Tabs in Mobile Safari

One feature I miss on the iPhone version of Safari is tabs; on my desktop computer, I’m lost without the ability to open multiple Web sites in the same window. If you’re in the same boat, check out Inventive Labs’s Tabulate. Rather than a native application requiring you to hack your iPhone, Tabulate is a JavaScript bookmarklet; just drag the Tabulate bookmarklet on the Inventive Web site (sorry, MovableType has a bug that won’t let us include the link here) to your Safari bookmarks bar and then sync your iPhone with your computer. (This procedure assumes, of course, that you sync Safari bookmarks between your iPhone and your computer.)

Once you’ve got the bookmarklet on your iPhone, just visit any Web site and then choose the bookmarklet from Mobile Safari’s bookmarks; a small, orange flag button in the upper-left corner of the screen lets you know Tabulate is working. After that, whenever you tap on any link on the current Web page, a three-button overlay (shown above) appears on the screen. Tapping the blue circle opens the link in the current window. Tapping the green circle opens the link in a new “tab”—actually just another Safari window. Tapping the orange circle saves the link so you can visit it later.

I especially like the third option. As you click on links and save them for later browsing, the flag button in the upper-left displays the number of saved links. When you’re ready to view those links, just tap on the button and each saved link opens in a new Safari window. (The Tabulate Web site provides a good demonstration video.)

Of course, Tabulate isn’t as good as a real tabs feature; for example, links open in new windows rather than true tabs; you have to re-activate Tabulate for every new page you visit; and some sites, such as Google’s new iPhone site, don’t work with Tabulate. But it’s better than no tabs at all, and I’ve been using it quite a bit.

[Hat tip: TUAW.]

Category: Tips & Troubleshooting

Posted by Dan Frakes on Dec 10 2007, 4:01 PM ET

Comments (2)

I don't know, I have another bookmarklet to make all links on any page open in a new window. In my experience, Safari isn't so good at handling multiple open windows. Frequently I close a window and go to another to find the window I just closed (the one I navigated to is lost). More frequently I'd go back to a window to find the history is lost (the back button is grayed out).

If (when) Safari is fixed, these bookmarklets would be more useful (that saving links feature might be nice though).

Posted by Dave-O | December 10, 2007 8:39 PM

I've used that bookmarklet, as well. Tabulate seems to work more reliably for me. That said, you're right that Mobile Safari's handling of "open in new window" actions stinks. I have not only the problem you're describing, but also one where Safari tries to open the URL in both the new window and the existing window at the same time.

Posted by Dan Frakes | December 12, 2007 3:46 PM

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