved video playback

Safari in iOS 8 will have new opportunities of energy saving while watching video and multimedia management. HTTP Live Streaming Protocol was significantly modified, which will require less bandwidth when viewing streaming video.

Engineers of Cupertino also been introduced Media Source Extensions technology, which will allow provide optimal reproduction quality, considering the connection speed and the load of the central processor.

These features can be manifested in the emergence of applications that use video on the internet, including live broadcasts with TimeShift function and interactive views from different angles.

And again about Continuity

Another set of improvements in iOS 8 for the new regime Continuity, which will allow applications to better "communicate" with each other. For example, with the new the API, the program will be able to share power. This means that the user does not have to enter the password when moving from customers any service on the web version.

Scanners Touch ID can now be used to verify the credentials on any site saved with third-party programs that will lead to improved security. A Handoff feature allows you to easily edit documents, quickly moving them to a different version of the application, using the advantages of each.

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These improvements, combined even smaller innovations prove that Apple serious about iOS users to provide excellent opportunities for interaction with Web platform. It is worth noting that a number of technologies that have been listed above, have long available on Windows and Android platforms. This will allow developers to create applications that work equally well on a huge range of devices.

Ultimately, all of this should lead to greater integration of Web content and applications, providing a stunning use of the experience we have come to expect from Apple products.

via Macworld