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> Today, iOS users already have the ability to set a third-party web browser — other than Safari — as their default. Reflecting the DMA’s requirements, Apple is
by ladon86 3y ago
> Today, iOS users already have the ability to set a third-party web browser — other than Safari — as their default. Reflecting the DMA’s requirements, Apple is also introducing a new choice screen that will surface when users first open Safari in iOS 17.4 or later. That screen will prompt EU users to choose a default browser from a list of options.
Any idea if this means you can actually choose a different browser, or are you choosing a different WebKit wrapper (e.g. the current version of Chrome on iOS)?
- insane_dreamer 3y agoWonderful; now devs have to support a plethora of browsers on iOS instead of just one -- the same shit-show as on the desktop.
- lacerrr 3y agothey have to do that anyway, or did you forget all the non-iOS mobile users?
- pathartl 3y agoI would imagine this doesn't open up the opportunity for other engines.
- fredoralive 3y ago"New frameworks and APIs for alternative browser engines — enabling developers to use browser engines, other than WebKit, for browser apps and apps with in-app browsing experiences."
- ryaneager 3y agoThey state the exact opposite in the second sentence of the article. Please, at least read the opening paragraph before commenting.
- olliej 3y agoSo I'm guessing you didn't read the article then?
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]
- sunnybeetroot 3y agoNo need to imagine, the answer is at the top of the article.
- andylynch 3y agoIt does, but on closer reading looks restricted to EU, they certainly aren’t suggesting a , say, gecko based browser could be published globally outside the EU.
- bhpm 3y agoFTA: The changes include more than 600 new APIs, expanded app analytics, functionality for alternative browser engines
- ladon86 3y agoAh, I clearly didn’t read it closely enough. Thank you!
- judge2020 3y agoPer Macrumors: > Apple is giving app developers in the EU access to NFC and allowing for alternative browser engines, so WebKit will not be required for third-party browser apps. Apps will be able to offer NFC payments without using Apple Pay or the Wallet app through Host Card Emulation. Apps can also access field detect, and a default app can be set to activate when an iPhone is placed near a terminal. Although this only changes things for us developers. Regular users really don’t care what browser is running the web pages they’re looking at, everyone who downloads chrome does so to get their synced bookmarks and history. https://www.macrumors.com/2024/01/25/ios-17-4-alternative-app-marketplaces-eu/ https://www.macrumors.com/2024/01/25/ios-17-4-alternative-ap...
- wiseowise 3y ago> Regular users really don’t care what browser is running the web pages they’re looking at, everyone who downloads chrome does so to get their synced bookmarks and history. As a regular user - I do.
- EthicalSimilar 3y agoYou’re on HackerNews. Doesn’t quite scream “regular user”.
- wiseowise 3y agoI don’t develop for a browser or use any advanced features.
- noqc 3y agoUm, no. Regular users care about being able to run ublock origin.
- chinathrow 3y agoSweet sweet Android.
- jerbear4328 3y ago
- hjnilsson 3y agoWell first version it will be different WebKit wrappers, as they are the only option available on iOS right now. But they simultaneously open the door to other browser engines, so I imagine Firefox at least will release their app with a new browser engine down the line.
- hanshenning 3y ago> To reflect the DMA’s changes, developers will be able to use alternative browser engines — other than WebKit — for dedicated browser apps and apps providing in-app browsing experiences in the EU. https://developer.apple.com/support/dma-and-apps-in-the-eu/#browser-alt-eu https://developer.apple.com/support/dma-and-apps-in-the-eu/#...
- wlesieutre 3y agoSo now European users could be using Firefox with mobile gecko engine, but no one in the US will ever test with that because they're not allowed to have it. Fun!
- reacharavindh 3y agoOh I don’t mind running iOS wrapper from Mozilla for Firefox mobile - but give me unlock origin, and I’ll thank you for ever!
- afruitpie 3y agoYou might be interested in Orion Browser [0] which is WebKit based and can install Firefox and Chrome extensions. [0] https://kagi.com/orion/ https://kagi.com/orion/
- a_wild_dandan 3y agoOh my god. If Orion supports the SponsorBlock extension, I'll die of happiness.
- user_7832 3y agoThanks, I'd forgotten about this.
- reacharavindh 3y agoThat’s perfect! It is funny that Kagi’s mobile browser allows Firefox extensions on iOS but Firefox for iOS doesn’t?
- ckcheng 3y ago> actually choose a different browser, or are you choosing a different WebKit wrapper I understand the "WebKit wrapper" for iOS criticism and do want different rendering engines available (e.g. Firefox's) and yet... The worse thing about Firefox for iOS is the wrapper part, not the lack of rendering engine choice part. The UI of Firefox on iOS is inconsistent and buggy, and syncing doesn't sync well, etc. I doubt using FF's own rendering engine instead of WebKit would help the situation, as it'd drain engineering resources away from making the "wrapper" more usable. I've always used Firefox, on Mac, Linux, Windows, Android, everywhere I can, but I find myself using it less and less on iOS... and it's not because of the rendering engine! But since this change for the DMA will allow FF to use its own rendering engine (in the EU), hopefully maybe it'll reenergize the development of FF and improve the "wrapper" part more - even for non EU users!
- pier25 3y agoNitpick but a browser engine is much more than the rendering engine.
- jerbear4328 3y agoWriting this on FF for iOS, the biggest reason I want to use the Firefox engine is for Firefox extensions. WebKit doesn't support extensions except the App Store ones in Safari, I want to use traditional extensions from AMO. Just let me use uBlock on my phone! I do agree, the Firefox iOS UI is clunky, but I find it useful for stuff where I want to sync passwords or tabs. I use Safari for browsing the web casually because it's nicer, and the feature of swiping between tabs is so convenient.