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The only browsers on iOS are webkit browsers, and when Chrome was new it was also webkit. Because of this, the ideal target for a web developer became webkit, i

The only browsers on iOS are webkit browsers, and when Chrome was new it was also webkit. Because of this, the ideal target for a web developer became webkit, including webkit-only features and workarounds for webkit bugs. This automatically pushed Firefox, Opera, Edge, IE out of the picture, because we basically had an emerging browser monoculture already. If the people who were already using Firefox could have kept using it on their new phone or tablet as well, syncing bookmarks and history, that would have probably slowed its defeat a little bit and perhaps slowed Chrome's growth. We eventually got a Firefox-branded wrapper around Safari's webviews but Apple's architecture guarantees that those webview frames will always be inferior to Safari. Safari being available on Windows might've helped too, but I understand why Apple chose not to do that.

philwelch 3y ago
Safari was available on Windows.
windowsrookie 3y ago
I disagree with this. When chrome was released the ideal target for a web developer was Internet explorer, because everyone who wasn't a technology enthusiast just used the built-in browser. Many business related websites still required internet explorer to function properly years after IE was discontinued. Additionally, this video shows FireFox's marketshare was still increasing, even two years after chrome was first released. https://www.visualcapitalist.com/internet-browser-market-share/ https://www.visualcapitalist.com/internet-browser-market-sha... The reason google Chrome succeeded is because it was a better browser. It syncs all your favorites, passwords, and history with the google account you already have. It works on every platform. And Firefox had several years where it just wasn't very good. I was a Firefox user but around the time they killed legacy extensions I bailed. I remember helping many family members when their Internet Explorer was filled with spyware toolbars taking up 50% of their screen. I would just install chrome and log them into their gmail account and never have to fix it again. As others have mentioned, Safari was available on windows for many years.

philwelch 3y ago

Safari was available on Windows.

windowsrookie 3y ago

I disagree with this. When chrome was released the ideal target for a web developer was Internet explorer, because everyone who wasn't a technology enthusiast just used the built-in browser. Many business related websites still required internet explorer to function properly years after IE was discontinued. Additionally, this video shows FireFox's marketshare was still increasing, even two years after chrome was first released. https://www.visualcapitalist.com/internet-browser-market-share/ https://www.visualcapitalist.com/internet-browser-market-sha... The reason google Chrome succeeded is because it was a better browser. It syncs all your favorites, passwords, and history with the google account you already have. It works on every platform. And Firefox had several years where it just wasn't very good. I was a Firefox user but around the time they killed legacy extensions I bailed. I remember helping many family members when their Internet Explorer was filled with spyware toolbars taking up 50% of their screen. I would just install chrome and log them into their gmail account and never have to fix it again. As others have mentioned, Safari was available on windows for many years.