After that last huge update, we switched to Safari as our default browser, and we have to say that we're really impressed. For one, the browser's speed and streamlined user interface made surfing the web a whole different experience for us. And all of the new Safari updates, including the Reader, HTML5 support and extensions sold us on switching to Safari permanently.

We kicked Chrome and Firefox to the curb and tried out Safari's extensions for a change. Out of Apple's entire Safari Extensions Galley, we wanted to make sure that our readers steered clear of the most inane ones, and that we chose the best of the duplicates. Some of them are quirky (like a few featured in the miscellaneous section), but the majority are incredibly utilitarian and a great way to add in little short cuts here and there from your browser window. Safari extensions are a tool that you do not want to take for granted. Read on to find out how you, too, can implement these handy extensions into your internet endeavors.

Make social networking more bearable

Ahh, yes, social networking. If your browser can't do this right, then what can it do? Fortunately, Safari totally excels in this realm. Read on to find out how to omit the unwanted from your Facebook feed, or keep yourself from becoming annoyed with the bilions of flamers lurking around the internet.

Better Facebook

Seriously, this extension does make it better. The add on enables you to customize your news feed entirely with all sorts of filters, including the ability to omit feeds from certain groups you don't want showing up on your page and marking old status updates as read. Additionally, it tells you all about who had dared to "unfriend" you so that you can track them down and add them back again, and again, and again, until they finally give in and add you back. This works, trust us.

Shut Up (install link)

Yeah, the developer of this extension was probably really sick of sifting through website comments, only to find legions of either a) thirteen-year-old boys looking for a flame war, or b) the rudest people on earth. If you're just not interested in what the internet has to say about anything, than this is most definitely a great way to keep them hushed. The Shut Up filter works on sites like Gawker and Reddit, and it even completely removed the comments from our site (though we highly advise against you doing so!).

FlickrPlus (install link)

Flickr is still working out the kinks of its new user interface makeover, now in beta. This extension tacks on a few extra things that new refresh might not include, like instant links to the image's various sizes and an easy short URL link.

Twitter (install link)

Twitter has an official app for Safari and that is pretty cool. It keeps you up to date with real-time trends and information based on the web page you're visiting. And, if you visit a site with a connected Twitter account (or if the site's authors have their own accounts that link back to the site in their Twitter bios), it'll display it for you in the browser bar. Wonderful!

Twitter can also keep track if the webpage you're on is gaining any sort of traction in Trends, give you an instant link to post your own tweets and see related tweets in regards to the topic you're currently reading about.

NEXT: Google and Apple can be best friends, really. >>