I wish Apple would fix Safari. In addition to the bug that periodically renders blank white pages and forces a refresh or restart, some sites simply do not work with it. It took me thirty minutes to discover that the reason I could not complete the creation of the API key and purchase Claude API credits for DEVONthink’s AI was a Safari compatibility problem. As soon as I switched to Brave, everything worked fine.
But I now have Claude’s API in DEVONthink, and I ran its AI across my research files. I admit, it is pretty cool. It searched my entire research database, pulled together the relevant information, and created an outline in Markdown format with just one prompt.
I am getting quite the workflow established: Mindnode, Ulysses, Superwhisper Pro, Claude Max (persona0 and Claude Teams (work), DEVONthink 4 with Claude AI integration. I even bit the bullet and subscribed to Creator Studio. I made one change to my app mix. I have finally settled on Ulysses (again) versus Scrivener for my book project. It is just easier. I will clean up the final draft in Atticus or Vellum. Scrivener’s compile feature and Dropbox sync are just too fiddly for my liking.
Remember that time you told me you could never get $100/mo worth of value out of AI (Claude specifically). I think I may win that bet before long?
I’m actually posting because I switched to Chrome several weeks ago after having enough of Safari. The problems you described plus the terrible 1Password reliability sent me over the edge. So far, no such issues with Chrome. It’s an easy choice on my desktop(s) at work. We’ll see what it costs me on battery life and RAM when traveling.
I know, but sometimes one just has to surrender. I don’t want to use Chrome because it is essentially a platform to inform Google advertising. Brave works fine. Additionally, based on what I’ve read, Safari is more energy efficient, and because I use Apple Passwords, the integration works well. I hate to give up on Safari, but I can’t continue to have the browser freeze and produce unrendered pages. Having a stable, reliable browser should be table stakes for Apple.
Same, sort of. I’ve been using ARC for reading, research, and learning but used Safari for admin and casual surfing. (I like having segregated workspaces for different kinds of work.) The list of admin-related websites that don’t work properly in Safari finally got too long to ignore, and Chrome is now my default for that work. It doesn’t hurt that I can fire up Claude there if I have a mind to.
The argument apple makes is that websites are sloppy and not written to standard, and chromium-based browsers are less strict. But it does suck to not know from site to site.
That leaves the user on the horns of a dilemma: accept a browser that freezes on non-compliant websites, or switch to a Chromium-based browser that fuels Google’s advertising engine. In the latter case, Brave would be my choice.
There’s an important distinction between using Google Chrome and using a Chromium-based browser. Chrome is tightly coupled to Google’s services and ad business; Chromium is not.
My understanding is that Google’s advertising business does not benefit in any direct or material way if you’re using a privacy-focused browser such as Brave and a non-Google search engine (e.g. DuckDuckGo or Kagi). Even Google Chrome can be configured to minimize direct benefit to Google’s ad business, though not as cleanly as non-Google Chromium browsers.
So, if I understand you, I am correct that using a browser like Brave gives me a Chromium-based browser for greater reliability while avoiding feeding the advertising beast, correct? Other than the tight integration with Google services/products, is there any reason one would want to use Chrome instead of a browser like Brave?
I think the Safari issue was something not site-specific since Anthropic API key and billing management work fine. I don’t think they’ve neglected cross-browser support, at least not for modern browsers. Not saying you shouldn’t switch. Carry on!
There are many reports of the problems I mentioned. If the issue is not site specific, then it must be an inherent problem with Safari, correct? I don’t want to change browsers, I prefer Safari, but it has to be reliable.
That’s essentially what I’m saying. Using Brave gives you Chromium-level site compatibility without meaningfully benefiting Google’s advertising business (especially if Google isn’t your default search engine). Google Chrome may still be preferred in some organizations due to enterprise requirements, tighter integration with the Google ecosystem, or because it’s the primary browser many sites are tested against.
I pay for Google Workspace, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV. So the way I deal with things is to use their settings to manage my “search history, YouTube watch history, location data, ad personalization, and third-party app access, as well as delete or auto-delete activity”. My paid Google Workspace account data isn’t scanned or used for AI training or ads, etc.
I’m more concerned with the credit bureaus and medical support companies that keep leaking my data. And my government.
But here’s some info about what we all face these days.
I’ve found so many failures surfing with Safari that I only use it in rare cases that I have more than one account at a certain site, or for the ever rarer case that a site doesn’t work with Brave, but it does with Safari.
I recently switched from Safari to Helium (a relatively new, privacy focused Chromium browser). Safari let me down too many times when sites wouldn’t behave as expected. The final straw came when it hung during an expensive transaction involving single use vouchers.
I had the same problem on Friday with Claude and Safari. What worked for me was to turn off the content blockers for the website in Safari (and I’ve left them off.) As soon as I did that my purchase went through and I was all set.
I’ve found that most of the time that Safari fails on a website it’s fixed by going to website settings.
Or switch to Firefox and avoid both issues. I haven’t had a single freeze or other issue with Firefox. I have one bank site that continually tells me my browser is not supported , but it still works just fine.
I honestly don’t see any big problems with Safari. I know some websites don’t render well, so I have Chrome installed for that. But this must be less than 10% of the websites I visit. Otherwise, Safari works well and integrates nicely with iPhone and iPad which is a really important part of my day (being able to use Safari on the go). And it is one of the few Apple apps that get constant love and attention from them.
I don’t want to use Chrome because it is essentially a platform to inform Google advertising. Brave works fine. Additionally, based on what I’ve read, Safari is more energy efficient, and because I use Apple Passwords, the integration works well. I hate to give up on Safari, but I can’t continue to have the browser freeze and produce unrendered pages. Having a stable, reliable browser should be table stakes for Apple.
