Sorting bookmarks in safari on iPad

Sort by what though? Alphabetically? Date created?

Most people have dozens, if not hundreds, of bookmarks in a variety related categories/folders, often a few levels deep, that are organised in a way that is unique to that person. No browser can automatically sort bookmarks exactly how each individual prefers.

Please take note that my response was NOT directed to you. It was directed to Aremel23. I went off and did NOT mean to offend you.

However, I am asking you to kindly watch your language as well. I am a big boy and have heard much worse but I'm sure that many others that participate on this site would not appreciate it.

If you sync bookmarks with your computer (either via iTunes or iCloud), you can tediously sort them on your desktop/laptop browser instead...

I've never known anyone only sort bookmarks alphabetically.

Everybody I know has a unique setup of manually ordered bookmarks, grouped in folders of related topics, usually ordered by importance to that user (more important/frequently visited at the top for quicker access). Alphabetically sorting would not help this at all.

For example, if one of your most frequently visited websites is YouTube, why would you sort your bookmarks alphabetically, so that you're forced to scroll past dozens/hundreds of other bookmarks before reaching Y in the alphabet?

But, if that's what you want, just sync your iPad bookmarks with a desktop browser that allows you to sort alphabetically. Takes seconds.

Agreed! In firefox you can sort folders easily. That sorting is temporary, but it comes in handy when you are trying to find a particular bookmark or duplicates. I often end up with at least one or two folders full of stuff and I need a way to clean them out. In firefox I can sort on name or URL or other attributes and it temporarily sorts the folder that way. If you want to save the sorting, drag the bookmarks in their sorted state to a new folder and it's permanent, otherwise it returns to the way they were originally, minus any changes you've made.

I think it's perfectly reasonable to expect some sort of sorting capability. I prefer Firefox for this and other reasons, but have to use Safari in my IOS devices so I need a way to manage things. It's easier to cleanup on my mac, but it would be easier if safari had more functionality.

Research has shown add ons, but unfortunately they all want money. I shouldn't have to pay to make a browser have basic functionality!

wldcrdace wrote:

I shouldn't have to pay to make a browser have basic functionality!

Safari is not FireFox.

Safari on the iPad does offer basic browser functionality.

1. You don't have to pay any additional money to open webpages
2. You don't have to pay any additional money to save bookmarks
3. You don't have to pay any additional money to create folders in which you can place your bookmarks in an organized fashion that makes sense according to relevance or topic
4. You don't have to pay any additional money to use the Reader Function and Reading list as well.

I would say that is basic browser functionality.

You want more - it is available but you don't want to pay for it. That's fine - it's your choice to not pay extra. Just don't say that Safari does not offer basic browser functionality.

Wow, I have all those things in Internet Explorer too, plus much, much more than Safari can do, and it's free too! Yes, Safari is basic, and far inferior to other "basic" browsers. At least if things are alphabetized, I know exactly where I can find it. With no sorting of any kind in Safari, it's just plain painful trying to find a bookmark. Apple can do better than this. Doh!

Aremel23 wrote:

Wow, I have all those things in Internet Explorer too, plus much, much more than Safari can do, and it's free too!

You are missing my point. Read my post again.

This sorting functionality is not available in Safari.

That does not mean that Safari does not have basic browser functionality because it is missing a feature that you, wldcrdace and Dogboy 73 desire and think should be included in the app.

I repeat - It HAS basic browser functionality - plain and simple. To say that it does not - simply is not true.

I never said anything at all about Safari being superior to any other browser.

Does Safari leave something to be desired as a web browser - absolutely it does - and I do not dispute that point. Compared to all of the other "paid for" browsers - it is pretty weak. No doubt about it. I have three other third party browsers myself that offer way, way more than Safari offers. BTW - I had to pay for those three browsers.

As Julian Wright said in his post above .... No browser can automatically sort bookmarks exactly how each individual prefers.

No app does everything that every individual wants the app to do according to each users preferences. That is why there are other choices in the App Store.

Safari is preinstalled on the iPad so there is no additional charge for it. It DOES provide basic browser functionality. If you want something more, you have to purchase a third party browser - that's all.

No sir, it is you who missed the point. You see, it's all a matter of defining "basic" functionality. While I would agree that Safari does provide "minimal" functionality in a browser, it falls short of what can really be considered "basic" when compared to other browsers that really define an appropriate standard for comparison. And while I never said anything about you saying Safari was superior, I will again say plainly that Safari is a very poor choice as a "basic" browser, expecially in light of the cost of Apple systems. It's especially poor if you consider that the "other" platform has multiple "free" choices that can be used; the top three are easily better than Safari, and the competitive hardware is much less expensive.

The point is, if you're going to be so proud of your hardware as Apple seems to be and charge a premium price for it, you should probably at least be able to provide "free" software that's at least on par with the competition. It's as easy as that.

That's all.

Get an Android tablet then - or whatever the wonderful, wacky world of Windoze has to offer - that comes preinstalled with your superior browser and move on. No one forced you to buy the iPad.

Safari still and always will have basic browser functionality. Sorry it can't sort in alphabetical order for you. Move on to your ABC's browsers and get on with it.

Why did you buy an iPad???????

Wow Demo. Didn't mean to get you all twisted up about things. I never said that an iPad was a bad thing to have. Despite its flaws, I still like having one and its arguably the best of its kind available right now. That doesn't mean its perfect by a long shot. I thought the OP asked a very good and reasonable question and the answers he received were, well, snobbish and condescending. Wanting a way to sort bookmarks is not an unreasonable expectation of any browser and it seemed that instead of offering any help or at least accepting the constructive criticism and agreeing that it might be a great feature to have, you guys got all defensive about it and somewhat even challenged why anyone would even want that sort of thing.

In short, you were kicking sand in his face so I kicked some right back. And if you think that the software on the iPad is "free", you're mistaken. Trust me, you paid for it.