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Google Search now indexes iOS 9 apps with deep links

75 points by espeed 11y ago

orf 11y ago
In the apple developer docs[1] on deep linking it says " When users install your app, iOS checks a file that you’ve uploaded to your web server to make sure that your website allows your app to open URLs on its behalf". Is this a good thing? Seems like there might be privacy implications? 1. https://developer.apple.com/library/prerelease/ios/documentation/General/Conceptual/AppSearch/UniversalLinks.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40016308-CH12 https://developer.apple.com/library/prerelease/ios/documenta...
- jackweirdy 11y ago
  I can't speak to the privacy implications but one benefit is that you can now do the register in app -> email confirmation -> login flow between the app and mail, rather than the app, mail, safari for the confirmation link and then back to the app
- peteretep 11y ago
  Is there a bigger privacy implication than the app itself phoning home when you open it?
  - orf 11y ago
    Sure, but this happens when the user installs it rather than opens it.
  - raverbashing 11y ago
    Is there data sent on that URL access or it is more like 'GET /ios-robots.txt' (not sure what the name is) As long it is anonymous (beyond IP and browser data, of course) it should be ok
- legulere 11y ago
  Of course it's a good thing. You don't want some third party app developer to redirect all links to your website to their app.
tdkl 11y ago
Am I safe if I don't have the Google Search and/or Chrome app installed ? I choose not to want any "deep linking" and "Google".
- TomAnthony 11y ago
  'Deep linking' is actually just URLs that open an App at a particular screen. There is not much you can do to prevent that. Android and iOS both have support for deep linking. I think you mean more 'app indexing' as your concern. I am not an Android user so am not sure exactly what options you have for disabling things there. In iOS you can go 'General'->'Spotlight Search' and disable stuff there.
  - tdkl 11y ago
    I'm an iOS user, but was concerned about the "deep linking" to be what you described as "app indexing", since I wouldn't want that to be on as default. Thanks for describing it to me, instead the down votes, which I'm not sure what they were for since I was sincerely asking a question. Maybe my personal choice wasn't pleasing for others.
untog 11y ago
They've been doing this with Android for a while and to be honest, it irritates me. If a Guardian article is in my results, tapping it will open the Guardian app, with a an option in much smaller text to use the web site. That said, I and most other Hacker News users are oddities. I'd be interested to see if the average user likes this or not.
- pgodzin 11y ago
  Why do you have the Guardian app if you prefer to read their articles on the web? I think Google reasonably expects that if the app exists on the device, it is the preferable option.
  - untog 11y ago
    Because it caches articles offline in the background.

75 points by espeed 11y ago

orf 11y ago

In the apple developer docs[1] on deep linking it says " When users install your app, iOS checks a file that you’ve uploaded to your web server to make sure that your website allows your app to open URLs on its behalf". Is this a good thing? Seems like there might be privacy implications? 1. https://developer.apple.com/library/prerelease/ios/documentation/General/Conceptual/AppSearch/UniversalLinks.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40016308-CH12 https://developer.apple.com/library/prerelease/ios/documenta...

jackweirdy 11y ago
I can't speak to the privacy implications but one benefit is that you can now do the register in app -> email confirmation -> login flow between the app and mail, rather than the app, mail, safari for the confirmation link and then back to the app
peteretep 11y ago
Is there a bigger privacy implication than the app itself phoning home when you open it?
- orf 11y ago
  Sure, but this happens when the user installs it rather than opens it.
- raverbashing 11y ago
  Is there data sent on that URL access or it is more like 'GET /ios-robots.txt' (not sure what the name is) As long it is anonymous (beyond IP and browser data, of course) it should be ok
legulere 11y ago
Of course it's a good thing. You don't want some third party app developer to redirect all links to your website to their app.

tdkl 11y ago

Am I safe if I don't have the Google Search and/or Chrome app installed ? I choose not to want any "deep linking" and "Google".

TomAnthony 11y ago
'Deep linking' is actually just URLs that open an App at a particular screen. There is not much you can do to prevent that. Android and iOS both have support for deep linking. I think you mean more 'app indexing' as your concern. I am not an Android user so am not sure exactly what options you have for disabling things there. In iOS you can go 'General'->'Spotlight Search' and disable stuff there.
- tdkl 11y ago
  I'm an iOS user, but was concerned about the "deep linking" to be what you described as "app indexing", since I wouldn't want that to be on as default. Thanks for describing it to me, instead the down votes, which I'm not sure what they were for since I was sincerely asking a question. Maybe my personal choice wasn't pleasing for others.

untog 11y ago

They've been doing this with Android for a while and to be honest, it irritates me. If a Guardian article is in my results, tapping it will open the Guardian app, with a an option in much smaller text to use the web site. That said, I and most other Hacker News users are oddities. I'd be interested to see if the average user likes this or not.

pgodzin 11y ago
Why do you have the Guardian app if you prefer to read their articles on the web? I think Google reasonably expects that if the app exists on the device, it is the preferable option.
- untog 11y ago
  Because it caches articles offline in the background.