4 ms·

You might be a few years out of date https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT211336 https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT211336

peoplefromibiza 3y ago
that's not what you think it is. Alternative browser engines are still disallowed. They are a skin on Apple's Webkit see: https://www.theregister.com/2023/02/07/mozilla_google_apple_webkit/ https://www.theregister.com/2023/02/07/mozilla_google_apple_...
- CrampusDestrus 3y ago
  I replied in topic, your reply is off topic. GP was talking about how Apple does not force you to open links with Safari except in one case. The situation with webkit is a different thing.
  - peoplefromibiza 3y ago
    > I replied in topic, your reply is off topic. It's always Safari. In a different skin, but it's Safari nonetheless. Do Firefox or Chrome on iOS support web apis that Apple does not support? No, they don't, because it's Safari. Sorry if I skipped a few steps and went straight to the conclusion, that's why it probably looked off topic to you.
- jamil7 3y ago
  For the purposes of this discussion I don’t think the underlying engine really matters (I’m not supporting Apple’s rule here). 99% of users are going to be downloading Chrome or FF to have a consistent UX and sync their bookmarks, history and passwords. iOS respects the default browser and mail client in this case.
  - peoplefromibiza 3y ago
    > I don’t think the underlying engine really matters It is what makes all the difference here. Many features that are a Web Standard are unsupported on iOS precisely because Apple refuses to allow alternative engines because they don't want those features on their platform (mostly to favor native apps under the pretext of security, like if Google is not capable of making a secure browser, at least as secure as Safari). Chrome and Firefox on iOS are not the same Chrome and iOS that run on all the other platforms, they are basically Safari. It does matters.
    - throwaheyy 3y ago
      99% of users don’t care that it’s the same engine. They probably don’t even know. Looks the same, works the same, what does it matter? They just want to pick the browser name they trust, log in to its account and have all their favorites/bookmarks there. Whichever engine the browser happens to use is the least of their concerns.
      - peoplefromibiza 3y ago
        > what does it matter? it matters in the same way a Honda disguised as a Mercedes it's not a Mercedes. It's a Honda. > Whichever engine the browser happens to use is the least of their concerns. Not disagreeing with you on this, that's the way it should be. OTOH, using simple logic, if it doesn't matter Apple would allow other browser engines on their platform, because it doesn't matter. But apparently it does matter. It matters so much that EU is trying to force Apple to permit alternative implementations of the software called "a Web browser". Anyway, we have a precedent: "Microsoft distributed its browser software, Internet Explorer, among consumers for free. It led to a concentration of the market share and the eventual downfall of Netscape, the company’s top competitor at the time. The DoJ case alleged that Microsoft was intentionally making it extremely difficult for consumers to install software by other companies on personal computers that ran on Microsoft’s operating system."
        throwaheyy 3y ago
        I don’t think that’s a good analogy. Mercedes and Hondas have tangible differences in performance and amenities. On the other hand, Chrome, Firefox, Safari etc. are built to operate to the same standard and work identically on approximately 100% of websites anyone ever uses.

that's not what you think it is. Alternative browser engines are still disallowed. They are a skin on Apple's Webkit see: https://www.theregister.com/2023/02/07/mozilla_google_apple_webkit/ https://www.theregister.com/2023/02/07/mozilla_google_apple_...

CrampusDestrus 3y ago
I replied in topic, your reply is off topic. GP was talking about how Apple does not force you to open links with Safari except in one case. The situation with webkit is a different thing.
- peoplefromibiza 3y ago
  > I replied in topic, your reply is off topic. It's always Safari. In a different skin, but it's Safari nonetheless. Do Firefox or Chrome on iOS support web apis that Apple does not support? No, they don't, because it's Safari. Sorry if I skipped a few steps and went straight to the conclusion, that's why it probably looked off topic to you.
jamil7 3y ago
For the purposes of this discussion I don’t think the underlying engine really matters (I’m not supporting Apple’s rule here). 99% of users are going to be downloading Chrome or FF to have a consistent UX and sync their bookmarks, history and passwords. iOS respects the default browser and mail client in this case.
- peoplefromibiza 3y ago
  > I don’t think the underlying engine really matters It is what makes all the difference here. Many features that are a Web Standard are unsupported on iOS precisely because Apple refuses to allow alternative engines because they don't want those features on their platform (mostly to favor native apps under the pretext of security, like if Google is not capable of making a secure browser, at least as secure as Safari). Chrome and Firefox on iOS are not the same Chrome and iOS that run on all the other platforms, they are basically Safari. It does matters.
  - throwaheyy 3y ago
    99% of users don’t care that it’s the same engine. They probably don’t even know. Looks the same, works the same, what does it matter? They just want to pick the browser name they trust, log in to its account and have all their favorites/bookmarks there. Whichever engine the browser happens to use is the least of their concerns.
    - peoplefromibiza 3y ago
      > what does it matter? it matters in the same way a Honda disguised as a Mercedes it's not a Mercedes. It's a Honda. > Whichever engine the browser happens to use is the least of their concerns. Not disagreeing with you on this, that's the way it should be. OTOH, using simple logic, if it doesn't matter Apple would allow other browser engines on their platform, because it doesn't matter. But apparently it does matter. It matters so much that EU is trying to force Apple to permit alternative implementations of the software called "a Web browser". Anyway, we have a precedent: "Microsoft distributed its browser software, Internet Explorer, among consumers for free. It led to a concentration of the market share and the eventual downfall of Netscape, the company’s top competitor at the time. The DoJ case alleged that Microsoft was intentionally making it extremely difficult for consumers to install software by other companies on personal computers that ran on Microsoft’s operating system."
      - throwaheyy 3y ago
        I don’t think that’s a good analogy. Mercedes and Hondas have tangible differences in performance and amenities. On the other hand, Chrome, Firefox, Safari etc. are built to operate to the same standard and work identically on approximately 100% of websites anyone ever uses.