Safari 11.1 in macOS High Sierra 10.13.4 and iOS 11.3 Introduces New Features and Optimizations

[MacRumors]

Both macOS High Sierra 10.13.4 and iOS 11.3 ship with an updated version of Safari, Safari 11.1. Safari 11.1 incorporates many new features that have been in testing in Apple's Safari Preview browser, introducing new web APIs, security improvements, media changes, and more.

Details on the Safari 11.1 update were shared by Apple's Ricky Mondello, and a full change log is available from Apple's developer website.

Animated GIFs can be replaced with silent videos in Safari 11.1 to result in smaller downloads, more available colors, and better decoding performance.

In iOS 11.3, Password AutoFill for apps works in web views within apps, which will make it easier to log into a site without having to copy and paste your password each time. Web apps that are saved to the Home screen on iOS devices and web pages in SFSafariViewController can also now use the camera to capture images.

A new security change provides a "Website Not Secure" warning when a user clicks a credit card field or password entry box on an insecure page, and

Intelligent Tracking Prevention, which prevents websites from tracking you around the web, has been improved in Safari 11.1, and there's a new improved Safari Reader extraction engine to improve the Safari Reader experience.

Service Workers, new in Safari 11, are designed to allow background scripts to power offline web applications, and there are several other new APIs including Payment Request API, Directory Upload, Beacon API, HTMLImageElement.decode(), and an updated Clipboard API.

Safari 11.1 is bundled in to iOS 11.3 and macOS High Sierra 10.13.4, both of which are available for developers starting today. Apple plans to release iOS 11.3 and macOS High Sierra 10.13.4 public betas in the near future.

Article Link: Safari 11.1 in macOS High Sierra 10.13.4 and iOS 11.3 Introduces New Features and Optimizations

 

[ck2875]

In iOS 11.3, Password AutoFill for apps works in web views within apps, which will make it easier to log into a site without having to copy and paste your password each time. Web apps that are saved to the Home screen on iOS devices and web pages in SFSafariViewController can also now use the camera to capture images.

A step in the right direction. There is nothing I would like to see Apple do more than to overhaul Keychain into a full-featured password manager app and give 1Password a run for their money.

 

[coolfactor]

A step in the right direction. There is nothing I would like to see Apple do more than to overhaul Keychain into a full-featured password manager app and give 1Password a run for their money.

I'd definitely like to see Keychain itself remain a secure vault managed by the system, as it's always been. But definitely overhaul Keychain Access to make it a more consumer-friendly app. I use it dozens of times a day to grab saved passwords and secure notes. I don't need third-party solutions. But it still feels like a neglected app by Apple that hasn't been updated in years. It works, there's no bugs, but it's just not consumer-friendly. Most Mac users that I know don't even know about it.

 

[Will.O.Bie]

More security features and stronger anti-tracking software update is always welcome. I agree with Keychain being neglected and should be overhauled to mimic or even become better than 1Password as a secure vault for sensitive information.

 

[OlliFlamme]

To my opinion, if barely anyone knows about the Keychain app, it points out towards two things:

- users may not know they need it (it allows for more difficult passwords than one naturally would be inclined to use, especially if you take the suggested passwords option into the picture)

- the app is not user friendly as to inviting to use, meaning the full potential is not properly marketed. It is currenty an app that appeals to nerds and security aware people, most probably two names for one group of people.

I am a hefty and satisfied user of the app, but the above two thread comments (by coolfactor and hefty) are making a point: what if it were an app that indeed was more of a valued and less boring feature that appeals a larger public... hmm...

I am inclined to think that it has to extend the potential of our own memory, in an as less obtrusive way as possible. Perhaps that indeed means Apple is dealing with it in a way that fits my expectations.

A most relevant point of thought to me is the unification of passwords and autofill info. I cannot understand why seemingly, passwords are to be separately saved inside the preferences of Safari while these are also in the keychain (app and file I mean). It appears that this info is synced within Safari trough iCloud, separately and independently of the keychain sync in iCloud, be that feature activated or not.

To take a walk in the backyard of the topic, I also find it similarly irrelevant to have a system keychain and an login keychain within the keychain app. Double items are to be found there yet again.

And to finish off this train of thought: what are passwords on iOS doing in the Settings app, and why not place it parallel inside Mac OS, or the other way around...?

The subject defines touches some nerves

 

[Villarrealadrian]

iOS 11.3 make my iPhone 6 great again!

 

[TimWillz]

Happy to see some improvements to keychain but agree with previous comments, it still could be vastly improved.

 

[hugo7]

Animated GIFs can be replaced with silent videos in Safari 11.1 to result in smaller downloads

Thank you, thank you, thank you Apple. This feature can’t come soon enough.

 

[BaltimoreMediaBlog]

I'd definitely like to see Keychain itself remain a secure vault managed by the system, as it's always been. But definitely overhaul Keychain Access to make it a more consumer-friendly app. I use it dozens of times a day to grab saved passwords and secure notes. I don't need third-party solutions. But it still feels like a neglected app by Apple that hasn't been updated in years. It works, there's no bugs, but it's just not consumer-friendly. Most Mac users that I know don't even know about it.

You couldn't have multiple email accounts in the MAIL program without knowing what the keychain is.

Many Mac OS upgrades have wiped my MAIL passwords and server settings. It's the most annoying problem of OS updates.

 

[SonicSoundVW]

I concur with most of the comments here about keychain being improved. However, until they can get my contacts to sync between all of my devices consistently, I will have no faith in their keychain. Which for me, also has the same problem.

 

[lec0rsaire]

Safari has become a really great browser and any improvements are always welcome. Looking forward to 11.1 once the final 10.13.4 release is out.

I love and use Safari’s touch bar features all the time. Especially PIP to the bottom right corner, scrubbing, etc. The touch bar has gotten as bad rap but once you get used to it and as its capabilities further evolve, I’m sure more people will come to love it.

 

[Will.O.Bie]

Safari has become a really great browser and any improvements are always welcome. Looking forward to 11.1 once the final 10.13.4 release is out.

I agree. I used to be a Chrome user but ever since they upgraded Safari's privacy tools and Intelligent Tracking Prevention, I have used it 100%.

 

[lec0rsaire]

I agree. I used to be a Chrome user but ever since they upgraded Safari's privacy tools and Intelligent Tracking Prevention, I have used it 100%.

Yep. It’s really come a long way from what it was when Apple first launched it. It also consumes the least energy out of the 3 most popular browsers which is a huge plus on a MacBook Pro. I try to get by using as much first party stuff as I can. This keeps the machine lean, running well and of course more secure. Security is a big part of the reason I choose to get a Mac in addition to just falling in love with the OS.

 

[MacBH928]

They should kill Keychain. I use 1password and never looked back. Even if Apple cared to enahnce it, it will be a retarded version where it will only work with Apple products and the latest iOS version. No Thank you, using the 3rd party solutions gives you the option to migrate your data to multiple computers, OS's, support legacy OS and multiple devices.

I rather not keep my password library tied to a specific OS to a limited selection of supported hardware

 

[UberTiger]

Safari has become a really great browser and any improvements are always welcome. Looking forward to 11.1 once the final 10.13.4 release is out.

I love and use Safari’s touch bar features all the time. Especially PIP to the bottom right corner, scrubbing, etc. The touch bar has gotten as bad rap but once you get used to it and as its capabilities further evolve, I’m sure more people will come to love it.

Is there a way to scrub the scroll bar on iOS yet?

 

[TechRemarker]

A step in the right direction. There is nothing I would like to see Apple do more than to overhaul Keychain into a full-featured password manager app and give 1Password a run for their money.

Agreed! I wouldn't count on it however since Apple presumably makes a good cuts on Apps like 1Password when they are sold through the App store. So creating a native product that is better than 1Password, would result in lets free income from the app store for Apple, more maintance keeping the app up-to-date, and customers who are use to frequent fixes and new features in 1Password would have to wait for yearly updates from apple for new features in general. And even if Apple made it more of a 1P competitor and the majority used it and ones who needed 1P more advanced features stayed with 1P, the big income drop for 1P would mean they couldn't devote as much money to improving the app and would be a death spiral in the long run.

So yes, would 100% love to see Keychain greatly improved and already more and more people use it because of it's native integrations on iOS, but doubt it will push it into the the realm of 1P any time for pro users.

 

[Zoddino]

I agree, I hope that Apple opens up to 3rd party apps autofill apis for password management just like on Android Oreo that 1password and other password managers can automatically fill passwords in apps. Only Keychain is allowed on iOS through iOS stock keyboard

Agreed! I wouldn't count on it however since Apple presumably makes a good cuts on Apps like 1Password when they are sold through the App store. So creating a native product that is better than 1Password, would result in lets free income from the app store for Apple, more maintance keeping the app up-to-date, and customers who are use to frequent fixes and new features in 1Password would have to wait for yearly updates from apple for new features in general. And even if Apple made it more of a 1P competitor and the majority used it and ones who needed 1P more advanced features stayed with 1P, the big income drop for 1P would mean they couldn't devote as much money to improving the app and would be a death spiral in the long run.

So yes, would 100% love to see Keychain greatly improved and already more and more people use it because of it's native integrations on iOS, but doubt it will push it into the the realm of 1P any time for pro users.

 

[autumnpatchouli]

Perhaps it’s just because there are more articles about the safety & privacy of Chrome, and now Firefox, I’ve often really wondered how Safari stacks up. Apple being Apple, there is not a whole lot of info available on this topic from the horses mouth. Reading the comments here, there are a lot of members who are more schooled in this than I.
So how do you feel Safari rates in privacy & safety when comapared to other browsers?
Also, I use 1Password & love it. It seems that Keychain can be hit or miss at times on my iPhone or iPad. It seems to work very well on my Mac.
Thanks! Always enjoy the comments from those more learned than I!

 

[MacGekko]

I'd definitely like to see Keychain itself remain a secure vault managed by the system, as it's always been. But definitely overhaul Keychain Access to make it a more consumer-friendly app. I use it dozens of times a day to grab saved passwords and secure notes. I don't need third-party solutions. But it still feels like a neglected app by Apple that hasn't been updated in years. It works, there's no bugs, but it's just not consumer-friendly. Most Mac users that I know don't even know about it.

Keychain has a huge bug, if you don't use Icloud it stores your safari passwords in a Local Items section, whenever you upgrade to a new OS or migrate to a new computer it erases all of those passwors and resets with a new Local Items folder.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/data-migration-local-keychain-passwords-not-appearing.1905840/

 

[justperry]

First of all HAD a bug, this was about Yosemite.
But I think it's just one guy complaining, didn't find much on this so called Keychain bug you point out to.

Keychain is rock solid, never had a problem with it.

 

[MacGekko]

First of all HAD a bug, this was about Yosemite.
But I think it's just one guy complaining, didn't find much on this so called Keychain bug you point out to.

Keychain is rock solid, never had a problem with it.

Correction: Still has, I am the complainer and a quick google search would have pointed to others experiencing the same thing and if you had read the thread you would have learned the problem continues with High Sierra.

 

[AllergyDoc]

Hopefully it ends the beach balling I've gotten every time I launch Safari in High Sierra. Never had it before. Love the extra security and anti-tracking features.

 

[trevor12]

does safari has such primitive feature as favicons on tabs ?

 

[jarman92]

I'd definitely like to see Keychain itself remain a secure vault managed by the system, as it's always been. But definitely overhaul Keychain Access to make it a more consumer-friendly app. I use it dozens of times a day to grab saved passwords and secure notes. I don't need third-party solutions. But it still feels like a neglected app by Apple that hasn't been updated in years. It works, there's no bugs, but it's just not consumer-friendly. Most Mac users that I know don't even know about it.

Agreed, but I can't help but think more "consumer-friendly" to Apple means "less secure." I have no issues with it now and it does everything I need it to, so don't want to rock the boat haha

 

[T909]

Hang on a second, so macOS Sierra won't get the safari update?
[doublepost=1516907766][/doublepost]

does safari has such primitive feature as favicons on tabs ?

yes