Love it or hate it, Safari is your first port of call for all things internet during that magical moment when you boot up your Mac for the very first time. Luckily, as far as browsers go, it’s not a bad one either. Having your web browser made by Apple has its benefits; it’s fast, beautifully-designed, and integrated with your Mac in a way no other browser ever will be. That said, it’s nice to know about the competition – whether it’s for a quick flirt with Chome, a full-blown affair with Firefox or even to ditch your Apple factory browser altogether for Opera. Whatever reason you have for switching browsers, here’s our guide to shopping around and finding the best browser with the feature-set that works for you.

Google Chrome (Free, google.com/chrome)

When Google first released their much-anticipated web browser for Windows, Mac users waited with baited breath…and waited…and waited…and eventually passed out as they hadn’t exhaled for a good few months. But now Chrome has been successfully ported to OS X for some time now, was it worth the wait? The answer is a resounding “HELL YEAH!”. With an aesthetic quality to rival anything that Jony Ive has ever dreamt up, speeds which could quite easily blow not only your socks but your trousers, shirt and coat off, and bunch of features that a few browsers are still playing catch-up with, Chrome is without a doubt, Safari’s biggest competitor. The only real setbacks here is that it doesn’t play half as nice as Safari does with RSS feeds (so if you’re not using an app or web-based feed reader, you might want to step away now) and that updates can take some time (did anyone else feel like Lion functionality took forever to be pushed out?).

Firefox (Free, mozilla.org)

Firefox has been around for so long now that it’s almost plausible that it was originally built before the internet itself, but don’t let the fact that it might have been built by dinosaurs put you off. This browser is the open-source community’s flagship offering, meaning it’s updated by a whole load of passionate people on a day-by-day basis. In other words, it’s got a heritage but that doesn’t mean it won’t beat any of the others. Firefox’s open-source infrastructure means that improvements and updates are made by the people, for the people and most features like the built-in password manager and the plethora of available add-ons (mini apps that add extra functionality to the browser) are extremely useful. The downside? Well, there’s no easy way of saying this, but Firefox is a bit of a RAM-hog. If processor-intensive browsing is your bag then great, otherwise, you’ll have to keep a close eye on it when you’re running a load of apps and your Mac starts to get sluggish.

Opera (Free, opera.com)

Much like Firefox, Opera seems to have been around for Donkey’s years, but don’t let that put you off. Opera has more features built in to its browser than any other in this round-up, and whilst not every single one may be useful, there are some absolute gems here such as native BitTorrent support (downloading via Torrents just got a lot easier) and a ‘Turbo’ mode, which optimises web pages for times when your bandwidth is limited (think an entire airport departure lounge crowding around one poor, struggling WiFi hotspot). There’s all your Lion support built in, and they’ve even borrowed a feature or two from Safari (see exhibit A, above). Opera isn’t exactly well-known, nor widely used, but it’s certainly the dark horse in this browser battle.

Camino (Free, caminobrowser.org)

With Camino’s original name of bringing all the functionality of Firefox into the native environment of OS X now somewhat redundant (Firefox has come on leaps and bounds as far as Mac support goes since its early days), the whole project seems to have been  put on the back burner of late. That said, there’s still a few good reasons why you’d have Camino as your browser of choice. For starters, passwords are saved into the OS X Keychain as opposed to any proprietary system touted by Chrome, Firefox or Safari and because the whole thing runs on Firefox’s Gecko rendering engine, you know pages are going to load fast, accurately and with the stability you’d expect from Firefox, all with a slightly more Apple-like interface.

Stainless (Free, stainlessapp.com)

As we’ve already mentioned, Mac users had a long and excruciating wait for an OS X-friendly version of Chrome, so long in fact, that a few clever chaps decided to release Stainless – a Mac-only browser that bought Chrome’s multi-processing architecture (that’s the stuff that makes pages fly) to your Machine. Much like Camino, the fact that Chrome is now fully supportive of OS X has made the whole project a little redundant, but there are still a fair few features like the natty little bookmarks sidebar, that make it a great alternative if you’re getting sick of Safari.

So there you have it, five great alternative browsers to Apple’s own, stellar offering. We’re using a mixture of Safari and Firefox here in the office, with Chrome coming a close third where needed, but which is your favourite? Have we missed an absolute gem? Let us know in the comments, via Twitter or on our Facebook Wall. Automatic bans awarded to anyone who mentions Internet Explorer.

iWeb is designed to help you create great looking sites in next to no time. There are, however, many compromises along the way and it can be hard, or even impossible to attempt to replicate some of the designs you may have seen elsewhere on the web… Sometimes, however, those limitations can be hard to live with.

Take for instance the navigation menu, which is automatically located at the top of each of your pages. You can of course choose to remove it completely or only select specific pages to appear there, but no matter what you do, the only pages you can link to in the navigation menu are pages that belong to the site you’re working on. There is no way for you to link to an external page… unless you use a little trick. This is what we’re going to be showing you in this tutorial.

1: A new page
Select a site to work with from the sidebar (clicking on one of its pages works just as well) and create a new page by going to File>New Page.

2: A blank theme
You’ll be asked to choose a theme. Since we don’t want to waste time rendering images that will never be seen, make sure you choose White>Blank.

3: No navigation
You needn’t display the navigation menu, so reveal Inspector (View>Show Inspector), select the Page tab, ensuring ‘Display Navigation Menu’ isn’t ticked.

4: The Widgets tab
If the Media tab isn’t visible, go to View>Show Media. Next, click on the Widgets tab (top right) to have access to a few handy coding shortcuts.

5: Adding a Snippet
You’ll be needing the last one: HTML Snippet. Drop it anywhere on your page. A floating window will appear, ready for you to type in some code.

6: Manual coding
Type the following exactly: <script type=”text/ javascript”> parent.location.replace(‘http://[the address you want to link to]’); </script>.

7: The Link Inspector
You don’t need to publish your page in order to see the results of this code; with the Inspector window still open, select the Link tab.

8: Activate Hyperlinks
Bottom of that window is a tick box deselected by default: ‘Make hyperlinks active’. Click on it to activate it. Any link you click on will now work.

9: Trying it out
Select another of your site’s pages then click on the link you created in the navigation menu. Your browser will launch and send you to this address.

Click image to enlarge.

If, like us, you spend a lot of time bouncing between websites trying to find the latest and greatest news, you’ll be pleased to hear that we’ve decided to make things a little easier on you. Each day iCreate is going to provide you with an update on the best stories doing the rounds. Just click on the title to be taken to the specific story or just read our short summary.

Given that we are just days away from what could potentially be the biggest announcement since the iPhone, most of the sites are reporting on tablet related leads. 

9to5mac.com

The most interesting thing on 9to5mac is unsurprisingly tablet related. They have been speaking to some publishers who have been approached by Apple with regards to thrashing out deals for content on the new device. This story rehashes a lot of what has already been said by the Wall Street journal but from other sources. The most interesting point they make is that they believe the device wont cost anywhere near $1,000 – which is the price thats being  thrown around at the moment. If this is indeed true then we could see an incredible uptake and a device which could threaten to topple the netbook market.

macrumors.com

While this story isn’t technically tablet related it is related to the event on Wednesday. This story is claiming that AT&T will lose exclusivity on the iPhone on Wednesday. This is interesting for a number of reasons, firstly because Macrumors are running the story from  HotHardware – they never normally run with untested rumour sites and secondly because if Apple does make a point of announcing this shift at the event on Wednesday it could mean that new carriers will be able to offer dual iPhone and tablet deals, which in turn could mean that the new device is subsidised by the carriers. This could then relate to the sub $1,000 price point that 9to5mac has been reporting.

Appleinsider.com

This article is quite interesting as it claims that an analytics firm called Furry has spotted 50 tablets running iPhone OS 3.2 at Apple headquarters. There has been speculation that the arrival of the tablet will see a whole new iPhone OS – version 4.0 but if Furry are to be believed this is not going to be true. What’s odd about the report is that they also claim that some iPhone’s were running a 4.0 version of the OS in and around Apple’s Cupertino headquarters. If anything, this article is aiming to prove that we will indeed see a tablet device – I think just the tag line used to invite people to the event to see “our next creation” is enough evidence that we wont just see an iPhone, iPod or Mac.

wired.com

Wired has decided to pull together a number of rumours into a “what to expect” article. There’s nothing really groundbreaking in here other than the fact that Wired, as a more mainstream tech blog is also eagerly anticipating the release of the tablet.

No doubt tomorrow will see even more tablet speculation so be sure to visit again as we bring you the best bits floating around the web.

We are now just a day away from Apple’s media event and, unsurprisingly, the web has exploded with last-minute rumours and even more “leaked images” of Apple’s upcoming tablet.

Here are the latest snippets of information on one of the biggest tech releases of the year. And yes, we know it’s only January but this is supposed to be really, really big… honest.

- Latest Updates -

26/1/2010

- Apple’s financial conference call has provided a handy platform for COO Tim Cook and CEO Steve Jobs to big up the event tomorrow. Jobs even went so far as to mention “A major new product that we’re really excited about”

- There is suggestion that all US carriers will be available for the new tablet and/or iPhone and even suggestion that Apple’s event invite is code for this with the colours of all major carriers included as paint splats (seriously!).

- While you’re over at Mac Rumors for the last bit of news, check out the leaked images of the new tablet too… what do you think?

- It appears The New York Times will be the flagship newspaper app at the event with reports of Apple and the publisher working very closely over the last few months

- And our favourite and most encouraging rumour of the week thus far… Steve Jobs, apparently overheard by Tech Crunch sources, “This will be the most important thing I’ve ever done”. We just hope he was talking about the tablet…

15/1/2010

- An unnamed source within the publishing industry with close ties to Apple has told iCreate that they expect a new Apple Pro App this year related to the tablet:

“While there have been rumours regarding the tablet and magazines, nobody has talked about how they will be created.” he said. ” A new app, perhaps a pro version of iWork’s Pages, would allow publishers to easily create content for the tablet without the need for coding. Otherwise, every time you pick up a new digital magazine you’ll have to learn how to navigate and use it…and we all know how Apple likes to keep a standard UI.”

- Valleywag’s $100,000 tablet Scavenger Hunt has brought about a vague confirmation from the most unlikely source – Apple’s lawyers! A cease and desist letter suggests at least the existence of a tablet and is one of the most substantial pieces of information on the topic to come from Apple.

14/1/2010

- App Developer Chilli X sent us this link to a blog post discussing the tablet from a developer’s point of view. The possibilities are really quite exciting!

- Valleywag has launched a Tablet Scavenger Hunt with up to $100,000 on offer for information and photos or video of the tablet. Those interested should have a think about the legal ramifications first…

- The Boy Genius Reports lists a number of notes on the tablet from one of its sources including that it is “an iPhone on steroids” !!

12/1/2010

- Mac Rumors reports that Apple has removed content from Fingerworks.com, the company acquired by Apple five years ago that pioneered many of the multi-touch features found in the iPhone that are also likely to feature in the upcoming tablet.

- TG Daily has been informed by an unknown source at CES that Apple has ordered a significant amount of 10-inch LCD and OLED screens, causing a delay in the supply chain from manufacturers in Asia.

11/1/2010

- Stéphan Richard of Orange and France Télécom has “confirmed” the existence (and launch on Orange networks) of an Apple tablet with video conferencing capabilities (via Mac Rumors)

- 9 to 5 Mac suggests that Apple may be “shopping” its new tablet device to hospitals

- Reuters claims that the new tablet will have an aluminium housing and will ship in the second quarter of 2010

- 9 to 5 Mac also covers the possibility of the Apple tablet becoming a platform for creativity with a multi-touch-enabled version of iWork allegedly in development

The Name

Long referred to as simply “The Apple Tablet”, recent rumours have pointed to the use of the word “slate”. Small, grey, thin. We get the idea. The word first popped up during a speech by Bill Keller, executive editor of the New York Times during a speech to digital staff, reported by Gawker. His exact words were:

“I’m hoping we can get the newsroom more actively involved in the challenge of delivering our best journalism in the form of Times Reader, iPhone apps, WAP, or the impending Apple slate, or whatever comes after that.”

The name “iSlate” has also been rumoured with MacRumors discovering Apple’s registration of the iSlate.com website and TechCrunch discovering that Apple owns the trademark to the iSlate name.

The Design

The general concensus indicates that Apple’s tablet will offer a 10-inch screen. Far larger than the iPhone but far smaller than the 13-inch MacBook making a nice little netbook-esque niche. The New York Times’ Nick Bilton posted a well informed article highlighting the struggles of creating the perfect tablet:

“It’s important to understand how difficult these devices will be to produce, especially if done right. There are major hardware limitations with a real tablet….To make similar devices with a fully immersive color screen, you face problems with battery power, operating systems, price and a grab bag of other technical challenges. An affordable 10-inch screen capable of streaming video, with full interaction and a constant Web connection is going to require a power outlet every two hours.”

However, Boy Genius Report suggests that there could be a 7-inch tablet :

“It has been widely reported recently that the size of the tablet is 10″, but there was also talk about a 7″ model. Our connect said there is 100% a 7″ Apple tablet, to be announced in January, and whether this is in addition to a 10″ model, they don’t know.”

MacRumors also cites a Wall Street Journal article that mentions two different types of material allegedly considered for the device. Whether this is to be decided or different models will use different materials at different price points remains to be seen.

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Web Designer magazine would like to announce its all-new Photoshop Week, starting on the 11th January 2010. The New Year will see ‘the magazine for aspiring online creatives’ unveil even more techniques, tips and tutorials that every web designer needs to know.

Visitors will be able to learn how to create stunning web buttons, vintage style wallpapers, add illustrations to web templates, create custom brushes and discover the art of working with layers.

Make sure you come and join us next week, you won’t be disappointed.

www.webdesignermag.co.uk

After Apple’s acquisition of streaming music service Lala Media last week, rumours are circulating as to what Apple plans to do with such a company. Apple’s official comment went along the lines of “Sometimes we buy companies and we don’t have to tell you what we plan to do with them” but a few well informed sources are already suggesting roads this may take Apple and, of course, iTunes, down.

Some say that the purchase of Lala was purely asset based and that it’s the staff and intellectual property they are after rather than the service itself. However claims this weekend point toward a shift in iTunes from desktop software and downloads to an online, subscription-based streaming service.

Both points of view are valid but we’re not particularly swayed by either. A compromise between both extremes would certainly be more than likely. An online streaming service, like Spotify, would be ideal for the Mac user who could access an iTunes library from anywhere. This wouldn’t be as handy for mobile users though, with any iPod bar an iPod touch or iPhone lacking a wireless connection, negating a streaming option.

Ultimately, a hybrid of downloads and streaming may be where Apple intends to take iTunes in the wake of this purchase. It’s not going to ditch its iPod user base to turn the entire store into a streaming service but it may well offer the opportunity to pay for a subscription to users of wireless devices and desktop computers. The Lala service itself offers streaming as well as the option to purchase tracks so it’s unlikely that the download will disappear for good.

Apple is a strong believer in consumers physically owning their music and has been an advocate of the download as well as extensions to it including the new iTunes LPs and other additions to the iTunes Store.

So while we’re pretty sure we wont see the iTunes Store repackaged into a website for subscribers only, this latest buy shows that Apple still has its finger on the pulse of the digital entertainment market, knows where it is going and is planning for the future.

If you head over to the brilliant TheOnion.com you’ll be able to see a new Apple ad highlighting the PC to Mac switcher rate following the launch of Microsoft’s Windows 7. Justin Long and John Hodgman, the Mac and PC characters, stand below a bank of CCTV monitors across the top of the page watching PC users entering a series of Apple Retail Stores. After bemoaning Apple’s success in customer satisfaction surveys and the continued movement of PC users to Mac, Hodgman dashes off to accost the hapless switchers.

While certainly entertaining, the ad continues to promote Apple’s successful retail model with the added bonus that switchers don’t yet appear to be lured by the charms of Windows 7 to remain as PC users. The only drawback we can see, as with previous Get A Mac ads, is that Hodgman is still far too likeable a character while Long’s aloof, bordering on smug persona could begin to grate even the more hardened Mac enthusiast. That said, no amount of advertising is likely to sway a Mac user toward a PC but it may be enough to put off those sitting on the fence.

The ad features on The Onion’s home page and can be seen, while live, here

Noticed a few changes around here? Welcome to the all-new iCreatemagazine.com

Our web team has worked tirelessly to bring you an online reflection of the magazine we create each month and, by jove, they’ve done it! Not only are things a lot cleaner, brighter and generally easier on the eye but the content and capabilities of the site have also been enhanced to bring you a far richer experience.

Whether you’re after information on the latest issue, hunting for the best Mac news or want to check out one of our podcasts you’ll find everything you need on our homepage and, as before, you’re free to comment on anything you please. Let us know what you think of our posts and make your voice heard.

With such a fresh new site we thought it rude not to offer you some fresh new content as well, so make sure you check out our Tutorials & Tips section. Here you’ll find iCreate tutorials specially formatted for the web and ready for you to follow online, in print or on your iPhone or iPod touch.

Our reviews have been given their own section on the homepage too so if you’re in a rush to discover where to spend your money next you can easily read our views on the latest Apple and third-party kit within a couple of clicks. If you’re a fan of Twitter, we’ve even made room for some of our tweets so you can keep up with all the goings on at iCreate HQ.

While we’ve overdosed on coffee and Red Bull to ensure the site is perfect for our visitors, there are always a few teething troubles (or perhaps this will be the first flawless website launch!?) so if you spot anything amiss or even anything you would like to see, feel free to drop us a line at the usual address or post a comment.

So welcome to our new online home. Come on in and have a look around…

Best wishes,

Ben Harvell, Editor

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Developer: Cooliris Inc
Category: Entertainment
Price: Free

This is an app that has been ported over from a web browser plug-in. We’re actually a bit surprised Apple has let it onto the Store, but we’re also very pleased. Cooliris allows you to complete web searches from your favourite search engines and then it displays the results in a wall of pictures. The effect is very cool; you can flick your finger to cruise past the wall looking at pictures, pinch to zoom in and reverse pinch to zoom out, and you can then double-tap to see what each picture is and the web page it belongs to. This is a very cool app that’s great for image searches and the novelty wow factor, but it’s definitely not the most effective way to search the web. That said, it’s free and a great example of software making the jump from the desktop to the iPhone. Good effort.

Longevity: 7.2

Fun Factor: 6.4

Practicality: 6.7

Design: 8.7

Value for money: 8.0 

Kung Fu Verdict: 8.0