Mobile Safari

Safari doesn't have any browsing tabs (yet) as most people are used to on desktop computers. Until Apple adds this feature to iOS, Mobile Safari simply opens a new page when touching a link. If you don't want your reading interrupted on the iPhone or iPad, there's a way to stop this from happening.

To make the link open in the background so you can check out the page later, you have to change an option in the main settings. Navigate to Settings -> Safari -> Open Links -> In Background.

iOS on both the iPhone and iPad offers no ability to specify one of the many Mobile Safari alternatives as your device's default browser.

Owners that have jailbroken their iPhone can add this functionality by installing an iOS tweak called Browser Changer, which is the successor to OpenOpera. There's also an SBSettings toggle available for Browser Changer, allowing for quick and easy default browser changes.

Browser Changer comes with support for over 25 alternative browsers, including popular alternatives to Mobile Safari such as Dolphin, Atomic Browser, Opera Mini and more.

You may have noticed when you try to upload a photo or file using the Mobile Safari web browser on the iPhone the feature is disabled. Apple limits this functionality on your device by default. If your iPhone is jailbroken you can enable Safari file uploading with the following tweak:

1. Open Cydia and navigate to Sections -> Tweaks -> Safari Upload Enabler.
2. Touch the Purchase button in the upper right hand corner.
3. Login to the Cydia Store and pay $1.99 with PayPal or Amazon Payments.
4. Touch the Install button then press Confirm.

Many of you who eagerly updated to iOS 4.2 have inquired how to take advantage of the new feature that allows you to search for and find text within webpages in the iPhone's Mobile Safari browser.

Have no fear, the feature is there, even if you can't find it.