Podcast Summary: iOS Today 762: Safari Extensions

Podcast Information

• Title: All TWiT.tv Shows (Audio)
• Host/Author: TWiT
• Episode: iOS Today 762: Safari Extensions
• Release Date: July 24, 2025
• Description: Leo Laporte brings some of the most interesting personalities in technology together to talk about the most important issues. Fun, relaxed, informative, and always entertaining, count on TWiT for the best tech podcasts in the world.

Introduction In episode 762 of iOS Today, hosts Micah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard delve into the world of Safari Extensions, exploring tools that can significantly enhance the browsing experience on Apple devices. The discussion centers around various extensions, their functionalities, pricing, and personal experiences using them. This summary captures the key points, insights, and recommendations shared during the episode.

1. Wiper: Simplistic Ad Blocking

• Overview: Rosemary introduces Wiper, an ad-blocking extension designed to clean up the web experience by removing unwanted advertisements seamlessly.
• Key Features:
  • Simple interface with a refresh button to update ad-blocking sources.
  • Easy access to developer information and support options.
  • Suitable for users who prefer a hands-off approach to ad blocking.
• Personal Experiences: Rosemary shares how Wiper effectively removes ads without disrupting website functionality, making it a reliable choice for herself and her family.
• Pricing:
  • Wiper: $1.99 one-time purchase.
  • Comparison: OneBlocker, a similar extension, costs $14.99 per year or $2.99 monthly.
• Notable Quote:

  Rosemary Orchard [05:39]: "Wiper just helps get rid of all of it. It's a really great way of just wiping the web clean."

2. Keyword Search: Enhanced Site-Specific Searches

• Overview: Keyword Search allows users to perform specific searches within designated websites, bypassing the general search engine interface.
• Key Features:
  • Assigns unique keywords to search specific sites directly from the browser's search bar.
  • Facilitates quick access to site-specific content without navigating to the website first.
• Use Cases:
  • Searching specific content on the TWiT website or AP Stylebook with customized search queries.
• Pricing:
  • Available for free on the App Store.
• Notable Quote:

  Micah Sargent [12:35]: "Keyword Search is a really great way to quickly try to find content without having to go to the website first."

3. Good Links: Organizing and Saving Content

• Overview: Good Links is a Safari extension designed to save and organize web pages for later reference, including offline access.
• Key Features:
  • Save articles, manage login details for paywalled content, and access saved links offline.
  • Cross-browser compatibility with extensions for Firefox and Chrome.
  • Tagging system to categorize saved links.
• Personal Experiences: Rosemary highlights how Good Links helps manage articles like airline restrictions, making it invaluable for planning and reference.
• Pricing:
  • Good Links: $4.99.
• Notable Quote:

  Rosemary Orchard [19:39]: "Good Links is just a really nice way of remembering that you have all these little things set up to remind yourself."

4. Browser Note: Digital Sticky Notes

• Overview: Browser Note provides a way to attach sticky notes to specific websites, ensuring crucial information is always accessible.
• Key Features:
  • Add notes that appear on designated websites or specific pages.
  • Options to snooze notes for temporary hiding.
  • Integration with Safari's share sheet for easy access.
• Use Cases:
  • Reminding oneself of coupon codes, login requirements, or important website features.
• Notable Quote:

  Rosemary Orchard [20:48]: "Browser note is just, it's a great digital sticky note for websites and it's a really random thing that sometimes I need."

5. Printer Friendly for Safari: Optimizing Print Layouts

• Overview: Printer Friendly for Safari enhances the printing experience by allowing users to remove unwanted sections from web pages before printing.
• Key Features:
  • Edit web pages to exclude headers, footers, and other unnecessary content.
  • Reduce paper and ink usage by customizing print layouts.
• Personal Experiences: Rosemary explains how this extension simplifies printing instructions or labels without excessive, irrelevant content.
• Notable Quote:

  Rosemary Orchard [26:28]: "Printer Friendly for Safari ... really great for... you don't want to waste ink and paper on printing."

6. Share Tabs for Safari: Managing Multiple Tabs

• Overview: Share Tabs for Safari allows users to share a collection of open tabs easily, facilitating collaboration and reference sharing.
• Key Features:
  • Compile multiple open tabs into a single shareable list.
  • Copy the list of URLs for distribution via email, messaging apps, etc.
• Use Cases:
  • Sharing a set of research links, travel destinations, or project resources with colleagues or friends.
• Notable Quote:

  Rosemary Orchard [26:28]: "Share Tabs for Safari ... it's just a really handy way to share a list of tabs."

7. URL Linker for Safari: Formatting Links Efficiently

• Overview: URL Linker for Safari streamlines the process of sharing links in specific formats, making it easier to integrate into documents and communications.
• Key Features:
  • Customize the format of shared links (e.g., Markdown, plain text).
  • Simplifies the creation of formatted link lists for blogs, documentation, or notes.
• Usage Example: Micah demonstrates copying a link with tab spacing directly into show documents, enhancing workflow efficiency.
• Notable Quote:

  Rosemary Orchard [26:28]: "URL Linker exists so that when you share a link you can share it in a particular format."

8. Hush Nag Blocker: Eliminating Annoying Prompts

• Overview: Hush Nag Blocker targets the removal of intrusive cookie and privacy prompts that often disrupt the browsing experience.
• Key Features:
  • Blocks recurring prompts asking for cookie consent or privacy settings.
  • Focuses solely on eliminating these nags without affecting other site functionalities.
  • Maintains user privacy by avoiding third-party dependencies and crash tracking.
• Notable Quote:

  Micah Sargent [25:28]: "Hush Nag Blocker ... blocks those nags and gets out of the way."

Additional Discussions

Avoiding Overly Featured Extensions

• The hosts express a preference for minimalistic extensions over feature-heavy ones like Momentum, which transforms the browser's homepage with widgets and quotes, potentially detracting from the primary browsing tasks.

Shortcuts Corner: Enhancing Workflow with Automations

• Listener Query: Kevin seeks assistance in creating a shortcut that adds both the title and URL of a podcast episode to Apple Reminders.
• Response: Rosemary provides a step-by-step guide to modifying an existing shortcut to achieve Kevin's desired functionality, emphasizing simplicity to minimize errors.
• Notable Quote:

  Rosemary Orchard [39:45]: "By putting the URL in also bonus, you just tap on it and it takes you straight to the podcast app."

App Caps: Recommended Tools

• Endel: An app that generates background music using soundscapes tailored to locations and times of day, aiding productivity and focus. Recent updates include features for users with ADHD, such as guided exercises and specialized soundscapes like solfeggiotones and 8D ODYS.
  • Pricing: Approximately $7.50/month, with options for in-app purchases.
  • Notable Quote:

    Micah Sargent [44:28]: "Endel is an app that plays background music using science to create soundscapes that impact your cognition."

Security and Privacy Tips

• Locking Notes in iOS: Rosemary demonstrates using the Notes app's password protection feature to secure sensitive information, such as deregistering a car from various services to prevent unauthorized fines.
  • Notable Quote:

    Rosemary Orchard [49:47]: "You can lock notes, which is really great for things that have got like payment details in there or stuff related to your car."

Conclusion Episode 762 of iOS Today offers a comprehensive exploration of Safari Extensions, providing listeners with practical tools to enhance their browsing experience. From ad blocking and site-specific searches to organizing links and optimizing print layouts, Micah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard cover a wide array of extensions tailored to diverse needs. Their insightful discussions, coupled with personal anecdotes and clear recommendations, make this episode a valuable resource for anyone looking to maximize their use of Safari on Apple devices.

Notable Final Quote:

Micah Sargent [53:00]: "If you're looking to get in touch with me, you can find me at Micah Sargent on many social media sites or you can do Chihuahua Coffee. Head there and check that out."

Stay Connected For more information, follow Rosemary Orchard at rosemaryorchard.com and Micah Sargent at Micah Sargent on social media or Chihuahua Coffee. To engage further, join the Club Twit community for exclusive content and benefits.