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Ask HN: Proxy Browser for Older iPads?

I have an old iPad air that I used to browse which works great for most text-based sites (HN, old.reddit), but fails to render newer sites. I thought of setting up a browser in a cloud instance and VNCing to that via noVNC, but does anyone have any other suggestions?

tinglymintyfrsh 4y ago
In general, a" vintage" iPad 7+ years old won't be able to get OS updates or install apps unless the IAS apps haven't been updated in many years. (Un)planned obsolescence by virtue of not supporting every OS and app version forever, which is a shame. Apple can also deny OS upgrades if they refuse to sign a certain OS version on certain hardware.
fsflover 4y ago
Perhaps Linux on iPad could help: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31679293 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31679293, https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25172883 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25172883.
- supahfly_remix 4y ago
  Great suggestion. I'll check it out.
k310 4y ago
Using a mac on your network: 1. I looked into Sidecar ( https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210380 https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210380 ) to use an iPad as a second display with a mac, but it says that only iPads 3rd generation (2019) or newer are supported. Models: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201471#ipadair https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201471#ipadair 2. The mac's built-in screen sharing is a VNC server. 3. When you search in the ios app store for "vnc" the list of other suggested apps seems to have a bunch.
- supahfly_remix 4y ago
  Thank you for the research. I didn't know that the mac's screen sharing was VNC, but that makes sense.
tinglymintyfrsh 4y ago
Is Dolphin still going? https://itunes.apple.com/app/apple-store/id452204407?pt=546056&ct=website&mt=8 https://itunes.apple.com/app/apple-store/id452204407?pt=5460... It connects to a remote virtual browser.
- supahfly_remix 4y ago
  Gave it a try, no luck, but I'll try again later -- thanks!
  - tinglymintyfrsh 4y ago
    Argh. Puffin was also on iOS but went Android only at some point. Might have to find an VNC client and remote desktop into a mac (Mac Mini perhaps) running RealVNC Server.

tinglymintyfrsh 4y ago

In general, a" vintage" iPad 7+ years old won't be able to get OS updates or install apps unless the IAS apps haven't been updated in many years. (Un)planned obsolescence by virtue of not supporting every OS and app version forever, which is a shame. Apple can also deny OS upgrades if they refuse to sign a certain OS version on certain hardware.

fsflover 4y ago

Perhaps Linux on iPad could help: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31679293 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31679293, https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25172883 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25172883.

supahfly_remix 4y ago
Great suggestion. I'll check it out.

k310 4y ago

Using a mac on your network: 1. I looked into Sidecar ( https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210380 https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210380 ) to use an iPad as a second display with a mac, but it says that only iPads 3rd generation (2019) or newer are supported. Models: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201471#ipadair https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201471#ipadair 2. The mac's built-in screen sharing is a VNC server. 3. When you search in the ios app store for "vnc" the list of other suggested apps seems to have a bunch.

supahfly_remix 4y ago
Thank you for the research. I didn't know that the mac's screen sharing was VNC, but that makes sense.

tinglymintyfrsh 4y ago

Is Dolphin still going? https://itunes.apple.com/app/apple-store/id452204407?pt=546056&ct=website&mt=8 https://itunes.apple.com/app/apple-store/id452204407?pt=5460... It connects to a remote virtual browser.

supahfly_remix 4y ago
Gave it a try, no luck, but I'll try again later -- thanks!
- tinglymintyfrsh 4y ago
  Argh. Puffin was also on iOS but went Android only at some point. Might have to find an VNC client and remote desktop into a mac (Mac Mini perhaps) running RealVNC Server.