Web devs create advocacy group aimed at relaxing iOS browser restrictions
The newly launched Open Web Advocacy (OWA) hopes to convince Apple to allow third-party browser engines on iOS.
The advocacy group, formed by software developers in the U.K., aims to promote a more open web by helping to ease some of Apple's more restrictive requirements for web apps. They express concern that Apple's current restrictions stifle innovation on mobile devices.
One of the groups founders, Stuart Langridge, explains the issue to The Register, as spotted by 9to5mac.
"[E]very browser on iOS, whether it be badged Chrome, Firefox or Edge is actually just a branded skin of Safari, which lags behind [other browsers] because it has no competition on iOS."
This is because all web content on iOS must use WebKit as their browser engine, essentially forcing all browser apps to function as skinned versions of Safari.
Apple limits what functions third-party browsers can do. For example, Langridge points out that third-party browsers cannot add shortcuts to the Home Screen. They also can't operate in full-screen, nor can they use Apple Pay.
On OWA's website, the group claims that the Safari/WebKit team has stalled in innovation for the last ten years and actively prevented Web Apps from taking off on mobile.
The group states that browsers must become their own standalone apps rather than requiring WebKit. They argue that standalone web apps would offer equivalent functionality to those built on WebKit and could even offer greater privacy and security.
The group plans to meet with the U.K. Competitions and Markets Authority to convince them that Apple needs to relax its current policies.
Apple has long been criticized for gating off certain features, especially on iPhone. Many banks and credit card companies have petitioned regulatory committees for access to the iPhone NFC chip, allowing them to create direct competitors to Apple Pay.
Read on AppleInsider
The advocacy group, formed by software developers in the U.K., aims to promote a more open web by helping to ease some of Apple's more restrictive requirements for web apps. They express concern that Apple's current restrictions stifle innovation on mobile devices.
One of the groups founders, Stuart Langridge, explains the issue to The Register, as spotted by 9to5mac.
"[E]very browser on iOS, whether it be badged Chrome, Firefox or Edge is actually just a branded skin of Safari, which lags behind [other browsers] because it has no competition on iOS."
This is because all web content on iOS must use WebKit as their browser engine, essentially forcing all browser apps to function as skinned versions of Safari.
Apple limits what functions third-party browsers can do. For example, Langridge points out that third-party browsers cannot add shortcuts to the Home Screen. They also can't operate in full-screen, nor can they use Apple Pay.
On OWA's website, the group claims that the Safari/WebKit team has stalled in innovation for the last ten years and actively prevented Web Apps from taking off on mobile.
The group states that browsers must become their own standalone apps rather than requiring WebKit. They argue that standalone web apps would offer equivalent functionality to those built on WebKit and could even offer greater privacy and security.
The group plans to meet with the U.K. Competitions and Markets Authority to convince them that Apple needs to relax its current policies.
Apple has long been criticized for gating off certain features, especially on iPhone. Many banks and credit card companies have petitioned regulatory committees for access to the iPhone NFC chip, allowing them to create direct competitors to Apple Pay.
Read on AppleInsider
Comments
Here are the real considerations. Will 3rd party browser engines:
1. be as secure?
2. consume the same/less battery?
3. not be injected with tracking software?
If the answer is no to any of the above, then I'm not interested. And since the answer on the desktop is no to all of those, then why would iOS be any different. YES, Google Chrome is a battery hog.
I spend my working life trying to increase computer security then these people come along and demand to be shot in the foot it's extremely depressing.
It could be useful for any app to be able to add an icon to the home screen, e.g. for quick access to a particularly important screen, or document.
And any app should be able to go full screen. Bizarre that they can't.
I’m sick of these third party developers trying to tell us what we should want and that only they can deliver on the Apple platforms that we already own and are quite happy with. I for one don’t feel trapped in the “walled garden” that these third party developers are always trying to tell us we need to escape from. If I felt trapped I’d leave on my own. I don’t need to be “educated’ by them to know that Apple’s walled garden does in fact have an unlocked and unguarded exit gate. Only the entrance gate is locked and guarded, which I am most grateful for. These third parties are Pushers and are trying to use regulators and incessant whining in public to try to convince Apple to open the entrance gate so the third parties can foist their crap on us, even though we have not shown any desire to buy what they are selling.
Just go away, go ply your crap on the Androiders.
Any 3rd party web browser using its own engine violates this by definition.