iOS Today 789: Our Favorite Safari Extensions
Hosts: Micah Sargent & Dan Morin
Date: February 12, 2026
Episode Overview
This episode of iOS Today is all about Safari extensions—those little add-ons that can transform and enhance your web browsing on iOS and iPadOS. With regular co-host Rosemary Orchard out sick, Micah Sargent welcomes guest Dan Morin of Six Colors for a lively, in-depth discussion about their favorite Safari extensions. They share insights into how they curate their extensions, highlight accessibility and privacy considerations, and detail the tools that have become essential to their daily internet workflows.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. The Evolution of Extensions Use
Timestamps: 01:48 – 04:51
- Micah and Dan discuss how their use of Safari extensions has evolved, both noting that over time, they've pared down to the essentials due to reliability and privacy considerations.
- Major iOS releases often prompt them to revisit which extensions they use, as changes in Apple’s frameworks can affect compatibility.
- Dan highlights how Apple has made it increasingly easier for Chrome and other browser extension developers to port their products to Safari, though the ecosystem still shifts slowly.
Notable Quote:
"I've identified the handful of ones that really do things that I find useful every day... I tend to stick with those." — Dan (03:14)
2. Accessing and Managing Safari Extensions
Timestamps: 04:51 – 13:08
- Micah gives a step-by-step guide on where to find, enable, disable, and manage Safari extensions in iOS settings.
- He explains the importance of understanding extension permissions, emphasizing user privacy and reviewing privacy policies.
- There is an easier, alternative way to manage extensions directly from within Safari using the puzzle piece icon in the address bar, which provides quick access and toggling.
Notable Quote:
"An extension by its very nature, particularly extensions that make changes to a page, are going to need to have some level of access to that page... So just be mindful of that when you are using extensions." — Micah (09:32)
- Visual Customization Example: Micah demonstrates customizing the look of a website live on air, transforming Six Colors into a retro theme using the Noir extension.
3. The Hosts’ Favorite Safari Extensions
Timestamps: 15:24 – 34:29
The heart of the episode: a rundown of Micah and Dan’s must-have Safari extensions.
a. Wipr 2
- What it does: Straightforward ad and content blocker.
- Why Dan uses it: Switched from OneBlocker for its simplicity, one-time purchase model, and indie developer roots.
- Both hosts have adopted it and appreciate its unobtrusive background operation.
- Notable Quote:
"For me, putting all those things together, it's an easy choice. And I love that it's one thing that I've got everywhere."
— Dan (17:18)
b. Noir
- What it does: Applies customizable dark modes to any website.
- Micah’s use case: Prevents bright websites from interfering with his camera setup. Appreciates Noir’s privacy reputation and customization power.
- Features: Automatic themes, manual overrides, grayscale/image tweaking, and themed color options like “Matrix.”
- Notable Quote:
"It is just nice, particularly... when you need a way of basically dark-moding whatever page you’re on."
— Micah (19:06)
c. StopTheMadness
- What it does: Fixes frustrating web behaviors (e.g., disabling custom right-click, blocking link trackers, fixing text selection).
- Dan’s take: Useful for undoing annoying, anti-user webpage design choices and highly customizable per site.
- Notable Quote:
"If you have ever browsed the web and ran into something like, ‘Why did the site do it this way? This is just annoying,’ StopTheMadness can probably fix it."
— Dan (26:50)
d. Keyword Search
- What it does: Lets you define custom search shortcuts (like ";a" for Amazon, ";sc" for Six Colors Google site search).
- **Both hosts rely on it to quickly search various sites from Safari’s address bar with shortcut keys.
- Micah’s favorite shortcut: ";asup" for Apple Support.
- Notable Quote:
"This was such a part of my muscle memory that I was so happy when it came about for Safari."
— Dan (29:09)
e. Implosion
- Dev: Christian Selig (creator of Apollo)
- What it does: Automatically redirects you from Google AMP pages to the original article, avoiding stripped-down, sometimes broken “AMP” versions.
- Micah: Praises it for restoring the proper browsing experience.
f. Achoo
- What it does: Lets you view and lightly edit a webpage’s HTML source on iOS/iPadOS.
- Micah: Loves it for mobile web development curiosity.
g. Pipifier
- Dan’s pick: Best-in-class extension for popping any video out of a webpage into a picture-in-picture window.
- He says: More reliable than built-in or alternative extension options, "a one-trick pony but it does that trick extremely well."
- Notable Quote:
"Anytime you’re on a page with some video and you’re like, ‘Boy, I wish I didn’t have to sit on this page.’ You can just tap the button... and it pops the video out."
— Dan (33:45)
4. App Cap Picks
Timestamps: 36:18 – 41:40
- Dan’s Pick: XT Inc. X4, a tiny, affordable e-ink eReader device (not an extension, but a fun gadget). He recommends replacing the built-in firmware with the Crosspoint open-source project for better usability and integration with Calibre.
- Micah’s Pick: Full Screen Clock, an iOS app for displaying a simple, giant timer or clock—ideal for presentations or timing events, with a one-time $0.99 in-app purchase to remove ads.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On paring down extensions:
"Why do I have so many extensions? Am I really using these things?" — Dan (03:18)
-
On privacy and permissions:
"I always recommend at least perusing some privacy policies... just to get an understanding of what kind of data is being collected, if there is any, and how that would impact you." — Micah (09:49)
-
On pipifier’s reliability:
"It doesn’t get in my way." — Dan (34:18)
-
Fun moment—Micah customizing a website’s look:
"For people who aren't watching and are instead listening, I've just sort of old-ify CP-ified the Six Colors page and now it's giving old school Macintosh and I'm kind of digging it." — Micah (13:08)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Extension Management How-to: 04:51 – 13:08
- Wipr 2 / Ad Blocker Discussion: 15:24 – 17:46
- Noir / Dark Mode for Web: 18:01 – 23:51
- StopTheMadness Overview: 23:52 – 27:02
- Keyword Search Power Use: 27:02 – 30:52
- Implosion, Achoo, and AMP avoidance: 30:52 – 33:29
- Pipifier – Picture in Picture Video: 33:29 – 34:29
- App Caps (Gadget/App picks): 36:18 – 41:40
The Show’s Tone
The episode is upbeat, friendly, and relaxed, peppered with good-natured tech banter. Both hosts share authentic, personal experiences, offer step-by-step guidance, and stun each other with their programmable shortcuts and customizations. The episode feels like a candid conversation between expert friends eager to help listeners improve their web experience—without overwhelming them with too many tools.
Conclusion
This episode provides a thorough, practical guide to the Safari extensions that really make a difference for power users and professionals alike. The hosts deliver a mix of technical advice, user caution, and playful exploration, ensuring listeners leave with a handful of actionable recommendations to try on their iOS devices—and a blueprint for managing Safari extensions safely and efficiently.
Have a favorite extension not mentioned? The hosts invite listener feedback at iostoday@twit.tv.
For more show notes, visit twit.tv/shows/ios-today
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