TurboKit

Name: TurboKit
Rating: 1.4 (1 reviews)

0.7b

22 October 2008

Speeds up Safari.

Overview

TurboKit is software that will speed up Safari by at least 1.9X the speed. What it does is replace your WebKit and JavaScriptCore framework of computer with custom built engines that will juice your computer's speed and let it run at maximum potential!

TurboKit is a one time install. You will see no traces of it but speed increases! If you wish to uninstall you may go to our website to download the uninstaller. Visit Gage Theory Software's website here.

12 TurboKit Reviews

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Tried it and not really practical... Safari 4 Beta is faster or might as well get the latest WebKit (webkit.org) with SquirrelFish Extreme.

Like (6)

Version 0.7b

I've tried and it does speed up, not as twice but it's faster. I use webkit's nightly builds and turbokit helped. Mind you, I'm in a freshly installed leopard in a G4. Pity that there are not more versions, because it did work for me.

Version 0.7b

I really love this product a lot and it has bumped up my speed alot, but they dont say what files that it replaces.

Like (1)

Version 0.7b

1 answer(s)

Gordon142

23 October 2008

ah, convenient new user who exists only to rate this one product. Don't rate your own product, developer, and don't try to be sneaky about it by not giving five stars.

Like (2)

Version 0.7b

Looks like the 2x speedup is refuted by this page: http://www.turbokitproject.com/statistics.html on the developers site. Not to mention that WebKit nightly will smoke the pants off this. This will be obsolete before it can mature. I'll happily recant if the developer reveals the modifications he's making and updates his outrageous claims. Additionally he'll need to make his source package available per the WebKit license. To the dev: why not just contribute to WebKit if you've developed a revolutionary performance advantage? Marked 1 star to keep the naive users from downloading this until we know what it does.

Like (2)

Version 0.7b

Why not just use Webkit..? Safari Plugins still work with it and its faster.

Like (2)

Version 0.7b

1 answer(s)

Zeppelin1293

23 October 2008

Because TurboKit affects all WebKit based apps, not just Safari.

Like (1)

Version 0.7b

Man... You're getting killed with these reviews. One question before I try this out: What exact files are being changed? I need to know all of them so that if I don't like this I can restore them all from a backup. Thanks!

Like (4)

Version 0.7b

4 answer(s)

Zeppelin1293

23 October 2008

You can use the uninstall on our website to revert back to normal settings, but it replaces the unix executable and some headings.

Version 0.7b

Zeppelin1293

23 October 2008

I know I am! I don't know what to do! If you are pleased would you give a nice rating? Thanks in advance.

Version 0.7b

dajonel

23 October 2008

Well, I'd still like to have a list of every file affected, just in case. You do know which files were changed, correct? ;)

Like (2)

Version 0.7b

Zeppelin1293

23 October 2008

I do know which. I do not feel comfortable disclosing that information in public though. Send me an email if you will. info@turbokitproject.com

Version 0.7b

This Installer replaces critical system components with its own and provides no documentation on what changes are made to webkit to provide the claimed performance boost. The installer does NOT backup your existing webkit install. The "uninstaller" simply installs another copy of the webkit components that are included in the uninstaller bundle - it does NOT restore the original webkit files that resided on your system prior to installing the modified versions. You have to trust that the version the uninstaller provides is the same as that which was originally on your system, which it will most certainly not be in the event of any Apple software updates targeting webkit or javascriptcore. In other words, this is not a safe product and I would most definitely stay away from it. In addition, the product website just reads like the marketing hype you get in spam emails - making wildly unrealistic claims ("twice as fast!") and providing no details on the actual functions of the product. No good!

Like (4)

Version 0.7b

4 answer(s)

Zeppelin1293

23 October 2008

The uninstaller actually puts back the regular system files. I'm sorry if it troubled you.

Like (1)

Version 0.7b

Gordon142

23 October 2008

except it doesn't. The uninstaller package contains the complete webkit and javascriptcore packages. This makes the assumption that the ones in your package are identical to the ones that were originally on the system. This isn't a safe assumption. Apple can and does modify both these components in system updates from time to time, so you have no way of ensuring that yours are the ones that originally existed on the system. The proper way to do this would be to backup the original webkit files and restore them from the backup using the uninstaller.

Like (3)

Version 0.7b

Zeppelin1293

23 October 2008

They are. I copied them before I modified my computer. They come from Mac OS X 10.5.5 and I periodically modify the uninstall package.

Version 0.7b

Gordon142

23 October 2008

Yeah, that's the problem. You're assuming that every other system will have exactly the same system files as you. Not a safe assumption. If someone is running a different version of Leopard or has installed a specific Apple update their webkit install is potentially different from yours. You simply cannot assume that the system components you have are and will always be safe to load onto other people's computers. Remove means you put back what was there originally, not that you put back something from your own system that you believe ought to be equivalent. It's not that hard. Just archive the existing files before the installer replaces them (a simple shell script will do the trick), and uninstall by expanding the archived directory contents. No reason not to do it this way.

Like (3)

Version 0.7b

Well, I'm going to give it whirl and see what it can do. Installation was smooth, and Safari appears snappier. Since the developer is making an effort, I will give them the benefit of the doubt and see where the road takes me. Life is short, at least there are those who are stretching the boundaries to where new paths lead before it ends.

Like (3)

Version 0.7b

3 answer(s)

Zeppelin1293

23 October 2008

thanks

Version 0.7b

Gaoshan

23 October 2008

Be aware that the WebKit (the engine behind Safari) nightly is far and away the fastest browser available for the Mac. That someone else has created something even faster seems highly doubtful to me.

Like (3)

Version 0.7b

Zeppelin1293

23 October 2008

You are correct, but WebKit and TurboKit are neck and neck in a lot of areas. In addition, TurboKit affects all WebKit based apps, not just Safari.

Like (1)

Version 0.7b

It does not use webkit nightly builds. I modified the framework that already came with mac osx. By the way, is there any positive feedback?

Like (1)

Version 0.7b

This appears to use webkit. Whilst I use it as my main browser at the moment, the nightly builds are unstable. Does that not mean that this product is going to install an unstable framework for use with critical applications such as mail and safari? The stable code is safari so I don't see what benefit using the stable code would yield.

Like (1)

Version 0.7b

5 answer(s)

Zeppelin1293

23 October 2008

It does not use webkit nightly builds. I modified the framework that already came with mac osx. By the way, is there any positive feedback?

Like (1)

Version 0.7b

Mark-Everitt

23 October 2008

You appear to be assuming that I made a mistake I have not. I was merely stating that I use the webkit nightly for the record and that it's a little buggy. Given that you're using a modified version of the framework installed with osx (plus updates etc.), doesn't that immediately put you at a disadvantage compared with a webkit framework built from svn? I realise that I'm contradicting myself there. I'm not giving you a bad review. It's a comment. I was concerned that someone may install something unstable that would screw things up. If I wanted to give you a bad review then stars would be involved. Please consider these two posts a question (which you have kindly answered), and constructive criticism. If your product is good then you'll see the reviews get better!

Like (1)

Version 0.7b

Mark-Everitt

23 October 2008

Incidentally, you claim >1.9x speed gains in the description above, but this is contradicted by your website that shows far more modest gains. http://www.turbokitproject.com/statistics.html

Version 0.7b

Zeppelin1293

23 October 2008

Try doing the sunspider test. That will tell you.

Version 0.7b

Mark-Everitt

23 October 2008

No, you please tell me why your site and the description above disagree. They can't both be true.

Version 0.7b

Tried it and not really practical... Safari 4 Beta is faster or might as well get the latest WebKit (webkit.org) with SquirrelFish Extreme.

Like (6)

Version 0.7b