Apple introduces 'Thanos' effect that obliterates distracting objects in Safari

[Coloroscopio]

Apple’s latest trick up its sleeve isn’t a shiny new gadget, but a subtle superpower for Safari. Dubbed ‘Distraction Control’, it’s like handing users a digital Infinity Gauntlet to snap away annoying web elements.

 

This clever tool, rolled out in the beta 5 versions of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia, gives users the power to zap away pesky elements on web pages with a simple tap.

 

 

 

To access this feature, open Safari, tap the Page Menu (via the three dots), and select ‘Distraction Control’. From there, you’re the master of your browsing destiny. Tap on any bothersome area of the page, and watch it vanish in a particle disintegration animation. It’s no wonder it has been affectionately dubbed the “Thanos” effect.

 

 

 

Now, before you start fantasizing about an entirely ad-free internet, Apple has been quick to point out that Distraction Control isn’t designed to be an ad blocker. While you can temporarily hide elements, they’ll resurface when you refresh the page. The same goes for those ever-present GDPR banners and cookie requests—you can hide them, but the feature won’t permanently accept or decline them.

 

For those eager to try out this digital decluttering tool, it’s currently available in the beta versions of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia. Registered developer beta testers can dive in right now, with a public beta expected to roll out later this month.

 

 

 

• https://www.macrumors.com/2024/08/05/safari-distraction-control-hands-on/ 
• https://9to5mac.com/2024/08/05/ios-18-distraction-control-feature-in-safari/ 
• https://appleinsider.com/articles/24/08/05/how-ios-18s-web-eraser-content-blocker-morphed-into-a-distraction-hiding-tool 
• https://www.androidauthority.com/ios-18-beta-distraction-control-safari-3468269/ 
• https://x.com/techdroider/status/1820541197754290498 

 

Image: Usataro | Dreamstime.com