safari uc

Choose a browser that protects your privacy. Switch to Safari

Blazing fast. Incredibly private.

Safari is the best way to experience the internet on all your Apple devices. It brings robust customization options, features powerful privacy protections, and optimizes battery life — so you can browse how you like, when you like. And when it comes to speed, it’s the world’s fastest browser. 1

Privacy is built in.

Safari comes with industry-leading privacy protection technology built in, including Intelligent Tracking Prevention that identifies trackers and helps prevent them from profiling or following you across the web. And Private Browsing adds even more protections, such as locking your windows when you’re not using them. Online privacy isn’t just something you should hope for — it’s something you should expect.

Intelligent Tracking Prevention

Safari stops trackers in their tracks.

What you browse is no one’s business but your own. Safari has built‑in protections to help stop websites and data-collection companies from watching and profiling you based on your browsing activity. Intelligent Tracking Prevention uses on‑device intelligence to help prevent cross‑site tracking and stops known trackers from using your IP address — making it incredibly difficult to learn who you are and what you’re interested in.

Privacy Report

Safari makes it simple to see how your privacy is protected on all the websites you visit. Click Privacy Report in the Safari menu for a snapshot of cross-site trackers currently prevented from profiling you on the website you’re visiting. Or view a weekly Privacy Report to see how Safari protects you as you browse over time.

Browser Privacy

Performance, more with the battery. less with the loading..

With a blazing-fast JavaScript engine, Safari is the world’s fastest browser. 1 It’s developed to run specifically on Apple devices, so it’s geared to make the most out of your battery life and deliver long-lasting power.

Increased performance

We’re always working to make the fastest desktop browser on the planet even faster.

Improved power efficiency

Safari lets you do more online on a single charge.

Up to 4 hours more streaming videos compared with Chrome 3

Up to 17 hours of video streaming 3

Best-in-class browsing

Safari outperforms both Mac and PC browsers in benchmark after benchmark on the same Mac. 4

• JetStream /
• MotionMark /
• Speedometer /

JavaScript performance on advanced web applications. 4

Safari vs. other Mac browsers

Safari on macOS

Chrome on macOS

Edge on macOS

Firefox on macOS

Safari vs. Windows 11 browsers

Chrome on Windows 11

Edge on Windows 11

Firefox on Windows 11

Rendering performance of animated content. 4

Web application responsiveness. 4

4K video streaming

See your favorite shows and films in their best light. Safari supports in-browser 4K HDR video playback for YouTube, Netflix, and Apple TV+. 5 And it runs efficiently for longer-lasting battery life.

Customization

Putting the you in url..

Safari is more customizable than ever. Organize your tabs into Tab Groups so it’s easy to go from one interest to the next. Set a custom background image and fine-tune your browser window with your favorite features — like Reading List, Favorites, iCloud Tabs, and Siri Suggestions. And third-party extensions for iPhone, iPad, and Mac let you do even more with Safari, so you can browse the way you want across all your devices.

Safari Profiles allow you to separate your history, extensions, Tab Groups, favorites, cookies, and more. Quickly switch between profiles for topics you create, like Personal and Work.

Web apps let you save your favorite websites to the Dock on Mac and to the Home Screen on iPhone and iPad. A simplified toolbar and separate settings give you an app-like experience.

Safari Extensions add functionality to your browser to help you explore the web the way you want. Find and add your favorite extensions in the dedicated Safari category on the App Store.

Save and organize your tabs in the way that works best for you. Name your Tab Groups, edit them, and switch among them across devices. You can also share Tab Groups — making planning your next family trip or group project easier and more collaborative.

Smart Tools

Designed to help your work flow..

Built-in tools create a browsing experience that’s far more immersive, intuitive, and immediate. Get detailed information about a subject in a photo with just a click, select text within any image, instantly translate an entire web page, and quickly take notes wherever you are on a site — without having to switch apps.

Notes is your go-to app to capture any thought. And with the Quick Note feature, you can instantly jot down ideas as you browse websites without having to leave Safari.

Translation

Translate entire web pages with a single click. You can also get translations for text in images and paused video without leaving Safari.

Interact with text in any image or paused video on the web using functions like copy and paste, translate, and lookup. 6

Visual Look Up

Quickly learn more about landmarks, works of art, breeds of dogs, and more with only a photo or an image you find online. And easily lift the subject of an image from Safari, remove its background, and paste it into Messages, Notes, or other apps.

Surf safe and sound.

Strong security protections in Safari help keep you safe. Passkeys introduce a safer way to sign in. iCloud Keychain securely stores and autofills passkeys and passwords across all your devices. Safari also notifies you when it encounters suspicious websites and prevents them from loading. Because it loads each web page in a separate process, any harmful code is always confined to a single browser tab so it won’t crash the entire application or access your data. And Safari automatically upgrades sites from HTTP to the more secure HTTPS when available.

Passkeys introduce a more secure and easier way to sign in. No passwords required.

Passkeys are end-to-end encrypted and safe from phishing and data leaks, and they are stronger than all common two-factor authentication types. Thanks to iCloud Keychain, they work across all your Apple devices, and they even work on non-Apple devices.

Learn more about passkeys

Apple Pay and Wallet make checkout as easy as lifting a finger.

Apple Pay is the easiest and most secure way to shop on Safari — allowing you to complete transactions with Face ID or Touch ID on your iPhone or iPad, with Touch ID on your MacBook Pro or MacBook Air, or by double-clicking the side button on your Apple Watch.

Learn more about Apple Pay

With AutoFill, you can easily fill in your previously saved credit card information from the Wallet app during checkout. Your credit card details are never shared, and your transactions are protected with industry-leading security.

Same Safari. Different device.

Safari works seamlessly and syncs your passwords, bookmarks, history, tabs, and more across Mac, iPad, iPhone, and Apple Watch. And when your Mac, iOS, or iPadOS devices are near each other, they can automatically pass what you’re doing in Safari from one device to another using Handoff. You can even copy images, video, or text from Safari on your iPhone or iPad, then paste into another app on your nearby Mac — or vice versa.

When you use Safari on multiple devices, your tabs carry over from one Apple device to another. So you can search, shop, work, or browse on your iPhone, then switch to your iPad or Mac and pick up right where you left off.

Save web pages you want to read later by adding them to your Reading List. Then view them on any of your iCloud-connected devices — even if you’re not connected to the internet.

iCloud Keychain securely stores your user names, passkeys, passwords, and credit card numbers and keeps them up to date on your trusted devices. So you can easily sign in to your favorite websites — as well as apps on iOS and iPadOS — and quickly make online purchases.

Designed for developers.

Deep WebKit integration between Mac hardware and macOS allows Safari to deliver the fastest performance and the longest battery life of any browser on the platform, while supporting modern web standards for rich experiences in the browser. WebKit in macOS Sonoma includes optimizations that enable even richer browsing experiences, and give developers more control over styling and layout — allowing for more engaging content.

Make Safari your default browser

Customize your start page, view your browsing privacy report, monitor your saved passwords, use apple pay in safari, view your tabs across all your devices, read the safari user guide, get safari support.

Update to the latest version of Safari

If a Safari update is available for your device, you can get it by updating or upgrading macOS, iOS, iPadOS, or visionOS.

Get Safari updates for Mac, iPhone, iPad, or Apple Vision Pro

The most up-to-date version of Safari is included with the latest version of the operating system for your Apple device.

To update Safari on Mac, update macOS .

To update Safari on iPhone or iPad, update iOS or iPadOS .

To update Safari on Apple Vision Pro, update visionOS .

Get Safari updates for Windows

Apple no longer offers Safari updates for Windows or other PC operating systems. Safari 5.1.7 for Windows, released in 2010 and now outdated, was the last version made for Windows.

If a website says your browser is out of date

If a website says that Safari is out of date even though you're already using the latest version of macOS, iOS, iPadOS, or visionOS, there could be an issue with the website. If you’re sure that you want to use the website, contact the website owner or developer for guidance about how to best use their website.

Related topics

Explore Apple Support Community

Find what’s been asked and answered by Apple customers.

Contact Apple Support

Need more help? Save time by starting your support request online and we'll connect you to an expert.

• My Playlists
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• Overview of Library Resources
• Films on Demand
• Search Summon (Streaming)
• Library Home

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UC Browser for Windows

• V  13.4.2.1307

Security Status

A light browser that’s free

Seeking an alternative to mainstream browsers ? UC Browser offers a unique blend of speed, efficiency, and customization. Ideal for those who prioritize fast, data-saving web surfing, it's equipped with innovative features like data compression, cloud acceleration, and an integrated ad blocker, all wrapped in a customizable, user-friendly interface.

What is UC Browser?

UC Browser, created by UCWeb, a subsidiary of the Chinese mobile internet firm, emerged in 2004 and has since gained widespread recognition as a prominent web browsing tool . Its distinct emphasis on accelerating browsing speed while economizing on data usage is particularly appealing. This is achieved through its innovative data compression technology, which minimizes the volume of data consumed during web navigation. This feature is especially beneficial for individuals on restricted data plans.

Adding to its efficiency, UC Browser incorporates an integrated ad blocker . This not only further conserves data but also enhances the speed of web browsing. The browser is not just about speed and data efficiency; it offers a suite of additional functionalities. These include a sophisticated download manager for streamlined file downloads, a built-in video player for seamless video playback, and night mode . The night mode is particularly useful for reducing eye strain during browsing in dimly lit environments, providing a comfortable user experience.

UC Browser is designed with customization in mind . Its adaptable homepage allows users to personalize their browsing experience by adding and accessing their preferred websites quickly with just a single tap. This blend of speed, data management, and user-friendly features makes UC Browser a preferred choice for a broad spectrum of internet users, seeking a more efficient and tailored web browsing experience.

Smooth and simple browsing

This program can run on a wide variety of devices but is built for slow computers. In fact, if this version is too demanding on your system’s resources, you can install UC Mini  as an alternative. It’s from the same company, but it pushes the required hardware limit as low as possible.

UC Browser is comparable to  Google Chrome . It can use all of the same add-ons, themes, and it offers the same advanced settings tweaks. However, compared to Chrome, it demands far fewer system resources. While it does lack a built-in  VPN  and ad blocker, it’s still a great option for the average internet experience.

This application struggles with streaming content and buffering large videos, however. So, while you do achieve faster loading speeds with normal web pages, you’re bound to suffer on data-heavy sites like  YouTube  or  Dailymotion .

The installation process is fast and simple, just like the program. You can run the UC Browser APK for Android devices, or download the .exe file for Windows computers.

Extra tools

This program lacks a few essentials, but it has a few tricks up its sleeve. It comes with a unique download manager. With this tool, you can pause and resume downloads to your liking. If you need to save some bandwidth for other apps with a higher priority, simply hold off on a download and start it up again later. If you’ve used Chrome, you’ll know that this function is a bit buggy with that browser and you can’t always pick up where you left off.

When you download UC Browser, it comes with a  smart file manager . You can use this extension to copy, remove, move, rename, delete, and share information on your phone or computer. It excels because it’s fast, easy to use, and demands few resources.

The tab management system is probably the best part of this program. It’s set up to allow multiple open tabs with little to no effect on the speed and responsiveness of your device. This feature also avoids crashes and freezes . It works by loading information on each tab when you open each individually

Tabs that aren’t in use, but have audio or video playing, will continue to function properly in the background. With these, however, you can overload your computer, since you’ll continue to use up those resources.

Very customizable

Most modern web browsers, like  Mozilla Firefox , come with a tile-style favorites page. This appears when you open a new tab. Here, you can configure which websites will show up as quick links that open in a new tab with one click.

There are also a ton of browser themes to choose from and apply. These change the overall appearance of the program, from the window itself, down to the colors for links and menu options. You can also choose different wallpapers or import some of your own.

Users will find a library of mini-games to play while using the browser. These include Monster Squad and Trollface Quest 4, which can pass the time if you experience any connectivity hiccups while browsing.

Better web experience with data compression

A standout feature of UC Browser is its advanced data compression technology . This functionality significantly diminishes data usage while browsing by loading websites with fewer elements. It's especially beneficial for users with limited data plans or those accessing the internet in areas with slower network speeds. The browser's " Quick Mode " is another ingenious addition, presenting a streamlined version of websites for faster and more efficient browsing.

Gesture control

UC Browser elevates the browsing experience by introducing gesture controls. This innovative feature enables users to execute specific actions through simple mouse movements. For instance, mimicking a backward scroll can take you to a previously visited page, while drawing a right-angle arrow allows you to switch tabs effortlessly . This intuitive approach to navigation not only makes browsing more efficient but also adds a layer of interactivity and fun.

Browsing with integrated ad blocker

Enhancing the browsing experience further, UC Browser comes equipped with an integrated ad blocker . This feature is a significant boon, as it eliminates intrusive ads and pop-up windows that can disrupt your online activities. Not only does this contribute to a cleaner and more focused browsing environment, but it also enhances the browser's speed and security.

Whether you’re using the UC Browser PC version or the one for Android, it keeps all your information saved across all platforms. This includes bookmarks, search results, and login information. However, this information may be compromised due to some security problems with the browser, as mentioned a bit later.

Other browsers, like  Opera , have similar functions. However, this program is one of the best at keeping your data up-to-date across all devices. All you have to do is create an account with UC, and you’re set.

How to install UC Browser on Windows?

To install UC Browser on a Windows computer, the process is straightforward. Begin by double-clicking the UC Browser download file. Once opened, a User Account Control interface may prompt you for confirmation; click Yes to proceed. 

The next step involves agreeing to the UC Browser terms of service . Following this, specify a storage location on your computer for the browser installation. Click the Download and Install button to commence the installation process. As the UC Browser app downloads and installs on your Windows 11 /10/8/7 system, the process is generally smooth and user-friendly . After installation, you can immediately launch and start using UC Browser .

Safety, security, and privacy

Online privacy and safety is a hot topic. Sadly, there’s plenty of doubt surrounding the security of this application. There are a few big names in the industry who claim that user data is at risk whenever you use it. This raises a lot of concerns regarding surveillance and data, and many believe that UC Browser is not safe. In fact, this program was banned from the Play Store before they made improvements to protect its users.

It’s not dangerous in the traditional sense. There are no reports of harmful code with intent to destroy or harm devices. However, many have found that it uses a suspicious amount of battery and sends activity to an external server, even after it’s uninstalled.

Its also apparently tracks your online movements. It logs and sends your activities to an external server. This includes videos you watch, images you like, search terms, some personal details, and more. However, this is no longer a strange occurrence. Most applications tend to share this problem.

High functionality and questionable security

If you’re willing to put some of your data at risk, this is a fantastic browser. It’s fast, efficient, and optimal for anyone who is a bit behind in the technology department. Old phones, computers, and slow internet speeds aren’t a problem with UC Browser.

In the latest version, there are popular website recommendations in the tab switching window. There’s also an easier way to access the UC Browser news feed after reading push articles. They revamped the notification system, as well.

• Optimized for slow connections and devices
• Great tab system
• Pauseable downloads
• Fast loading speeds
• Bad for streaming
• Possible security risks

Safari: Secure, elegant, and very fast browsing.

Powerful alternative browser

Browse in speed and security with this software

Also available in other platforms

• UC Browser for Android
• UC Browser for iPhone

UC Browser for PC

User reviews about uc browser.

by Byroja Ajmeerkhan

good video download app and clear picture,nice so impressed sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo gooooooooooooooooooooood

by Alhassan Salami

it is hghly recomended i enjoy browsing uc browser unlike other browsers

by Tahir Mahmood

nice browser i can search every thing every thing through this easyly

by pooja bharti

yes uc brwser my coice dhemendra kumar village bharobhanpur post kerakat distt jaunpur

by Ravi Chandran

very good app for me it is very safe downloding vedio i am satisfection of this thankyou.

it was super fast. so smooth. unexpectedly smooth and fast. great. recommended.

• Read all reviews

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Laws concerning the use of this software vary from country to country. We do not encourage or condone the use of this program if it is in violation of these laws.

In Softonic we scan all the files hosted on our platform to assess and avoid any potential harm for your device. Our team performs checks each time a new file is uploaded and periodically reviews files to confirm or update their status. This comprehensive process allows us to set a status for any downloadable file as follows:

It’s extremely likely that this software program is clean.

What does this mean?

We have scanned the file and URLs associated with this software program in more than 50 of the world's leading antivirus services; no possible threat has been detected.

This software program is potentially malicious or may contain unwanted bundled software.

Why is the software program still available?

Based on our scan system, we have determined that these flags are possibly false positives .

What is a false positive?

It means a benign program is wrongfully flagged as malicious due to an overly broad detection signature or algorithm used in an antivirus program.

It’s highly probable this software program is malicious or contains unwanted bundled software.

Why is this software program no longer available in our Catalog?

Based on our scan system, we have determined that these flags are likely to be real positives.

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World’s fastest, truly private

• 4.3 • 75.6K Ratings

Screenshots

Description.

Explore the web with lightning-fast speed, powerful privacy protections and robust customization options. With Safari you can browse sites, translate web pages, and access your tabs across iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. Features • Passwords, bookmarks, history, tabs and more seamlessly sync across iPhone, iPad and Mac • Private Browsing mode doesn’t save your history and keeps your browsing your business • Intelligent Tracking Prevention prevents trackers from following you across websites you visit • Tab Groups let you save and organize your tabs and access them across iOS, iPadOS and macOS • Profiles help keep your browsing history, website data, and more separate between topics like work and personal • Shared Tab Groups help you share tabs and collaborate with family and friends • Extensions allow you to personalize Safari and add even more functionality to the browser • Reader formats articles for easy reading without ads, navigation, or other distracting items • Privacy Report shows known trackers that have been blocked from tracking you • Reading List easily saves articles for you to read later • Voice Search lets you search the web using just your voice • Web page translation converts entire webpages into other languages right in the browser • Handoff effortlessly passes what you’re doing in Safari from one device to another • Add to Home Screen allows you to quickly launch a website or web app from your Home Screen

Ratings and Reviews

75.6K Ratings

This new layout is better IMO, but there are a few other problems that kinda bug me

Unpopular opinion, but this new layout is better. I don’t even remember the old layout since I’m not even a long-time iOS user (this is my first iPhone). I looked up the old layout or the “cascade” layout and it looks more painful to me than the new one. By the looks of it, it’s definitely easier to miss a tab you’re looking for in the older version, and then you will have to spend like 10 more minutes scrolling to find the tab you’re looking for. Sure, it may be “faster”, but it’s definitely harder to find the certain tab you’re looking for if most of the tabs are only viewable by a little area at the top. This app is mostly fine except for a few problems I get from time to time. Today I’m having a problem where I was trying to look at some Google images and then I tried to look at more but it was just stuck on loading. It wouldn’t even finish loading. This happened only on like 2 searches thankfully though. I’d probably give it a 95% since it has some minor lags and problems.

Your Underrated Prince, Safari

In my humble opinion, Safari is the underrated king among multiple web browsers on the market. I was a PC devotee from ‘95 to ‘16, since then, it’s been all Tim Cook 🍎 all the time. My only regret is not purchasing a smartphone back in ‘07 from Steve Jobs. Presently, I own an iPhone 6s Plus in rose gold (2016), iPad Mini (2016), iPad Pro (2019) & MacBook (2018) in rose gold with matching Beats By Dre headphones. All four are set up with Safari, not Chrome, TOR, Brave, Edge, or DDGo. I love the ability to quickly save favorites, add to reading list & share content to other platforms. My favorites are alphabetized for quick reference & the reading list keeps all articles & pages in chronological order for quick recall. Also, I learned Safari quickly because it’s extremely user friendly. The browser helped my navigation of Apple when switching from PC. I’ll admit, learning MacBook isn’t easy, but, Safari keeps things familiar for me on the desktop. When lost, just go back to Safari & start over. It’s surprising no one in tech media mentions Safari more often as a go to source for navigating the internet. Chrome is the reigning king of, Land Of Browsers, without an heir apparent. I nominate Safari as the prince with future king potential. Citizens of Land Of Browsers don’t like their chrome-plated dirty laundry aired, sold or tracked.

I have been using this for years and had no problems with it. I ran over my phone with my lawn mower and was without my phone for over a year due to having to fight with the insurance company. However when I finally got a lawyer involved the insurance company finally replaced it for me. I DID not lose anything and I mean anything. I like the cards better because they are easier to clear out. You have to back everything up to your cloud every day or every other day so that you don’t have to worry about losing anything. As I always make sure that I back everything up just in case. It is not apples fault if you lose your any of your information it is yours for not backing up your phone to your cloud. So most of the people who write bad reviews either don’t back up or they just don’t or they just don’t care. Apple doesn’t charge a lot to add more space to your cloud so there is no reason why you can’t back you things. This is better than anything that google has. By far. If you want your information used by third parties then use google’s and quit complaining. You can change your browser in safari so that you don’t have to use them get with it you bad reviews and learn how to use safari.

App Privacy

The developer, Apple , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .

Data Linked to You

The following data may be collected and linked to your identity:

• User Content
• Identifiers

Data Not Linked to You

The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:

• Browsing History
• Diagnostics

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

Information

English, Arabic, Catalan, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Norwegian Bokmål, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Slovak, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Traditional Chinese, Turkish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese

• Developer Website
• App Support
• Privacy Policy

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Why Safari is no longer my browser of choice on MacOS - and what I use instead

MacOS is not my go-to platform. For that, I use Linux . However, when I need to mobilize my day (which actually means to go write in another room in the house), I turn to my MacBook Pro. Or, if I'm editing videos, I stand before my iMac and have at it.

On both of those Apple machines, I had been using the built-in Safari browser for years. However, with each passing day, I became more and more frustrated with Safari and wound up having to turn to a different browser as my default.

Also: The best VPNs for iPhone and iPad (yes, you need to use one)

Let me explain.

Safari is good but…

Safari is a good browser . It has features that I like (such as great tab management) and it's one of the best options for Apple laptops because it's optimized for MacOS battery life . When I purchased my first MacBook Pro (I think it was 2016), any time I tried to use a different browser, I noticed the battery life dropped dramatically. Because of this, I refused to set a non-Apple browser as my default.

Also: What's new in MacOS Sonoma? Here's everything you need to know

Things are quite different now and most browsers don't drain the battery nearly as badly as they once did. Of course, that battery drain wasn't totally on the shoulders of those third-party browsers. That first MacBook Pro I purchased simply had unacceptable battery life. Now, it doesn't matter which browser I use, as the battery life on my MacBook Pro (with Apple Silicon) is outstanding. 

Beyond what was once a dreadful battery drain, there are two issues with Safari that frustrate me to no end.

The first is how random the browser is when opening links from other apps. Sometimes the app will open the link in the current window I'm using. Other times, the clicked link will open a new window. And it doesn't matter that I've set Safari to always open links from other apps in a new tab…the browser is just too stubborn.

Sure, Safari has a handy Merge Window feature , which makes it possible to merge all open windows into one. But I shouldn't have to do that. If Apple includes a feature to force all links to open in new tabs, it should be honored. Every browser I've ever used on Linux doesn't suffer from this problem, so you'd think Apple could get it right as well.

Also:  How to save a webpage as a PDF in Safari (without the ads)

But that's not the biggest frustration I regularly experience with Apple Safari.

On a daily basis, I'll be viewing a site and Safari will inevitably pop up the message that the site is using too much memory. When this happens, the site most often reloads (which means I lose my place). Although this seems random, it happens far too often to be acceptable. 

To make matters worse, there's nothing that can be done about this. You can't increase the amount of memory Safari uses and you can't block the warning. And because so many sites are very poorly designed and developed, this behavior is not going to stop.

What I use instead 

Combine those two issues and you have the making for one very (and regularly) frustrated user. Because of that, Safari is no longer my default browser on MacOS. In it's place is…

The new Opera browser doesn't suffer from the idiosyncrasies of Safari.

Why Opera? First off, Opera has become my default browser on Linux (which I use throughout the day). So it makes perfect sense that it would be my default on MacOS. On top of this, Opera's tab management is even better than Safari's, which is a big win in my eyes. It also doesn't hurt that the recent redesign of Opera makes it perform considerably better than Safari. It also has a better-looking UI and all the features I need.

Even better, it doesn't force reload pages because it believes a site is using too much memory. That means whatever I'm reading or working on won't get interrupted by that ridiculous popup.

Also: Firefox vs Opera: Which web browser is best for you?

Apple should be able to do better with Safari. But until it does, I cannot continue working with a browser that doesn't work with me.

If you're a MacOS user, I recommend dropping Safari as your default browser and giving Opera a try . It works brilliantly on MacOS and doesn't have those frustrating quirks that inevitably interrupt whatever it is you're doing to remind you that it's not quite up to the job.

I recommend this 15-inch MacBook Air to most people, and it's still $250 off

Why you shouldn't buy the iphone 16 for apple intelligence, 5 macos terminal apps that are way better than apple's default - and free.

O’Reilly for Higher Education (formerly Safari/O’Reilly Tech Books)

UC San Diego now has O’Reilly for Higher Education , replacing the Safari/O’Reilly Tech book collection that is being retired. We now have access to more IT/tech publisher content (including videos) than just O’Reilly. The new platform has unlimited simultaneous users. ProQuest has a user guide to introduce you to the interface, how to browse and search, and how to create your own playlists and follow playlists created by others.

Unlike the other library-licensed electronic resources, OHE does not require VPN. However, you are still required to login, and if you are going back and forth between OHE and other licensed e-resources, you should have VPN running to access those.

• When you go to OHE, select University of California, San Diego from the dropdown menu and sign in. You will be redirected to the campus single sign-on page. Login using your Active Directory (email) username and password. Duo two-factor authentication is also enabled.
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On safari at UC Riverside

Wildlife experts explain why you won’t meet mountain lions in the Botanic Gardens

People venturing into the wild hills of the Botanic Gardens or on the south edge of campus might receive friendly warnings to watch out for mountain lions. A persistent rumor holds that the big cats roam the more rugged parts of campus and nearby mountains.

Nestled against the Box Springs Mountains, with the 40-acre Botanic Gardens forming most of its southern border, the UC Riverside campus rubs shoulders with valuable habitat for many species of birds, mammals, reptiles, and insects.

However, there is no evidence that mountain lions are regular campus visitors. Most mountain lion sightings at UC Riverside are probably really bobcats, say experts. 

Janine Almanzor , curator of the Botanic Gardens, said that since at least the mid-1980s Botanic Gardens staff have never sighted a mountain lion, but there have been anecdotal reports.

“A few years ago, a visitor said he saw one jump over the west fence of the Gardens into the arroyo area between the Gardens and the campus. He said it was about 160 pounds and had a long tail. That sounds like a mountain lion, but the staff never saw it and he didn't take a picture,” she said. 

“We do have resident bobcats and have had kittens in the Gardens. One bobcat that has been puzzled over is tall and lanky, which could have led to speculations about mountain lions,” said Jodie Holt , Botanic Gardens director.

Adult mountain lions, also called cougars or pumas, are about 2-3 feet high at the shoulder and weigh 64-220 pounds, depending on sex, with close-cropped, smooth, tawny coats and a long, cylindrical tail. Females and males both vaguely resemble a slender African lioness and prefer to hunt deer. Bobcats fall somewhere between a very large housecat and a medium-sized dog in size—12-24 inches tall and 9-40 lbs. They sport shaggy, tan coats with spots that might not be noticeable from a distance and a short, stubby tail about 4-6 inches long. Bobcats hunt small animals, like rabbits, and are common throughout North America. 

How can something small enough to fit on a person’s lap be confused for something big enough to kill a deer?

“Bobcats get mistaken for mountain lions all the time,” said Anne Hilborn , a postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology who studies cheetahs and other big cats. “Unless you have a fair amount of experience with both, it’s hard to assess the size difference. So if you see an unfamiliar tan cat you think cougar.”

Case in point: Early last fall the Internet went crazy over sightings of a tiger in Knoxville, Tennessee . When someone finally captured a photograph, the “tiger” was clearly a bobcat.

Bobcats have been photographed on campus numerous times. The same cannot be said for mountain lions. There has not been a single mountain lion on campus or in the Botanic Gardens known to have been documented by photographs, footprints, or feces in many years. 

Dick Newell, a biologist and expert wildlife tracker who volunteers at the UCR Herbarium, recalled discovering a pile of mountain lion poop, or scat, during a lunchtime walk through the avocado orchard up the hill behind the Herbarium about 3-4 years ago. 

"It was full of deer hair, like mountain lion scat always is ," he said. The road had been driven over too many times to hold tracks, but there was no doubt in his mind that it came from a mountain lion. "But it wasn't steaming fresh and it was obvious the mountain lion wasn't living in the area. It was just passing through."

Other than Newell's find, Herbarium curator Andrew Sanders said, "I’d not heard of one near campus for a few decades. Plaster casts of fresh tracks in mud at the end of Big Springs Road were taken around 30 years ago. They’re scarce and elusive, but they’re around."

“I can’t say they’re not around but we haven’t gotten any calls,” said John Freese, interim chief of the UC Riverside Police Department. “The last one was maybe a year ago. Whenever they have been reported I’m pretty sure they’re bobcats. I can confirm bobcat sightings, as one of our patrol officers photographed one on campus several years ago.”

UCR Police have responded to calls about bobcats, rattlesnakes, wild burros, an injured owl, and a terrifying shriek that turned out to be two skunks mating.

“It was the strangest thing,” Freese said. “It sounded like a baby screaming.” 

That doesn’t mean it’s impossible for the predators to make a guest appearance from time to time, just unlikely. 

“It doesn’t make sense that mountain lions would live in or near the Botanic Gardens,” Hilborn said, pointing out that the gardens and adjacent hills are bordered on the west and south by the 60/215 Freeway, the UCR campus on the north, and a large residential neighborhood on the east. “Their habitat is so fragmented. They’d be hungry all the time.” 

Winston Vickers , a veterinarian who directs the California Mountain Lion Project at UC Davis’ Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, has co-authored numerous studies of the lion population in the Santa Ana Mountains of northern San Diego and southern Riverside counties. He was a member of a team that studied and ultimately recommended a wildlife undercrossing beneath the 15 Freeway in Temecula to prevent inbreeding and help that population survive.

“It is certainly possible, even likely, that occasionally a mountain lion might show up in your vicinity, but I would imagine it would be just very occasional,” Vickers said in an email. “That is because UCR and Box Springs Mountains are at the west end of a long, narrow area that, from a mountain lion’s perspective, is less than ideal habitat stretching from the San Jacinto Mountains to your area.”  

Vickers said that a typical male mountain lion territory is 125 square miles, and even more in less desirable terrain like the area surrounding campus. Habitat fragmentation, urbanization, and diminished food resources mean there is almost certainly no resident mountain lion population near UC Riverside. Therefore, any mountain lions that might appear at UCR are likely to be young males striking out on their own to find new territory.

“Mountain lions have been sighted in the Box Springs Mountains. I know of two sightings in the last 25 years that were made by very reliable people. I investigated one of these sightings and found some tracks in the mud of the stream in Two Trees Canyon,” said Ken Halama , director of the Motte Rimrock , Emerson Oaks , and Box Springs Reserves of the UC Natural Reserve System. 

“Unfortunately this was before the proliferation of smartphones and I did not take any pictures. Now, whether they live in the area or are just dispersing through is an entirely different question. Since the number of sightings have been so rare, my guess is that they were just passing through.”

Dustin McLain, chief of Parks and Resources at Riverside County Regional Parks and Open-Space District, said that mountain lions have been observed on Box Springs Mountain in the past but nothing recently. 

“We have had positive sightings by our caretaker employee and have collected a few paw print casts. When we do see them, we do not see them for long. It seems, geographically, this is the southwest terminus of their home range, with the majority of their home range being comprised of San Timoteo Canyon/Cherry Valley/Oak Glen and up into the San Bernardino Mountains,” he said 

Alternatively, Vickers suggests a territorial male lion that showed up near UCR could be at the far west end of his territory that would likely stretch east to the lands south of Beaumont and Banning.

“A female range is smaller but your area would also be at the western end of a territory and not visited regularly, I would imagine, unless there was a good deer population,” he said. 

Deer are not abundant in the Box Springs Mountains but McLain said some mountain lions might follow a seasonal deer migration into the area.

“The San Bernardino/Oak Glen herd usually migrates in late winter/early spring if conditions warrant extending their range further southwest due to limited availability of foraging habitat,” he said. “We usually see this in multiple drought years and can be considered not likely to occur, but it does happen from time to time.”

Unlike bobcats, mountain lions are shy, most active at night, and rarely seen even in their core territories. 

“Bobcats are urban adapters,” Halama said. “They are comfortable living on the edge of a human area.”

Like their fellow urban adapters, coyotes, bobcats are nonchalant around humans. They also tend to be active during the day, increasing the probability of meeting people. 

“I’ve been surprised by how much visibility carnivores have in Southern California,” Hilborn said, adding that in some other parts of the country carnivores like bobcats and coyotes are very timid around humans because they are hunted extensively.

“I saw a bobcat on the UCR campus and was shocked that they’re doing so well and aren’t being persecuted by people. In six years of living in rural western Virginia I never saw one, despite it being a much less urban place than Riverside. But since people don't actively persecute them in Southern California, they can be pretty blasé about humans, even in areas where there are a lot of people.”

This peaceful co-existence can happen because bobcats usually leave pets alone and pose little to no threat to humans. If mountain lions were regularly moving through the residential neighborhood between the Box Springs Mountains and campus, Halama said, “Something would happen to make people aware of their presence. Cats and other animals would start disappearing.”

All the experts agree the odds of seeing a mountain lion on the UCR campus or in the Botanic Gardens are vanishingly small but not zero. 

“A young migrating male can show up virtually anywhere—even somewhere like the Macy's at the Temecula mall a couple of years ago—but would be in your area briefly and just moving through,” Vickers said.

Anyone lucky enough to catch a unique glimpse of a mountain lion near the UCR campus will probably see it running away. Mountain lions typically avoid people. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife says that a person is 1,000 times more likely to be struck by lightning than attacked by a mountain lion.

Like all wild animals, however, they can be unpredictable and dangerous if they feel threatened or are sick, injured, or starving. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife recommends the following tips to avert or manage mountain lion encounters:

• Do not hike, bike, or jog alone. Stay alert on trails.
• Avoid hiking or jogging when mountain lions are most active – dawn, dusk, and at night.
• Keep a close watch on small children.
• Off leash dogs on trails are at increased risk of becoming prey for a mountain lion.
• Never approach a mountain lion. Give them an escape route.
• DO NOT RUN. Stay calm. Running may trigger chase, catch and kill response. Do not turn your back. Face the animal, make noise and try to look bigger by waving your arms, or opening your jacket if wearing one; throw rocks or other objects. Pick up small children.
• Do not crouch down or bend over. Squatting puts you in a vulnerable position of appearing much like a 4-legged prey animal.
• Be vocal; however, speak calmly and do not use high pitched tones or high pitch screams. 
• Teach others how to behave during an encounter. Anyone who runs may initiate an attack.
• If a lion attacks, fight back. Research on mountain lion attacks suggests that many potential victims have fought back successfully with rocks, sticks, garden tools, even an ink pen or bare hands. Try to stay on your feet. If knocked down, try to protect head and neck.
• If a mountain lion attacks a person, immediately call 911.
• Report unusual mountain lion behavior to your local California Department of Fish and Wildlife regional office.

Learn more about how to identify wildlife tracks and signs at OC Trackers .

Header photo: A mountain lion (California Department of Fish and Wildlife)

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Is there such thing as an affordable safari? How to holiday in the wild without breaking the bank

Brushes with wildlife are good for the soul – and they can be gentle on your pocket too, reveals james litston, article bookmarked.

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Louise Thomas

E ast African languages may not be your forte, but we all know one word in Swahili: safari . Though it actually translates as ‘journey’, we understand safari to mean a trip seeking animals in the wild. But there’s more to it than ticking off the Big Five on an African plain; safaris can just as easily focus on creatures much closer to home.

Whether it’s turtles in Turkey , birds on the Black Sea or even red squirrels and whales here in Britain, safaris are about heading out into nature and relishing the moment.

The catch is that, as a rule of thumb, wildlife thrives better in more remote regions, so getting there can be costly. But if you travel off-season , skip the luxury lodges, and choose destinations with favourable exchange rates , your bucket-list wildlife encounter need not have a budget-busting price tag. Here’s our pick of this season’s most affordable safaris.

Circle of life

Kenya is the ultimate safari hotspot (even if the exchange rate isn’t on our side right now). Take in Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha and the Maasai Mara on a week-long tour to spot the Big Five (buffalos, elephants, lions, leopards and rhinos) among countless other creatures (from £1,339pp, excluding flights; intrepidtravel.com ). Elsewhere, save money by spending only part of your trip in the wild. Three nights in Senegal’s Fathala Reserve (with elands, warthogs and monkeys) combined with a four-night Gambian beach break costs from £1,749pp, including flights ( gambia.co.uk ).

Read more on Africa travel :

• The bustling African city four hours from London hoping to break records
• Overland from Margate to Marrakech: An art-filled journey across France and Spain
• Africa’s largest country is one of world tourism’s undiscovered gems – for now

Escape to the Cape

South Africa offers great value for money. Untravelled Paths’ nine-night Western Cape trip blends a safari lodge stay with Cape Town’s penguins, the winelands of Franschhoek, and Plettenberg Bay’s beaches from £1,569pp, excluding flights ( untravelledpaths.com ). Or to keep costs really low, Bushbaby Travel recommends racking up the Big Seven (the usual Five, plus whales and sharks) by combining a Cape Town self-catering stay with a self-drive safari in Pilanesberg National Park. Seven nights from £1,090pp, including car hire but not flights ( bushbaby.travel ).

Bear necessities

Self-driving also cuts the cost of a Canada adventure – and all the more so when your vehicle doubles up as your hotel . This two-week motorhome holiday from regional specialist Bon Voyage covers all your essentials (itinerary planning, campsite bookings, on-the-road assistance) as well as topping and tailing the trip with a city stay in Vancouver . En route, spot eagles, beavers, moose, elk, bears (both black and grizzly) and orcas. From £3,995pp, including flights ( bon-voyage.co.uk ).

Burning bright

Tigers are the animal icons of the Indian subcontinent. Seek them on Distant Journeys’ 16-night Indian Wildlife Adventure, which chalks up 10 game drives across five national parks, including Kanha, Pench and Gir. Jackals, jungle cats, spiral-horned blackbuck and Asiatic lions also feature. From £3,295pp, including flights ( distantjourneys.co.uk ). Or head to Sri Lanka for a family safari to Yala and Uda Walawe National Parks to spy elephants and sloth bears before rounding things off at the beach. Two weeks from £3,185pp, excluding flights ( reefandrainforest.co.uk ).

Crossroads of continents

Turkey sits where Europe, Asia and Africa overlap. This means that, while much of its wildlife may look familiar, there are also more exotic elements. Spot the likes of white-breasted kingfishers, blue-cheeked bee-eaters and two kinds of turtle on Naturetrek’s week-long Central Turkey Wildlife & History small-group tour (from £3,295pp, including flights; naturetrek.co.uk ). Got three weeks to spare? A deep-dive into Turkey’s Aegean Coast maybe for you (from £5,035pp, including flights; greentours.co.uk ). Better still, beneficial exchange rates make your money go further here.

Delta discovery

The Via Pontica is an avian superhighway that eagles, storks and pelicans follow on their spring migration via the Bosporus and Black Sea coast. The destination for many of them is Romania’s Danube Delta, where vast wetlands form one of Europe’s last intact ecosystems. Discover its birdlife on a small-group tour (three nights from £383pp, excluding flights; responsibletravel.com ). Or make the most of this super-good-value country by pairing the delta with the large-mammal-rich Carpathian Mountains (seven nights from £2,495pp, including flights; wildlifeworldwide.com ).

Baltic bargain

Further north again, you’ll find more big mammals (including bears) in Estonia. Around half of this Baltic nation is forested, so there’s plenty of habitat for wildlife to thrive – and prices here are lower than you’d pay for similar experiences in Norway or Sweden. Windows on the Wild’s self-guided tour takes in three national parks, providing a mix of landscapes inhabited by wolf, bear and lynx. Six nights from £860pp, including flights ( windowsonthewild.com ).

Close to home

For the cheapest wildlife fixes of all, save money on travel by staying in the UK, home to some of Europe’s best seabird colonies and a quarter of all whale and dolphin species. Spy some of the latter in Yorkshire on a five-hour Seabirds & Whales cruise (£90, yorkshirecoastnature.co.uk ); or make it more about peregrines and polecats in Wales ( welshwildlifebreaks.co.uk ). And for a proper immersion in nature, meet stags, red squirrels and golden eagles on a three-night Cairngorms winter walking holiday (from £845, adventuretoursuk.com ).

Read more: How to take a wildlife safari without leaving the UK

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