5 ms·
There are literally zero browser engines allowed on iOS, other than Safari/webkit, with a purposefully depleted feature set, to force developers and users to th
by throwGuardian 7y ago
There are literally zero browser engines allowed on iOS, other than Safari/webkit, with a purposefully depleted feature set, to force developers and users to the app store.
It is astounding that overzealous Apple employees and fan boys will employ circuitous mental gymnastics to substantiate Apple policies, instead of simply allowing an open-market to thrive on iOS. It's as if open markets where consumers are allowed to choose works against Apple
- millstone 7y agoWhat is this hope for a "thriving open market?" On Android, Chrome/Chromium engine has more than 99.5% marketshare. Consumer choice is a red herring. So for that matter is Firefox, which Google has stomped out on Android. Apple's policy is 100% aimed at preventing Google from controlling the future of iOS.
- alwillis 7y agoLet’s not forget that Google had to pay the largest FTC fine for intentionally bypassing the security features on iOS; no wonder Apple doesn't allow low-level access to the operating system: https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2012/08/google-will-pay-225-million-settle-ftc-charges-it-misrepresented https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2012/08/googl...
- brlewis 7y agoConsumer choice means that tomorrow if Android Chrome does something really unpopular, people can switch to Android Firefox. It is not a red herring. Yes, giving users choice does mean loosening your control of your platform. I don't believe Apple thinks consumer choice would cause Google to control the future of iOS.
- alwillis 7y ago>There are literally zero browser engines allowed on iOS, other than Safari/webkit, with a purposefully depleted feature set, to force developers and users to the app store. Apple is clearly moving towards a more secure set of operating systems and that starts by reducing the attack surface. On macOS, Apple is deprecating kernel extensions; the boot partition on macOS Catalina is read-only so that it can’t be modified by malicious software: https://wccftech.com/macos-catalina-runs-on-dedicated-read-only-system-volume/ https://wccftech.com/macos-catalina-runs-on-dedicated-read-o... Even Safari on iOS doesn’t support browser extensions. >instead of simply allowing an open-market to thrive on iOS. The App Store paid developers $34 billion in 2018; I would say the market is thriving: https://fortune.com/2019/01/28/apple-app-store-developer-earnings-2018/ https://fortune.com/2019/01/28/apple-app-store-developer-ear... >Safari/webkit, with a purposefully depleted feature set Just checked html5test.com from my iPhone 7 running iOS 13.2.2; Safari scores 463 and Firefox 48 mobile scored 468 out of 555 points. And this is without enabling a bunch of experimental work-in-progress features: https://imgur.com/a/Y5NHwct https://imgur.com/a/Y5NHwct So there's no meaningful difference in capability of these browsers when it comes to features. Of course, Safari is faster, requires less RAM and consumes less power, which should count for something on a mobile device.
- throwGuardian 7y agoThis response literally proves fanboys and employees will offer circuitous logic to substantiate Apple. iOS Safari W3C non-compliance is well known, a little googling will lay out the (intentionally) missing features. You go to lengths to defend Apple, but do not have the guts to let the consumer pick a Google/Mozilla alternative engine. What is Apple so scared of, if not a level playing field. This is the same company that retroactively modified it's store policies to substantiate booting steam off the app store. Courage in the face of competition, not!!
- alwillis 7y ago>iOS Safari W3C non-compliance is well known, a little googling will lay out the (intentionally) missing features. The illogic here is a little scary: Firefox and Safari on iOS basically have the same level of web standards compliance according to html5test.com, yet one is intentionally not implementing features? No fanboyism; just the facts.
- detaro 7y agoIt's not that surprisingly that the one making the decisions about the browser engine is blamed, not the one forced to use the browser engine instead of their own, is it?