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Launching a web app that doesn't work on the web? I guess that's what we should expect from a company that makes a messaging app that magically only works on on

Launching a web app that doesn't work on the web? I guess that's what we should expect from a company that makes a messaging app that magically only works on one piece of hardware. Apple has a knack for finding restrictions where they would otherwise never exist.

wewtyflakes 2y ago
+1; does not load for me using Firefox on MacOS.
- Tagbert 2y ago
  Yes, this beta explicitly is not yet running on Firefox or on mobile browsers
- ricardobayes 2y ago
  Firefox is basically extinct now, it took me a long time to accept that. But it's time to move on. Usage is at 1-2% levels. https://browsersl.ist/#q=%3E+0.2%25+and+not+dead https://browsersl.ist/#q=%3E+0.2%25+and+not+dead
  - NBJack 2y ago
    HN only gets about 5M unique users out of the 5.44B on the internet. Usage of the site is < .1%. It's hard for me to accept that, but by your logic it is basically extinct now. It's time to move on. /s
  - janderland 2y ago
    I’ve been using it as a daily driver for the past year due to web app bugs which only appear in Chrome. It’s been working fine for me.
bonestamp2 2y ago
It seems to work for me. Can you elaborate on the problem you're seeing?
- csande17 2y ago
  Apple has a very short list of allowed browsers that does not include any Android browser, any Linux browser, or Firefox on any platform: https://support.apple.com/120585 https://support.apple.com/120585 If you try to access Apple Maps on an unsupported browser, you get a hard "Your current browser isn't supported" block, presumably implemented with UA detection.
  - galleywest200 2y ago
    No, it does work. Just go to a sub-directory. I can access via Firefox. https://beta.maps.apple.com/asd https://beta.maps.apple.com/asd as an example.
    - madeofpalk 2y ago
      Which proves that it does work, but they just explicitly block it.
      - renjimen 2y ago
        What a miserable company.
        crazygringo 2y ago
        For goodness' sakes, it's in beta. Their devs are probably trying to make sure it runs in Firefox but they haven't added it to the official QA process, just like they haven't added languages other than English either. And they don't want Firefox users complaining about bugs that might be there yet. If this were a full release then sure I'd complain too. But this is just a beta. Maybe releasing betas before they have full compatibility and internationalization is good, rather than "miserable"?
        kimixa 2y ago
        But I thought that the whole point of it being a "Beta" was explicitly for testing. Blocking untested combinations seems contrary to that goal. Or I guess it's another example of how the word "Beta" has become marketing speak for "New!", with a side of "No Support!"
wferrell 2y ago
What browser? Works in safari and Chrome (latest and latest) on macos. Genuinely curious what isn't working as that seems like a real mistake.
- eurleif 2y ago
  Chrome on Linux, for example.
- update 2y ago
  Firefox on Windows 11 doesn't work.
- junar 2y ago
  Only Safari, Edge, and Chrome are supported, and only on Windows, Mac, and iPad. https://support.apple.com/en-us/120585 https://support.apple.com/en-us/120585
huitzitziltzin 2y ago
Amusingly does not work for safari on iPhone. Ok ok I have the maps app and that’s what they want me to use but if I am on mobile now and I want to click to check it out right now… well, maybe I won’t come back to try it later, guys?? Feels a little like they rushed it to meet some Q3 launch timeline?
- Tagbert 2y ago
  that's why they put up disclaimers saying that it is beta and does not work on mobile. > Support for additional languages, browsers, and platforms will be expanded over time.
- cqqxo4zV46cp 2y ago
  It’s a beta. It says beta on the site. It says beta in the HN post title.
  - NBJack 2y ago
    It's a beta that is.... approximately 19 years behind the competition. A beta that is kinda embarrassingly less cooked than multiple commercial and open source offerings which, mysteriously, provided both desktop and mobile web versions without fuss on effectively day one. It screams that Apple has under invested in this solution. This is more of an alpha released to the public. If they consider lack of mobile browser support feature complete (the industry standard state before beta), they are in deep shit.
    - 4fterd4rk 2y ago
      They provided both desktop and mobile web versions on day one... this is a beta. This is NOT day one. I'm betting that the other offerings you provided had similar restrictions while they were still in beta, but you don't know that because you're comparing a BETA product to a final product. What is it about Apple that brings out the most shrill and uninformed opinions, even on a website that skews toward software developers?
    - scarface_74 2y ago
pmdr 2y ago
> Apple has a knack for finding restrictions where they would otherwise never exist. And there are plenty of apologists ready to explain how it's your fault.
- cqqxo4zV46cp 2y ago
  For goodness sake. Be an adult. Cross-browser comparability is a known, material aspect of front-end web development. You know this. “It’s within reason for Apple to whitelist user agents for a beta release” isn’t the same as being an apologist and blaming the user. It’s a statement of fact. Insufferable.
  - standardUser 2y ago
    And if Apple can't figure out "front-end web development" then they do not deserve anyone defending them. Especially not with grotesque cult-like enthusiasm.
    - redserk 2y ago
      This is a beta release. The classification of "beta", in many release cycles, indicates pre-release software or software that should not be considered a finished product. Often, this is used to gauge interest, determine usability issues, and plan a methodology for scaling a product. Denigrating a userbase across your multiple comments in this thread does not help the point you are wishing to make.
CamperBob2 2y ago
Not super impressed. It has the same problem as Google in that street names are displayed much too sparsely, making it hard to orient yourself. Additionally, the satellite view is too dark, at least in my area. The imagery looks clean but the minimum altitude is much higher than what Google offers, so it's hard to evaluate. (Helpful tip to mapping providers: you don't need more resolution, just let me zoom in on your existing imagery! There is no reason whatsoever to stop at 1:1.) No street-view functionality appears to be present. Not sure if it's supposed to be, but it's certainly a dealbreaker if not. And then, yes, there's the matter of failing to support commonly-used browsers, even though it works fine in those browsers when appending a bogus subdirectory name as someone else pointed out. Bottom line, if there's any reason to use this over Google Maps I'm not seeing it.
- The5thElephant 2y ago
  What is it with Google Maps refusing to show me the street name I'm zooming in on? It feels like they make it especially sparse on streets your route line uses!
  - CamperBob2 2y ago
    At this point I have to assume somebody has a blocking patent that is keeping the major players from doing the obvious right thing. Otherwise it's utterly inexplicable how street names are handled.
    - heyoni 2y ago
      I always thought it was to make more room for businesses and other useless information that crowds google maps these days.
      - CamperBob2 2y ago
        Sure, but when there are no businesses or other tags around, they need to label the streets. This is just stupid: https://i.imgur.com/VpEvREN.png https://i.imgur.com/VpEvREN.png Some of the most significant streets have no labels, and good luck reading the ones that are there.
crazygringo 2y ago
Assuming you're referring to the fact that it doesn't work on all browsers, it's literally a beta. It clearly states that it's for Chrome/Edge/Safari only, and not for mobile. But it also says at the bottom: > Support for additional languages, browsers, and platforms will be expanded over time. I think it's totally fair that a beta has support for limited browsers, in order to get it out faster. Just like it's only in English for now as well, although that will obviously expand too. If it's not available for Firefox or Android when it leaves beta, then yes it's a problem. But an English-only beta with limited compatibility is one of the things betas are for. It's an appropriate setting of expectations.
- echoangle 2y ago
  I understand not supporting other browsers, but why would you actively block them?
  - gukov 2y ago
    Apple doesn’t want to be associated with something that looks broken. Having said that, what other beta products Apple had released in the past? I don’t recall too many.
    - echoangle 2y ago
      There’s a iOS and macOS beta every year, if you count that.
    - willseth 2y ago
      The original Apple Maps app!
    - mattl 2y ago
      I think they had a beta for Apple Music on the web too.
      - danudey 2y ago
        Yep: https://beta.music.apple.com/ https://beta.music.apple.com/ At least that one works in Firefox though.

wewtyflakes 2y ago

+1; does not load for me using Firefox on MacOS.

Tagbert 2y ago
Yes, this beta explicitly is not yet running on Firefox or on mobile browsers
ricardobayes 2y ago
Firefox is basically extinct now, it took me a long time to accept that. But it's time to move on. Usage is at 1-2% levels. https://browsersl.ist/#q=%3E+0.2%25+and+not+dead https://browsersl.ist/#q=%3E+0.2%25+and+not+dead
- NBJack 2y ago
  HN only gets about 5M unique users out of the 5.44B on the internet. Usage of the site is < .1%. It's hard for me to accept that, but by your logic it is basically extinct now. It's time to move on. /s
- janderland 2y ago
  I’ve been using it as a daily driver for the past year due to web app bugs which only appear in Chrome. It’s been working fine for me.

bonestamp2 2y ago

It seems to work for me. Can you elaborate on the problem you're seeing?

csande17 2y ago
Apple has a very short list of allowed browsers that does not include any Android browser, any Linux browser, or Firefox on any platform: https://support.apple.com/120585 https://support.apple.com/120585 If you try to access Apple Maps on an unsupported browser, you get a hard "Your current browser isn't supported" block, presumably implemented with UA detection.
- galleywest200 2y ago
  No, it does work. Just go to a sub-directory. I can access via Firefox. https://beta.maps.apple.com/asd https://beta.maps.apple.com/asd as an example.
  - madeofpalk 2y ago
    Which proves that it does work, but they just explicitly block it.
    - renjimen 2y ago
      What a miserable company.
      - crazygringo 2y ago
        For goodness' sakes, it's in beta. Their devs are probably trying to make sure it runs in Firefox but they haven't added it to the official QA process, just like they haven't added languages other than English either. And they don't want Firefox users complaining about bugs that might be there yet. If this were a full release then sure I'd complain too. But this is just a beta. Maybe releasing betas before they have full compatibility and internationalization is good, rather than "miserable"?
        kimixa 2y ago
        But I thought that the whole point of it being a "Beta" was explicitly for testing. Blocking untested combinations seems contrary to that goal. Or I guess it's another example of how the word "Beta" has become marketing speak for "New!", with a side of "No Support!"

wferrell 2y ago

What browser? Works in safari and Chrome (latest and latest) on macos. Genuinely curious what isn't working as that seems like a real mistake.

eurleif 2y ago
Chrome on Linux, for example.
update 2y ago
Firefox on Windows 11 doesn't work.
junar 2y ago
Only Safari, Edge, and Chrome are supported, and only on Windows, Mac, and iPad. https://support.apple.com/en-us/120585 https://support.apple.com/en-us/120585

huitzitziltzin 2y ago

Amusingly does not work for safari on iPhone. Ok ok I have the maps app and that’s what they want me to use but if I am on mobile now and I want to click to check it out right now… well, maybe I won’t come back to try it later, guys?? Feels a little like they rushed it to meet some Q3 launch timeline?

Tagbert 2y ago
that's why they put up disclaimers saying that it is beta and does not work on mobile. > Support for additional languages, browsers, and platforms will be expanded over time.
cqqxo4zV46cp 2y ago
It’s a beta. It says beta on the site. It says beta in the HN post title.
- NBJack 2y ago
  It's a beta that is.... approximately 19 years behind the competition. A beta that is kinda embarrassingly less cooked than multiple commercial and open source offerings which, mysteriously, provided both desktop and mobile web versions without fuss on effectively day one. It screams that Apple has under invested in this solution. This is more of an alpha released to the public. If they consider lack of mobile browser support feature complete (the industry standard state before beta), they are in deep shit.
  - 4fterd4rk 2y ago
    They provided both desktop and mobile web versions on day one... this is a beta. This is NOT day one. I'm betting that the other offerings you provided had similar restrictions while they were still in beta, but you don't know that because you're comparing a BETA product to a final product. What is it about Apple that brings out the most shrill and uninformed opinions, even on a website that skews toward software developers?
  - scarface_74 2y ago

pmdr 2y ago

> Apple has a knack for finding restrictions where they would otherwise never exist. And there are plenty of apologists ready to explain how it's your fault.

cqqxo4zV46cp 2y ago
For goodness sake. Be an adult. Cross-browser comparability is a known, material aspect of front-end web development. You know this. “It’s within reason for Apple to whitelist user agents for a beta release” isn’t the same as being an apologist and blaming the user. It’s a statement of fact. Insufferable.
- standardUser 2y ago
  And if Apple can't figure out "front-end web development" then they do not deserve anyone defending them. Especially not with grotesque cult-like enthusiasm.
  - redserk 2y ago
    This is a beta release. The classification of "beta", in many release cycles, indicates pre-release software or software that should not be considered a finished product. Often, this is used to gauge interest, determine usability issues, and plan a methodology for scaling a product. Denigrating a userbase across your multiple comments in this thread does not help the point you are wishing to make.

CamperBob2 2y ago

Not super impressed. It has the same problem as Google in that street names are displayed much too sparsely, making it hard to orient yourself. Additionally, the satellite view is too dark, at least in my area. The imagery looks clean but the minimum altitude is much higher than what Google offers, so it's hard to evaluate. (Helpful tip to mapping providers: you don't need more resolution, just let me zoom in on your existing imagery! There is no reason whatsoever to stop at 1:1.) No street-view functionality appears to be present. Not sure if it's supposed to be, but it's certainly a dealbreaker if not. And then, yes, there's the matter of failing to support commonly-used browsers, even though it works fine in those browsers when appending a bogus subdirectory name as someone else pointed out. Bottom line, if there's any reason to use this over Google Maps I'm not seeing it.

The5thElephant 2y ago
What is it with Google Maps refusing to show me the street name I'm zooming in on? It feels like they make it especially sparse on streets your route line uses!
- CamperBob2 2y ago
  At this point I have to assume somebody has a blocking patent that is keeping the major players from doing the obvious right thing. Otherwise it's utterly inexplicable how street names are handled.
  - heyoni 2y ago
    I always thought it was to make more room for businesses and other useless information that crowds google maps these days.
    - CamperBob2 2y ago
      Sure, but when there are no businesses or other tags around, they need to label the streets. This is just stupid: https://i.imgur.com/VpEvREN.png https://i.imgur.com/VpEvREN.png Some of the most significant streets have no labels, and good luck reading the ones that are there.

crazygringo 2y ago

Assuming you're referring to the fact that it doesn't work on all browsers, it's literally a beta. It clearly states that it's for Chrome/Edge/Safari only, and not for mobile. But it also says at the bottom: > Support for additional languages, browsers, and platforms will be expanded over time. I think it's totally fair that a beta has support for limited browsers, in order to get it out faster. Just like it's only in English for now as well, although that will obviously expand too. If it's not available for Firefox or Android when it leaves beta, then yes it's a problem. But an English-only beta with limited compatibility is one of the things betas are for. It's an appropriate setting of expectations.

echoangle 2y ago
I understand not supporting other browsers, but why would you actively block them?
- gukov 2y ago
  Apple doesn’t want to be associated with something that looks broken. Having said that, what other beta products Apple had released in the past? I don’t recall too many.
  - echoangle 2y ago
    There’s a iOS and macOS beta every year, if you count that.
  - willseth 2y ago
    The original Apple Maps app!
  - mattl 2y ago
    I think they had a beta for Apple Music on the web too.
    - danudey 2y ago
      Yep: https://beta.music.apple.com/ https://beta.music.apple.com/ At least that one works in Firefox though.