


But the iPhone maker did beat Google, which pioneered the extensions for its Chrome browser. Firefox and Kiwi allow the browsers to be extended with new software when running on Android. Still, developers could have to make some adjustments, such as ensuring their extensions don't look bad with smaller screens, Safari engineer David Quesada said in a WWDC talk.Īpple isn't the first company to roll out mobile extensions. Many Safari extensions built for Mac will work without significant changes.

Apple has been testing mobile Safari extensions with three developers: Grammarly, a grammar checker Honey, a coupon finder and Momentum, a tab manager.īrowser extensions aren't for everyone. The Cupertino, California-based tech giant announced the expansion of its extension technology earlier this week at WWDC, its annual developers conference. Extensions are already available for the Mac version of Safari. Others fill in passwords, translate text, spruce up Wikipedia and track down original photos online. (The iOS 15 developer beta is here now, but you may want to wait to download it.)Įxtensions expand browser capabilities, allowing them to block ads and prevent online tracking, for example. The software add-ons will be available in Apple's upcoming iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 operating systems, which are expected to arrive this fall. Apple's Safari has beaten Google's Chrome to the punch with extensions that customize your browser on smartphones and tablets.
