Safari 5.0.1: Extensions for Everyone!

Apple has released an update to its popular Safari browser. This update, which puts the browser at version 5.0.1, enables Safari Extensions for all users. This feature though included in the initial release of Safari 5, was only made available to general users this morning. The newly enabled extensions add sophisticated new features to the browser including toolbars and web content filters.

To help catalog third-party extensions, Apple has unveiled The Safari Extensions Gallery here. Unlike other competing browsers, all Safari Extensions can be installed with a single click, and without restarting the browser. Currently about 100 different extensions populate different categories in the Extensions Gallery. Ranging from news, shopping, social networking, entertainment, and more, there are plenty of different extensions to try out. All are free to download, and can be easily managed by clicking Safari > Preferences > Extensions. So far a few of my favorites are: 1-Click Weather for Safari, Twitter for Safari, and Rotten Tomatoes. Feel free to share your own finds.

Please Note: The requirements for Safari 5 are either Mac OS 10.5 + or Windows XP SP3 +

UPDATE: MacRumors has noted that Safari 5.0.1 addresses the autofill exploit which surfaced last week. The vulnerability is also patched in Safari 4.1.1. To read more about the autofill exploit click here

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