15 ms·

Apple brings Safari web browser extensions to iPhone and iPad with iOS 15

114 points by laktak 5y ago

cleansy 5y ago
This so much. uBlock origin is fiercely missed for my mobile browsing experience.
- phelm 5y ago
  Unfortunately uBlock origin isn't available with web extensions https://www.reddit.com/r/uBlockOrigin/comments/hdz0bo/will_ublock_origin_back_to_macos_big_sur/fvoc7wk https://www.reddit.com/r/uBlockOrigin/comments/hdz0bo/will_u...
- cma 5y ago
  Firefox on Android or Chrome on a Chromebook with detachable screen seems to be the only way to get it on a non-Windows tablet.
- VWWHFSfQ 5y ago
  The mobile web is nearly unusable for me without Firefox + uBlock Origin. I haven't even opened Chrome on my Android phone in a very long time.
powerlogic31 5y ago
Honestly this is probably the biggest announcement at wwdc 2021. They added so much stuffs you can do without. Anybody here have experience with the new tabs design in macos monterey? How's usability?
lxgr 5y ago
That's a very welcome addition, but I'm guessing these won't be available for third-party "browsers", just like content blocking extensions? That decision makes absolute sense for most in-app browsers (that depend on WKWebView for functionality that isn't generic web browsing), but for actual browser apps, content blockers are sorely missing.
- null_object 5y ago
  > but for actual browser apps, content blockers are sorely missing. A simple, but functionally very basic app that does ad-blocking on iOS is Firefox Focus. This might cover most people's basic privacy needs, but not as a fully-functioning experience (I use this more for 'one-off' site visits, where I don't want to be tracked, see ads, or have any persistent record of my visit on the device). But for a fully-featured browser with user-configurable content, JavaScript, CSS and ad-blocking, then the little-known iCab Mobile[0] does almost everything that a desktop browser can do in terms of privacy and content-control. [0]https://apps.apple.com/us/app/icab-mobile-web-browser/id308111628 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/icab-mobile-web-browser/id3081...
  - lxgr 5y ago
    What, iCab is still around!? Amazing, thanks! I use Firefox on iOS myself (which supports ad blocking under the name of "enhanced privacy protection") but might give it a shot.
  - spupy 5y ago
    FYI Firefox Focus can also be used as content blocker in Safari. Of course, this doesn't offer the full protection as using Firefox Focus directly.
    - null_object 5y ago
      > FYI Firefox Focus can also be used as content blocker in Safari. Yes I know. But my reply was in response to a question specifically about ad-blocking for non-Safari browsers on iOS.
    - threatofrain 5y ago
      A bit of a tangent, but does anyone have suggestion for the best ad or content blockers for MacOS and iOS Safari?
  - leejoramo 5y ago
    I have used iCab for over 20 years across Mac OS 8, Mac OS X, and iOS. Prior to the built-in inspector with Firefox and later Safari/Chrome, iCab was the best web debugging tool I used. iCab lost many advantages (and disadvantages) when it transitioned from its own engine to WebKit, but it still is filled with power user features All iOS power users should check out iCab
ulfw 5y ago
There are barely any useable Safari extensions even on desktop (Mac) Safari besides maybe content blockers and we already got those on iOS. The extensions I use are all on Firefox or Edge (Chromium). Any examples of Safari Extensions you're looking for on iOS?
- bberenberg 5y ago
  I am hoping this improves certain business tooling on mobile where their existing apps are subpar. For me specifically, I am thinking about HubSpot w/ Gmail.
- hcurtiss 5y ago
  Maybe a javascript blocker?
  - aaomidi 5y ago
    You can already disable JS
- mrtksn 5y ago
  >Any examples of Safari Extensions you're looking for on iOS? Ad-Guard: Works very well, including ability to block YouTube ads. LastPass: A password manager, useful for cross platform password storing. PiPifier: Enables PiP in any video player. Tab Suspender: Suspends tabs after a period of inactivity. Helps with websites that tend to use resources in the backgroud.
  - nindalf 5y ago
    I’m trying to understand why someone would install the last pass browser extension when they could install the last pass app. The app provides passwords in all contexts, not just the browser.
    - mrtksn 5y ago
      I don't use other contexts that require frequent sign-in procedure on my Mac. To be honest, since I stopped using a Windows machine I almost completely switched to Apple's own keychain. That said, I still have the LastPass because it is easier to use for storing private data that does not strictly conforms to the "username and password" convention.
gjsman-1000 5y ago
I have iOS 15, and I can confirm that right now, I can install any Extension that is on the Safari Extensions Store for Mac. That doesn't mean they'll function great, or that the Safari Extension Store is the most complete place for extensions, but it will let me do it.
- sirn 5y ago
  Hmm, how did you do this? AFAIK, Safari extension on a Mac required to be bundled with a macOS application, and there's no way to install Mac apps on iOS. The one listed in the "More Extensions" link in Settings right now are the one that uses Action Extension which has been available for a very long time (and not the new Web Extension support). (On the other hand, I've seen 1Password people got their Web Extension version working on iPadOS, and it looks amazing[1]) [1]: https://twitter.com/firebeyer/status/1402085111424708612 https://twitter.com/firebeyer/status/1402085111424708612
- djxfade 5y ago
  Awesome. I hope its possible to write extensionen that can do redirection. I use a third party Reddit client (Apollo), but when searching on Google, Reddit URLs only opens in the official Reddit app, which I don't like. It would be cool to make an extension that would detect that you are loading a Reddit URL, and redirect you to an in-app URL for Apollo
  - ratorx 5y ago
    It’s not automatic, but Opener (https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/opener-open-links-in-apps/id989565871 https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/opener-open-links-in-apps/id98...) works fairly well for me.
qrbLPHiKpiux 5y ago
iOS 15 to me looks like attack surfaces are greatly increased. Especially with FaceTime being included cross browsers.
dstaley 5y ago
I usually give Google shit for copying everything Apple does, but I sincerely hope that they (and Microsoft) copy this feature. I'd love to have extensions like Stylus and Microsoft Editor on my phone. Plus this would open up a massive audience of users, which would hopefully further inspire developers to build interesting and useful extensions.
- mastrsushi 5y ago
  Extension support was probably the biggest mistake Google made. Ads mean a lot to them, I dont think they'd want to repeat that.
  - nerbert 5y ago
    When ideals contradict the business model.
guyromm 5y ago
has anyone tested if arbitrary third party extensions (non mac store ones) are installable? and if not, how are developers expected to write & test mobile safari extensions? i'm pretty skeptic of the prospects that apple would open up a hole in their walled garden on their own initiative. it's not like they're (currently) under any pressure or competition there.
- saagarjha 5y ago
  Using Xcode.
dbg31415 5y ago
All 6 of them? No no, I kid. But for real, it'd be nice if Apple had some good working extensions on MacOS before porting them over to iOS. Like nothing works right. I use Firefox mostly, with about 40 extensions. 95% of those work on Chrome / there's the exact same tool for Chrome. On MacOS... like I think literally 1 of them sort of works. Password managers are funky. Ad blockers don't work. Wappalizer for Safari? Reddit Shine for Safari? Lighthouse for Safari? Wave or Axe for Safari? ClearURLs for Safari? Nope... none of those work. So what do you get again that does work on Safari?
- mthoms 5y ago
  I use: Tampermonkey, Dark Reader, 1Password, Adguard, Raindrop, and an extension that prevents right click hijacking (I forget the name). All work fine. Granted more need to be ported I agree. Maybe this is the perfect incentive for that to finally happen.
  - stalfosknight 5y ago
    I am very interested in knowing what extension prevents right click hijacking. Please share what it's called.
    - voltaireodactyl 5y ago
      Not the same commenter, but I’m 99% sure what they’re talking about is “Stop The Madness”. I love it on mac — and it comes with a Firefox extension as well. Does a lot more than block hijacking, but you can enable and disable all the features individually. Highly recommended!
    - mthoms 5y ago
      Its this one: https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/right-click/id1364038646?mt=12 https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/right-click/id1364038646?mt=12 Though I am keen to try the extension the other commenter mentioned.
nkotov 5y ago
Here's to hoping that the extension list will grow soon.
mastrsushi 5y ago
Chrome may be the dominant browser due to performance and UI/UX, but it's gonna be interesting seeing users flock to Safari now that they'll have ad block support. Of course on iOS all browsers are using Safari anyway. Google was smart enough to leave extensions out of Android Chrome. I don't see anything stopping Apple from porting Safari other than the fact that it's not really their style to do so. They also have very little to gain other than browser market share. That probably doesn't concern them anymore than Google having something over them.
- asddubs 5y ago
  android users can get extensions/ad blocking via firefox already anyway
golondon 5y ago
Ok, so only Apple can have sub-app-market in their apps inside iOS?

114 points by laktak 5y ago

cleansy 5y ago

This so much. uBlock origin is fiercely missed for my mobile browsing experience.

phelm 5y ago
Unfortunately uBlock origin isn't available with web extensions https://www.reddit.com/r/uBlockOrigin/comments/hdz0bo/will_ublock_origin_back_to_macos_big_sur/fvoc7wk https://www.reddit.com/r/uBlockOrigin/comments/hdz0bo/will_u...
cma 5y ago
Firefox on Android or Chrome on a Chromebook with detachable screen seems to be the only way to get it on a non-Windows tablet.
VWWHFSfQ 5y ago
The mobile web is nearly unusable for me without Firefox + uBlock Origin. I haven't even opened Chrome on my Android phone in a very long time.

powerlogic31 5y ago

Honestly this is probably the biggest announcement at wwdc 2021. They added so much stuffs you can do without. Anybody here have experience with the new tabs design in macos monterey? How's usability?

lxgr 5y ago

That's a very welcome addition, but I'm guessing these won't be available for third-party "browsers", just like content blocking extensions? That decision makes absolute sense for most in-app browsers (that depend on WKWebView for functionality that isn't generic web browsing), but for actual browser apps, content blockers are sorely missing.

null_object 5y ago
> but for actual browser apps, content blockers are sorely missing. A simple, but functionally very basic app that does ad-blocking on iOS is Firefox Focus. This might cover most people's basic privacy needs, but not as a fully-functioning experience (I use this more for 'one-off' site visits, where I don't want to be tracked, see ads, or have any persistent record of my visit on the device). But for a fully-featured browser with user-configurable content, JavaScript, CSS and ad-blocking, then the little-known iCab Mobile[0] does almost everything that a desktop browser can do in terms of privacy and content-control. [0]https://apps.apple.com/us/app/icab-mobile-web-browser/id308111628 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/icab-mobile-web-browser/id3081...
- lxgr 5y ago
  What, iCab is still around!? Amazing, thanks! I use Firefox on iOS myself (which supports ad blocking under the name of "enhanced privacy protection") but might give it a shot.
- spupy 5y ago
  FYI Firefox Focus can also be used as content blocker in Safari. Of course, this doesn't offer the full protection as using Firefox Focus directly.
  - null_object 5y ago
    > FYI Firefox Focus can also be used as content blocker in Safari. Yes I know. But my reply was in response to a question specifically about ad-blocking for non-Safari browsers on iOS.
  - threatofrain 5y ago
    A bit of a tangent, but does anyone have suggestion for the best ad or content blockers for MacOS and iOS Safari?
- leejoramo 5y ago
  I have used iCab for over 20 years across Mac OS 8, Mac OS X, and iOS. Prior to the built-in inspector with Firefox and later Safari/Chrome, iCab was the best web debugging tool I used. iCab lost many advantages (and disadvantages) when it transitioned from its own engine to WebKit, but it still is filled with power user features All iOS power users should check out iCab

ulfw 5y ago

There are barely any useable Safari extensions even on desktop (Mac) Safari besides maybe content blockers and we already got those on iOS. The extensions I use are all on Firefox or Edge (Chromium). Any examples of Safari Extensions you're looking for on iOS?

bberenberg 5y ago
I am hoping this improves certain business tooling on mobile where their existing apps are subpar. For me specifically, I am thinking about HubSpot w/ Gmail.
hcurtiss 5y ago
Maybe a javascript blocker?
- aaomidi 5y ago
  You can already disable JS
mrtksn 5y ago
>Any examples of Safari Extensions you're looking for on iOS? Ad-Guard: Works very well, including ability to block YouTube ads. LastPass: A password manager, useful for cross platform password storing. PiPifier: Enables PiP in any video player. Tab Suspender: Suspends tabs after a period of inactivity. Helps with websites that tend to use resources in the backgroud.
- nindalf 5y ago
  I’m trying to understand why someone would install the last pass browser extension when they could install the last pass app. The app provides passwords in all contexts, not just the browser.
  - mrtksn 5y ago
    I don't use other contexts that require frequent sign-in procedure on my Mac. To be honest, since I stopped using a Windows machine I almost completely switched to Apple's own keychain. That said, I still have the LastPass because it is easier to use for storing private data that does not strictly conforms to the "username and password" convention.

gjsman-1000 5y ago

I have iOS 15, and I can confirm that right now, I can install any Extension that is on the Safari Extensions Store for Mac. That doesn't mean they'll function great, or that the Safari Extension Store is the most complete place for extensions, but it will let me do it.

sirn 5y ago
Hmm, how did you do this? AFAIK, Safari extension on a Mac required to be bundled with a macOS application, and there's no way to install Mac apps on iOS. The one listed in the "More Extensions" link in Settings right now are the one that uses Action Extension which has been available for a very long time (and not the new Web Extension support). (On the other hand, I've seen 1Password people got their Web Extension version working on iPadOS, and it looks amazing[1]) [1]: https://twitter.com/firebeyer/status/1402085111424708612 https://twitter.com/firebeyer/status/1402085111424708612
djxfade 5y ago
Awesome. I hope its possible to write extensionen that can do redirection. I use a third party Reddit client (Apollo), but when searching on Google, Reddit URLs only opens in the official Reddit app, which I don't like. It would be cool to make an extension that would detect that you are loading a Reddit URL, and redirect you to an in-app URL for Apollo
- ratorx 5y ago
  It’s not automatic, but Opener (https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/opener-open-links-in-apps/id989565871 https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/opener-open-links-in-apps/id98...) works fairly well for me.

qrbLPHiKpiux 5y ago

iOS 15 to me looks like attack surfaces are greatly increased. Especially with FaceTime being included cross browsers.

dstaley 5y ago

I usually give Google shit for copying everything Apple does, but I sincerely hope that they (and Microsoft) copy this feature. I'd love to have extensions like Stylus and Microsoft Editor on my phone. Plus this would open up a massive audience of users, which would hopefully further inspire developers to build interesting and useful extensions.

mastrsushi 5y ago
Extension support was probably the biggest mistake Google made. Ads mean a lot to them, I dont think they'd want to repeat that.
- nerbert 5y ago
  When ideals contradict the business model.

guyromm 5y ago

has anyone tested if arbitrary third party extensions (non mac store ones) are installable? and if not, how are developers expected to write & test mobile safari extensions? i'm pretty skeptic of the prospects that apple would open up a hole in their walled garden on their own initiative. it's not like they're (currently) under any pressure or competition there.

saagarjha 5y ago
Using Xcode.

dbg31415 5y ago

All 6 of them? No no, I kid. But for real, it'd be nice if Apple had some good working extensions on MacOS before porting them over to iOS. Like nothing works right. I use Firefox mostly, with about 40 extensions. 95% of those work on Chrome / there's the exact same tool for Chrome. On MacOS... like I think literally 1 of them sort of works. Password managers are funky. Ad blockers don't work. Wappalizer for Safari? Reddit Shine for Safari? Lighthouse for Safari? Wave or Axe for Safari? ClearURLs for Safari? Nope... none of those work. So what do you get again that does work on Safari?

mthoms 5y ago
I use: Tampermonkey, Dark Reader, 1Password, Adguard, Raindrop, and an extension that prevents right click hijacking (I forget the name). All work fine. Granted more need to be ported I agree. Maybe this is the perfect incentive for that to finally happen.
- stalfosknight 5y ago
  I am very interested in knowing what extension prevents right click hijacking. Please share what it's called.
  - voltaireodactyl 5y ago
    Not the same commenter, but I’m 99% sure what they’re talking about is “Stop The Madness”. I love it on mac — and it comes with a Firefox extension as well. Does a lot more than block hijacking, but you can enable and disable all the features individually. Highly recommended!
  - mthoms 5y ago
    Its this one: https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/right-click/id1364038646?mt=12 https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/right-click/id1364038646?mt=12 Though I am keen to try the extension the other commenter mentioned.

nkotov 5y ago

Here's to hoping that the extension list will grow soon.

mastrsushi 5y ago

Chrome may be the dominant browser due to performance and UI/UX, but it's gonna be interesting seeing users flock to Safari now that they'll have ad block support. Of course on iOS all browsers are using Safari anyway. Google was smart enough to leave extensions out of Android Chrome. I don't see anything stopping Apple from porting Safari other than the fact that it's not really their style to do so. They also have very little to gain other than browser market share. That probably doesn't concern them anymore than Google having something over them.

asddubs 5y ago
android users can get extensions/ad blocking via firefox already anyway

golondon 5y ago

Ok, so only Apple can have sub-app-market in their apps inside iOS?