iPad iPad Air Safari alternatives

MeSue · 12-30-2013, 04:06 PM

I've tried a few alternate browsers in the past but usually end up going back to Safari because it's just the path of least resistance. But the constant crashing of Safari on the iPad Air is starting to really bug me. Not just the app crashing, but it restarts the whole iPad.

So, what are your favorite alternative browsers for iOS 7? Bonus points if you can say you've had no issues with it crashing the iPad Air. Thanks!

dordale · 12-30-2013, 05:10 PM

MeSue--

I use Mercury Browser on my iPad air as an alternative to Safari--I like the interface better. Haven't had any crashes with Mercury, but also have to say I haven't had any crashes with Safari either.

jswinden · 12-30-2013, 05:16 PM

You might want to call Apple CS. I use Safari on my iPad Mini Retina and iPhone 5, and used it on an iPad 3 in the past, and I cannot remember the last time it crashed the app much less the device. Admittedly, I'm not a mega user of Safari on iOS devices. I tend to do 90%+ of my browsing via a computer and FireFox.

In the past I've tried using Opera Mini and Chrome on my iPad, but I always quickly returned to Safari. It has been so long ago that I can no longer remember why, but I do remember being less impressed with them than I was Safari.

JTravers · 12-30-2013, 08:10 PM

Calling Apple CS isn't going to help. Crashing Safari is a known issue with iOS 7.0.x due to memory management bugs. The crashes appear to be fixed in 7.1 beta 2 which should be released in the next couple months.

Some alternative browsers that I use and like.
Sleipnir (good tab management and gestures)
Coast by Opera (Like the gestures and visual style)
iCab (not the prettiest but very useful and feature-rich)
Chrome (access to bookmarks and tabs on my other computers)

MeSue · 12-30-2013, 09:19 PM

I had Mercury already, so I am trying it again since it syncs with Firefox which is what I use on my desktop. Will be nice when they get Safari fixed since everything goes to it by default.

jswinden · 12-30-2013, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MeSue

I had Mercury already, so I am trying it again since it syncs with Firefox which is what I use on my desktop. Will be nice when they get Safari fixed since everything goes to it by default.

Good to know as I use Firefox on my Mac Mini and Windows 7 laptop. Firefox refuses to make an iOS version, so I'm happy that it can be synced to some other iOS browser.

MeSue · 12-30-2013, 11:07 PM

For the record, Safari never crashes my iPhone 4s and I don't think it crashed my iPad 3, even after iOS 7. But it's an epidemic with my iPad Air.

dura · 12-31-2013, 07:47 AM

Since iOS 7, both my former Ipad 4 and current iPad Air crash very regularly, once or twice a day. Not just Safari, all kinds of applications and games. JTravers is right I think, it is not a Safari thing but an iOS 7 thing.
I've looked for Safari alternatives a lot, mostly because I prefer a browser that gives the choices open/open in new tab/open in background all together (Safari only does 2 out of 3, depending on settings). But I always came back to Safari, because every link from other apps opens by default in Safari and this cannot be bypassed.
I liked Dolphin as an alternative, iCab and Atom were nice too.

FlorenceArt · 12-31-2013, 08:02 AM

I like iCab, although I think some of the features I initially used it for are now available in Safari. It has a lot of features and is very customizable. On the down side, it feels a bit slow (purely subjective judgment) and occasionally crashes. It's my main browser.

Coops · 12-31-2013, 12:17 PM

i've used icab on a previous ipad2 due to the lameness of Safari on ipad... i mean, really, how long did it take to get tabs, never mind something advanced. If you were on a microsoft tablet would you just use IE?

Now use Atomic on ipad Air and a mini before that. Download files ( pdf's and open i ibooks etc ) , ad block, appear to be Safari desktop - or IE6 amongst many others - if you're some kind of deviant ( why on earth would i want a mobile web site on an ipad anyway for f@cks sake), full screen views with or without tabs..., gestures, and on and on.

pata · 12-31-2013, 12:42 PM

I like Grazing. There's a version in the pipeline that's specifically designed for iOS7 but the current app is still very good

12-30-2013, 04:06 PM	#1
MeSue Geek in the Forest Posts: 399 Karma: 1077186 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: FL Device: iPad Air, iPhone 4s, Nexus 7	iPad Air Safari alternatives I've tried a few alternate browsers in the past but usually end up going back to Safari because it's just the path of least resistance. But the constant crashing of Safari on the iPad Air is starting to really bug me. Not just the app crashing, but it restarts the whole iPad. So, what are your favorite alternative browsers for iOS 7? Bonus points if you can say you've had no issues with it crashing the iPad Air. Thanks!

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12-30-2013, 05:10 PM	#2
dordale Wizard Posts: 1,731 Karma: 3472866 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Sony PRS-650 & 350; Kindle Voyage; Kobo Aura HD, Aura One, and Forma	MeSue-- I use Mercury Browser on my iPad air as an alternative to Safari--I like the interface better. Haven't had any crashes with Mercury, but also have to say I haven't had any crashes with Safari either.

12-30-2013, 05:16 PM	#3
jswinden Nameless Being	You might want to call Apple CS. I use Safari on my iPad Mini Retina and iPhone 5, and used it on an iPad 3 in the past, and I cannot remember the last time it crashed the app much less the device. Admittedly, I'm not a mega user of Safari on iOS devices. I tend to do 90%+ of my browsing via a computer and FireFox. In the past I've tried using Opera Mini and Chrome on my iPad, but I always quickly returned to Safari. It has been so long ago that I can no longer remember why, but I do remember being less impressed with them than I was Safari.

12-30-2013, 08:10 PM	#4
JTravers Groupie Posts: 182 Karma: 1078201 Join Date: Sep 2007 Device: iPad Air 2	Calling Apple CS isn't going to help. Crashing Safari is a known issue with iOS 7.0.x due to memory management bugs. The crashes appear to be fixed in 7.1 beta 2 which should be released in the next couple months. Some alternative browsers that I use and like. Sleipnir (good tab management and gestures) Coast by Opera (Like the gestures and visual style) iCab (not the prettiest but very useful and feature-rich) Chrome (access to bookmarks and tabs on my other computers)

12-30-2013, 09:19 PM	#5
MeSue Geek in the Forest Posts: 399 Karma: 1077186 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: FL Device: iPad Air, iPhone 4s, Nexus 7	I had Mercury already, so I am trying it again since it syncs with Firefox which is what I use on my desktop. Will be nice when they get Safari fixed since everything goes to it by default.

12-30-2013, 11:07 PM	#7
MeSue Geek in the Forest Posts: 399 Karma: 1077186 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: FL Device: iPad Air, iPhone 4s, Nexus 7	For the record, Safari never crashes my iPhone 4s and I don't think it crashed my iPad 3, even after iOS 7. But it's an epidemic with my iPad Air.

12-31-2013, 07:47 AM	#8
dura Groupie Posts: 174 Karma: 1062434 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Netherlands Device: Kobo H2O (2th edition), Kindle PW11	Since iOS 7, both my former Ipad 4 and current iPad Air crash very regularly, once or twice a day. Not just Safari, all kinds of applications and games. JTravers is right I think, it is not a Safari thing but an iOS 7 thing. I've looked for Safari alternatives a lot, mostly because I prefer a browser that gives the choices open/open in new tab/open in background all together (Safari only does 2 out of 3, depending on settings). But I always came back to Safari, because every link from other apps opens by default in Safari and this cannot be bypassed. I liked Dolphin as an alternative, iCab and Atom were nice too.

12-31-2013, 08:02 AM	#9
FlorenceArt High Priestess Posts: 5,761 Karma: 5042529 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Montreuil sous bois, France Device: iPad Pro 9.7, iPhone 6 Plus	I like iCab, although I think some of the features I initially used it for are now available in Safari. It has a lot of features and is very customizable. On the down side, it feels a bit slow (purely subjective judgment) and occasionally crashes. It's my main browser.

12-31-2013, 12:17 PM	#10
Coops Zealot Posts: 129 Karma: 77756 Join Date: May 2009 Device: Kindle Oasis, Sony T3 backup	i've used icab on a previous ipad2 due to the lameness of Safari on ipad... i mean, really, how long did it take to get tabs, never mind something advanced. If you were on a microsoft tablet would you just use IE? Now use Atomic on ipad Air and a mini before that. Download files ( pdf's and open i ibooks etc ) , ad block, appear to be Safari desktop - or IE6 amongst many others - if you're some kind of deviant ( why on earth would i want a mobile web site on an ipad anyway for f@cks sake), full screen views with or without tabs..., gestures, and on and on.

12-31-2013, 12:42 PM	#11
pata Zealot Posts: 145 Karma: 4840066 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: N/A	I like Grazing. There's a version in the pipeline that's specifically designed for iOS7 but the current app is still very good

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