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Many of the HTML5 technologies Apple is steering clear from make the Web more App like meaning they become a threat to their dominance with the App Store on the

Many of the HTML5 technologies Apple is steering clear from make the Web more App like meaning they become a threat to their dominance with the App Store on their own platform. The longer they take to adopt them the longer they can benefit from the exclusiveness and control over iOS app ecosystem. I don't think sueing them will get them anywhere but it might be a push to get them understand that users are aware of the shortcomings.

namaemuta 10y ago
It's the Chrome version of the apple store also restricted in its html5 features?
- gcp 10y ago
  If you mean the Android store, then no. You can for example find the "real" Firefox on the Google Play store. (The one on the Apple store is a Safari skin which has the problems the article points out)
  - namaemuta 10y ago
    Sorry, I didn't express myself correctly. I meant this chrome app[1] in the apple store. I was wondering if people with iPhones can at least install a different browser to take advantage of those features. But if you say that it's just a skin they are pretty much trapped there. [1] https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/google-chrome-fast-secure/id535886823?mt=8 https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/google-chrome-fast-secure/id...
    - fenomas 10y ago
      The fact that Apple doesn't allow competing browsers on iOS is what the entire article is about. It's why the article's authors are suing Apple.
- thomasahle 10y ago
  Afaik All 'browsers' in the app store have to be just a skin on top of Safari. Apple has rules against independent rendering code.
  - st3fan 10y ago
    Calling it a 'skin on top of Safari' does not really do justice to all the hard work my team has been putting in Firefox for iOS. Apple gives you (limited) access to WebKit. Basically: a rectangular area on the screen that renders web content. To 'skin' it, you have to build a browser application around that. A complete application that handles tabs, user settings, sync, history, bookmarks, reader mode, anything that does not happen in that 'rectangular view that renders web content'.
    - pier25 10y ago
      The simple truth is that 99% of the time when browsing is spent on that "rectangular area". Maybe the term "skin" is not adequate, but IMO the features added by Chrome and Firefox on iOS are not that significant for the browsing experience compared to the "rectangular area". Thanks to Apple, WKWebView based browsers are always going to be second class citizens. Personally I never understood why you decided to move to iOS. I think you should have stick to your guns.
coldtea 10y ago
From ordinary users, nobody cares about the web platform on mobile. Native apps are faster, with better integration to platform APIs and features, lighter on battery, and consistent (even if a large part of an app is just a webview in a native app shell). And for developers, they can actually be monetized and attract paying users, unlike mobile browser-based apps. Safari on mobile is pretty up to date as mobile technologies come. Google Chrome is hardly any better: http://mobilehtml5.org/ http://mobilehtml5.org/ So I don't really buy the conspiracy theory. People just want all kinds of desktop level HTML5 stuff on mobile browsers that they might or might not be suitable for. The most common HN response to Web 3D demos, advanced SVG/canvas etc is that people's fans started to blaze, CPU jumped to the sky...
- NicoJuicy 10y ago
  You probably never used "add to homescreen" before. PS. 50% of these group of apps are web applications - https://postimg.org/image/59r83pe5f/ https://postimg.org/image/59r83pe5f/ Why shouldn't i be an ordinary user? All of these web apps are money related ;)
  - madeofpalk 10y ago
    What feature does AliExpress on Android have that isnt supported by Safari? Is that DHL site using Web Push Notifications for either Android or Apple platforms?
    - NicoJuicy 10y ago
      In the example of using web applications on mobile, this is a apprioriate screenshot. Not for something else
  - coldtea 10y ago
    >You probably never used "add to homescreen" before Used it. Never liked it. >Why shouldn't i be an ordinary user? All of these web apps are money related ;) Ordinary user meant as in about numbers/outliers, not about some specific characteristic of the user.
CommanderData 10y ago
Google Cloud Messaging for Push Notification is one great features which iOS stunted support for. It's amazing on Android, users can subscribe through a webpage, receive push notifications for news and stuff after leaving or closing the site. It's as if they have a native app installed and it's great for engagement. Shamefully not easily implementable on iOS like on Android.

namaemuta 10y ago

It's the Chrome version of the apple store also restricted in its html5 features?

gcp 10y ago
If you mean the Android store, then no. You can for example find the "real" Firefox on the Google Play store. (The one on the Apple store is a Safari skin which has the problems the article points out)
- namaemuta 10y ago
  Sorry, I didn't express myself correctly. I meant this chrome app[1] in the apple store. I was wondering if people with iPhones can at least install a different browser to take advantage of those features. But if you say that it's just a skin they are pretty much trapped there. [1] https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/google-chrome-fast-secure/id535886823?mt=8 https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/google-chrome-fast-secure/id...
  - fenomas 10y ago
    The fact that Apple doesn't allow competing browsers on iOS is what the entire article is about. It's why the article's authors are suing Apple.
thomasahle 10y ago
Afaik All 'browsers' in the app store have to be just a skin on top of Safari. Apple has rules against independent rendering code.
- st3fan 10y ago
  Calling it a 'skin on top of Safari' does not really do justice to all the hard work my team has been putting in Firefox for iOS. Apple gives you (limited) access to WebKit. Basically: a rectangular area on the screen that renders web content. To 'skin' it, you have to build a browser application around that. A complete application that handles tabs, user settings, sync, history, bookmarks, reader mode, anything that does not happen in that 'rectangular view that renders web content'.
  - pier25 10y ago
    The simple truth is that 99% of the time when browsing is spent on that "rectangular area". Maybe the term "skin" is not adequate, but IMO the features added by Chrome and Firefox on iOS are not that significant for the browsing experience compared to the "rectangular area". Thanks to Apple, WKWebView based browsers are always going to be second class citizens. Personally I never understood why you decided to move to iOS. I think you should have stick to your guns.

coldtea 10y ago

From ordinary users, nobody cares about the web platform on mobile. Native apps are faster, with better integration to platform APIs and features, lighter on battery, and consistent (even if a large part of an app is just a webview in a native app shell). And for developers, they can actually be monetized and attract paying users, unlike mobile browser-based apps. Safari on mobile is pretty up to date as mobile technologies come. Google Chrome is hardly any better: http://mobilehtml5.org/ http://mobilehtml5.org/ So I don't really buy the conspiracy theory. People just want all kinds of desktop level HTML5 stuff on mobile browsers that they might or might not be suitable for. The most common HN response to Web 3D demos, advanced SVG/canvas etc is that people's fans started to blaze, CPU jumped to the sky...

NicoJuicy 10y ago
You probably never used "add to homescreen" before. PS. 50% of these group of apps are web applications - https://postimg.org/image/59r83pe5f/ https://postimg.org/image/59r83pe5f/ Why shouldn't i be an ordinary user? All of these web apps are money related ;)
- madeofpalk 10y ago
  What feature does AliExpress on Android have that isnt supported by Safari? Is that DHL site using Web Push Notifications for either Android or Apple platforms?
  - NicoJuicy 10y ago
    In the example of using web applications on mobile, this is a apprioriate screenshot. Not for something else
- coldtea 10y ago
  >You probably never used "add to homescreen" before Used it. Never liked it. >Why shouldn't i be an ordinary user? All of these web apps are money related ;) Ordinary user meant as in about numbers/outliers, not about some specific characteristic of the user.

CommanderData 10y ago

Google Cloud Messaging for Push Notification is one great features which iOS stunted support for. It's amazing on Android, users can subscribe through a webpage, receive push notifications for news and stuff after leaving or closing the site. It's as if they have a native app installed and it's great for engagement. Shamefully not easily implementable on iOS like on Android.