Apple Allows 3rd Party Web Browsers in App Store

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com/2009/01/13/apple-allows-3rd-party-web-browsers-in-app-store/)

Over the past 24 hours, Apple has begun to approve 3rd party web browsing applications for the iPhone. A number of new web browsing apps have suddenly appeared with original submission dates ranging as far back as October.

While Apple has made no official acknowledgements, it appears these applications were likely in a special queue awaiting for approval. We had seen a similar "group" delays with other categories of apps. The most notable example involved flatulence applications such as Pull My Finger and iFart Mobile. Once Apple decided to allow the category within the App Store, a backlog of apps quickly appeared.

Web browsing applications were previously charged with "duplicating functionality" of other iPhone apps and was felt to be the reason why Opera would never be approved (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/11/02/opera-mini-not-rejected/) by Apple.

A partial list of these new applications include:

- Edge Browser (http://appshopper.com/utilities/edge-browser) (Free) - No loss of screen real estate to the address or navigation bars.
- Incognito (http://appshopper.com/utilities/incognito) ($1.99) - Now you can browse without leaving a history of any kind.
- WebMate:Tabbed Browser (http://appshopper.com/productivity/webmatetabbed-browser) ($0.99) - Web Mate simplifies browsing by queuing up all the links you click on, then allowing you to view them one by one when you're ready.
- Shaking Web (http://appshopper.com/utilities/shaking-web) ($1.99) - adds a sophisticated algorithm to compensate small hand shaking to allow for easier reading.

This could open the door for mobile versions of prominent web browsers such as Opera and Firefox, though there remain other SDK restrictions that could prevent full-featured versions of those browsers from appearing. Still, Apple appears to be loosening some early restrictions they had applied to the App Store approval process.

Article Link: Apple Allows 3rd Party Web Browsers in App Store (http://www.macrumors.com/2009/01/13/apple-allows-3rd-party-web-browsers-in-app-store/)

[amac4me]

Nice development! I wonder if Firefox will find its way onto the App Store and then the iPhone.

[Bernie-Mac]

Awesome!! I cant wait for Firefox!

[wakka092]

It's good to see Apple relax its acceptance rules. :D

[puffnstuff]

All Apple needs to do now is release an updated version of the SDK that allows apps to show up on an external screen. :D

[ravenvii]

... So this means someone can develop an browser with Flash built-in?

[levitynyc]

wow, webmate looks awesome

[iParis]

These aren't browsers like you'd see on a desktop.
They're basically just skins/plugins for Safari Mobile.

[NT1440]

As someone said in the other thread, this is essentially webkit/safari with different UI thrown over it.

[ltldrummerboy]

Hooray! Here's to mobile FF with bookmark syncing!

[mugen76]

Please Give Me Flash.

[levitynyc]

wow, webmate looks awesome



I just downloaded it.....wow it is awesome.

Very cool app

[Me1000]

hasn't 1Password been doing this for a while now? If these are indeed just webkit browsers....

[TuffLuffJimmy]

YYYYYYEEEEEEEEESSSSSSS

Hopefully a good version of Opera or chrome will be on the phone soon.

[Me1000]

YYYYYYEEEEEEEEESSSSSSS

Hopefully a good version of Opera or chrome will be on the phone soon.
a version of Chrome on the Mac would be nice to see first... :p

[TuffLuffJimmy]

hasn't 1Password been doing this for a while now? If these are indeed just webkit browsers....

1Password is basically just a skin over safari, much like the browser built into various twitter clients. I'm not sure what the differences here are, or what rules in the SDK Apple had to change to allow these.

[dante@sisna.com]

... So this means someone can develop an browser with Flash built-in?

I would not be surprised to see this. I have a friend who uses a browser on his Blackjack--SkyFire (beta) -- that plays flash perfectly.

[twoodcc]

well this should make a lot of people happy. i, for one, do not have a problem using safari on my iphone though

[Me1000]

1Password is basically just a skin over safari, much like the browser built into various twitter clients. I'm not sure what the differences here are, or what rules in the SDK Apple had to change to allow these.

exactly, which from what I understand is exactly what these browsers are...

Can anyone shed some light on this?

[juanster]

man can't wait for firefox and thunderbird...if they allow mail apps too...

[iParis]

man can't wait for firefox and thunderbird...if they allow mail apps too...

Email apps have already been denied.

[dukebound85]

Nice development! I wonder if Firefox will find its way onto the App Store and then the iPhone.

Awesome!! I cant wait for Firefox!

Hooray! Here's to mobile FF with bookmark syncing!

FF has said they wont make a mobile version for iphone
http://www.wired.com/techbiz/people/magazine/16-08/ff_lilly

who knows, maybe their outlook will change now with this move by apple

[PlaceofDis]

be interesting to see what comes of this, as in if any other rendering engines will be ported to the iPhone.

another thing i hope we start to see is other mail applications.

[randomusername]

Email apps have already been denied.

And so were web browsers, right? Sounds like they're loosening up and maybe will allow more stuff.

[Warbrain]

These aren't web browsers - these are different UIs for WebKit/Safari on the iPhone. It's still the same engine as before. When Apple begins to allow new engines then Firefox and Opera could possibly come. But that's not going to happen.

[aznkid25]

I hope that this means that firefox or google chrome will be coming to the app store soon.

[notnek]

now apple needs to let us remove stock apps.

[stryfe137]

I respectfully disagree. This is a relaxing of the rules by apple. Check out the browser within the google mobile app. It isn't safari. This may be some kind of early version of chrome mobile. Apple wouldn't normally allow these kind of apps to begin with unless it was apart of another app such as twitter or flycast. My guess is that we will eventually see 3rd party browsers on the phone and the hope for flash is real.

[sonictonic]

Unless it supports flash, why the *&%* would I need or want a different browser? And to PAY for it?

LOL give me a break. Come on. Fricking pointless!

[face_talk to the hand]

[alexbates]

YES, I am so glad there are going to be other browsers availiable in the App Store.

FIREFOX! It's my favorite browser on my Mac besides Safari. I hope they come out with an iPhone version. Another posibility for the future is Google Chrome. It will probably be a year before they could get it in the App Store if they decided to make an iPhone version.

[arn]

As someone said in the other thread, this is essentially webkit/safari with different UI thrown over it.

well, it's webkit, sure... but Chrome is also "a different UI" over webkit.

hasn't 1Password been doing this for a while now? If these are indeed just webkit browsers....

I guess the difference is that 1Password actually did more than browse the web.

arn

[TuffLuffJimmy]

now apple needs to let us remove stock apps.

YEAH! I bet in 3.0 we'll have better control over certain aspects of the phone like that. For example: Open links in Firefox, send email using thunderbird.

[Small White Car]

Nice development! I wonder if Firefox will find its way onto the App Store and then the iPhone.

Awesome!! I cant wait for Firefox!

... So this means someone can develop an browser with Flash built-in?

Hooray! Here's to mobile FF with bookmark syncing!

Please Give Me Flash.

Nope, no, not a chance, don't count on it, and just forget it.

[TuffLuffJimmy]

Nope, no, not a chance, don't count on it, and just forget it.

Oh, really? You work for Apple and you know what the future holds for the SDK?

Are you sure that Apple will never change their policies, despite their trend of this?

[ziggyonice]

wow, webmate looks awesome

Absolutely! This is going to be so helpful! Until Safari gets tabs -- or an easier, faster, and more efficient way of setting up how you like to view multiple pages -- Web Mate might become my new browser.

Great video explaining it here (http://rpatechnology.com/webmate/).

[hdm42]

Hooray! Here's to mobile FF with bookmark syncing!

Impossible, given the current limitations of the SDK. Well, at least, impossible through iTunes. I suppose Mozilla could implement some kind of internet-based sync, ala MobileMe. But Webkit is infinitely superior to Gecko anyway, so.... :rolleyes:

[Ademius]

They'd better allow other engines if they want to keep the platform alive and well in the long run and not see it get shred to pieces by it's users moving on to more open, convenient and more well performing ones.

I for one would be very glad if I could get a Gecko based browser like Mozilla Firefox with support for the most popular and common extension that doesn't hog the bandwith or system resources too much - after all, they're very limited on a PDA/Smartphone/Com.

The one extension that's highest on my list is Adblock Plus (ABP). Considering the above mentionen constrained resources, as optimal use of them as possible is vital.

If they don't allow Gecko, I'll probably get Chrome with the equivalent function of ABP in an extension (Google plans on making these kind of extensions possible for Chrome).

(My browser of choice for my desktop (PC) is also Mozilla Firefox due to it's huge pool of great extensions available to customize the look, function and GUI of the browser)

[John.B]

I just want FF with enough add-on support to run AdBlock Plus. That's it.

[Bernie-Mac]

who knows, maybe their outlook will change now with this move by apple

I think so, cuz this is what he said "No. Apple makes it too hard." So of course they wouldnt develop a mobile firefox cuz Apple wouldnt accept it even if they did, but now that they are accepting a few different browsers maybe their tune will change

[trainguy77]

Hopefully with all these apps that have been slowly coming through, maybe just maybe icall will be allowed onto the app store.

[tfskora]

has anyone mentioned firefox for it?!

[Bernie-Mac]

Nope, no, not a chance, don't count on it, and just forget it.

Thanks Mr. Jobs, i was just waiting for the official word from you:rolleyes:

[donga]

this is like the drm-free itunes now... apple as the iphone app bureaucrat realizing that being open is the future

[Bernie-Mac]

I think the Pre is already starting to make Apple rethink a few things....

[Small White Car]

Oh, really? You work for Apple and you know what the future holds for the SDK?

Are you sure that Apple will never change their policies, despite their trend of this?

Since the iPhone came out nearly 2 years ago they have made absolute certain that they control all the technology that runs it. This means they can update the software and hardware whenever they want. (Unlike with Macs where they often have to wait for 3rd parties to catch up. Remember how many people held off on Intel Macs until a native Photoshop came out? They've made sure that nothing like that can hold up a new iPhone. Everything that 3rd parties make is controlled in safe little sandboxes that Apple runs and is free update around the apps whenever they want.)

They have done NOTHING to compromise that ideology yet. Allowing these "Safari Skins" doesn't do that. Allowing 'fart' app doesn't do that. Coming out with the SDK didn't do it. None of the changes they've made betray that original plan.

Allowing flash or different browser engines WOULD compromise that goal.

So no, I don't work for Apple, but when they go way out of their way to do something for almost 2 years then yes, I feel safe saying that they'll continue to do that. If you think they're going to suddenly change their minds with no warning then it is up to you to explain why you think they'll suddenly do that. Because they've given no clue that they will. Do YOU work for Apple?

[bki122689]

awesome now all we need is java on the the iphone and we are all set to go.

[Beric]

awesome now all we need is java on the the iphone and we are all set to go.

Java AND Flash - I need both.

[Bernie-Mac]

Since the iPhone came out nearly 2 years ago they have made absolute certain that they control all the technology that runs it. This means they can update the software and hardware whenever they want. (Unlike with Macs where they often have to wait for 3rd parties to catch up. Remember how many people held off on Intel Macs until a native Photoshop came out? They've made sure that nothing like that can hold up a new iPhone. Everything that 3rd parties make is controlled in safe little sandboxes that Apple runs.)

They have done NOTHING to compromise that ideology yet. Allowing these "Safari Skins" doesn't do that. Allowing 'fart' app doesn't do that. Coming out with the SDK didn't do it. None of the changes they've made betray that original plan.

Allowing flash or different browser engines WOULD compromise that goal.

So no, I don't work for Apple, but when they go way out of their way to do something for almost 2 years then yes, I feel safe saying that they'll continue to do that. If you think they're going to suddenly change their minds with no warning then it is up to you to explain why you think they'll suddenly do that. Because they've given no clue that they will. Do YOU work for Apple?

Yeah but Google isnt Apple and yet they have Maps that gets updated with each firmware. Youtube isnt apple and they have control over that. How do you know they wont work with Mozilla to make a Firefox app that they can control with updates, etc..?

[rayz]

I think the Pre is already starting to make Apple rethink a few things....

My thoughts exactly.

Though I don't see how anyone can write a decent game for the Pre just yet ...

[damnyooneek]

webOS is going to stomp mobile osx if apple doesnt loosen things up

[Small White Car]

Yeah but Google isnt Apple and yet they have Maps that gets updated with each firmware. Youtube isnt apple and they have control over that. How do you know they wont work with Mozilla to make a Firefox app that they can control with updates, etc..?


Maps and Youtube and things Apple doesn't have in-house. They decided they needed them and found a place to get them.

Why would Apple need another web browser? Name a reason you like those browsers better and they'll say "we can make Safari do that." I mean, answer why Apple (not you) would want another browser to compete with their own.

I can't think of a reason. It's not impossible, but no reason = not likely.

[bki122689]

Java AND Flash - I need both.

yes forgot the other one it's late lol:confused::confused::confused::confused:

[Bernie-Mac]

Maps and Youtube and things Apple doesn't have in-house. They decided they needed them and found a place to get them.

Why would Apple need another web browser? Name a reason you like those browsers better and they'll say "we can make Safari do that." I mean, answer why Apple (not you) would want another browser to compete with their own.

I can't think of a reason. It's not impossible, but no reason = not likely.

Hmm...you have a point. "We can make Safari do that." is something Apple definitely would say. While Apple and Mozilla could have like a joint app project if they wanted to so Apple could have control over it, like you said, they could easily enough just upgrade safari. I guess we can only hope then.

[Small White Car]

Hmm...you have a point. "We can make Safari do that." is something Apple definitely would say. I guess we can only hope then.

Yes, remember, I'm not talking about what I hope for or want.

I'm just predicting what Apple is going to do. You have to remember that guessing what people want is not the best way to play that game! It doesn't always work out that way.

[Dmac77]

I'm going to have to agree with small white car on this one. I don't think we will be seeing FF/Opera on the iPhone anytime soon. IT would compromise Apple's release timetables.

Don

[TuffLuffJimmy]

Since the iPhone came out nearly 2 years ago they have made absolute certain that they control all the technology that runs it. This means they can update the software and hardware whenever they want. (Unlike with Macs where they often have to wait for 3rd parties to catch up. Remember how many people held off on Intel Macs until a native Photoshop came out? They've made sure that nothing like that can hold up a new iPhone. Everything that 3rd parties make is controlled in safe little sandboxes that Apple runs and is free update around the apps whenever they want.)

They have done NOTHING to compromise that ideology yet. Allowing these "Safari Skins" doesn't do that. Allowing 'fart' app doesn't do that. Coming out with the SDK didn't do it. None of the changes they've made betray that original plan.

Allowing flash or different browser engines WOULD compromise that goal.

So no, I don't work for Apple, but when they go way out of their way to do something for almost 2 years then yes, I feel safe saying that they'll continue to do that. If you think they're going to suddenly change their minds with no warning then it is up to you to explain why you think they'll suddenly do that. Because they've given no clue that they will. Do YOU work for Apple?

Except the biggest flaw in your logic (this makes every point you made invalid and you completely wrong) is that most, if not all apps needed to be updated in order to run on 2.2

So what's the difference between waiting for a native photoshop and waiting for a working Pandora app?

[slapppy]

webOS is going to stomp mobile osx if apple doesnt loosen things up

It's doing it already according to Rubinstein. Six months is not enough time to play catch up to the Palm Pre. This may look like a desperate attempt from Apple to Palms superior browser experience.

[Bubba Satori]

This is eggcellent news. Hopefully this signals a new attitude at Apple that will spread to computers and increased choices regarding new models and options.

[boss1]

Nice! Can't wait for Internet Explorer! :rolleyes:


and btw, Why can't flash happen in a browser developed for the iPhone??

[kas23]

This is good news, even though it exactly new news. But, any change in Apple's current philosophy can only lead to better things. However, having alternative browsers on the iPhone isn't novel, so I don't think this is a reaction to the Pre - that's just not Apple's style. Alternative browsers have already been a part of Google Mobile, iDownload, Folders, and iStorage (and there are probably more). However, this still is a change (at least in Apple's eyes) since these apps have been previosuly held up in the approval process (for what reason, Apple only knows).

[iParis]

and btw, Why can't flash happen in a browser developed for the iPhone??

Because Steve Jobs says so.

[boss1]

Because Steve Jobs says so.

good answer. however technically it is possible yes?




edit... what I'm trying to get at is that if it is technically possible then where does apple draw the line? in terms of browsers with desktop plugin functionality that would allow specific types of video, flash, animation, to display in a browser. Does Apple say yes to all just not flash? I think eventually Apple will leave it up to the consumer to decide whether they want to drain their battery or not. Or at least they should let the consumer choose.

[gotzero]

This is great news. Anything that even hints at the SDK getting loosened eventually is a positive in my book right now.

[str1f3]

It's doing it already according to Rubinstein. Six months is not enough time to play catch up to the Palm Pre. This may look like a desperate attempt from Apple to Palms superior browser experience.

Your quoting a palm exec? I expect that he would say that. You have no idea of what apple has been planning for os 3.0 just like you didn't know with palm. Apple will have a year since 2.0 to build 3.0. Let's see what they have in store especially when they get the same processsors as the pre with the engineering help of pa semi. You act as if the product has been released when it's just vaporware.

[iParis]

good answer. however technically it is possible yes?




edit... what I'm trying to get at is that if it is technically possible then where does apple draw the line? in terms of browsers with desktop plugin functionality that would allow specific types of video, flash, animation, to display in a browser. Does Apple say yes to all just not flash? I think eventually Apple will leave it up to the consumer to decide whether they want to drain their battery or not. Or at least they should let the consumer choose.

If they impliment it we will most likely be able to turn it on and off. And it will probably be made to where it doesn't kill the battery as much.

[Chaos123x]

I think I will wait till there is version of Firefox with Flash.

Or Chrome with Flash.

[offwidafairies]

so when is the iphone nano coming?

[tufaw]

I wonder if this means that MailWrangler (http://www.macrumors.com/iphone/2008/09/21/another-app-rejected-from-app-store/) would be allowed? It was originally denied for being too much like Mail, but surely the developer could just rebrand it as a browser with support for different "identities". I could really use an app like that.

[billchase2]

yeah!! it's about time...

[slapppy]

Your quoting a palm exec? I expect that he would say that. You have no idea of what apple has been planning for os 3.0 just like you didn't know with palm. Apple will have a year since 2.0 to build 3.0. Let's see what they have in store especially when they get the same processsors as the pre with the engineering help of pa semi. You act as if the product has been released when it's just vaporware.

Rubinstein is not just your typical Palm exec. What he's saying has some serious weight to it. All this talk of 3.0 seems more of vaporware than the Palm Pre. Apple can't even get push out in time and we are to believe 3.0 is going to catch up to the Pre or existing smartphones that has the basics already available? Well probably get feautures to help increase purchases for iTunes content.

[KRAPPS]

FF has said they wont make a mobile version for iphone
http://www.wired.com/techbiz/people/magazine/16-08/ff_lilly

who knows, maybe their outlook will change now with this move by apple

I sure hope FireFox has a change of heart ... love that browser and it would behoove them to become a player in the iPhone space

[ltldrummerboy]

Impossible, given the current limitations of the SDK. Well, at least, impossible through iTunes. I suppose Mozilla could implement some kind of internet-based sync, ala MobileMe. But Webkit is infinitely superior to Gecko anyway, so.... :rolleyes:

1Password mobile syncs with the desktop app through a wireless network. I don't see why FF couldn't do the same.

[firewood]

Java AND Flash - I need both.

You're out of luck.

Java and Flash require non-Apple interpreters (JVM & ActiveScript). Apple doesn't allow non-Apple interpreters in networked iPhone apps. All these recent new web browser apps (including potentially Chrome!) use WebKit, which is already built-in to the iPhone OS, thus OK.

.

[zerolight]

Edge Browser no longer there.

[arn]

Edge Browser no longer there.

it's still coming up for me. U.S. iTunes Store.

arn

[twilson]

... So this means someone can develop an browser with Flash built-in?

No, and you couldn't do Firefox either. Because all of those application use WebKit web view (Safari) that is provided by the iPhone.

None of these are NEW browsers, just re-purposing of functionality provided for developers by Apple.

[doctoree]

Thats cool. Hopefully someone will make a browser with a optimized flash version already built in.
Or, even better, Apple decides to finally allow flash into the app store.

[Jayomat]

doesn't change anything to me :(

[Nikobert]

The EDGE browser is not available on the German iTunes Store :(
Is there anyone else with experience for other countries? All the other browsers are already available

[xUKHCx]

Unless it supports flash, why the *&%* would I need or want a different browser? And to PAY for it?

LOL give me a break. Come on. Fricking pointless!

[face_talk to the hand]

I don't know :rolleyes: extra features perhaps.

For example if Opera released a version for the iPhone then you could have opera speed dial (basically a set of tiles on the new tab page displaying thumbnails of your favourites), opera link (over the air synchronising with your bookmarks etc. with all of your devices) etc.

I'm going to have to agree with small white car on this one. I don't think we will be seeing FF/Opera on the iPhone anytime soon. IT would compromise Apple's release timetables.

Don

Compromise apple's release timetables? I am not sure what you mean, I would imagine this was just like the countless flashlight / fart applications, they don't really have an effect on the coding team as it will be handled by a separate department.


Edge Browser no longer there.

it's still coming up for me. U.S. iTunes Store.

arn

UK here and Edge Browser is not showing up either

[riglni]

All that these apps are doing, is showing the iPhone UIKits built-in web component in a slightly different way that Safari itself does. In other words, you are still using Safari's browser-"engine".

I develop iPhone-applications myself (see http://plaza.no/iphone/ ), so I know how this is done. Apps like these can easily be created in just a couple of hours.

[Pikemann Urge]

Flash is not good for the web and I'm glad that Apple is shunning it. But I do hope that Firefox and Opera are eventually released. Sans Flash plug-in, of course.

[mdriftmeyer]

Please Give Me Flash.

Not until Adobe blows it up, redesigns its so it doesn't muck with everything in your system because it's still in the middle of downloading some pointless navigational menu with fancy overlays.

It's crap.

[bobbleheadbob]

Another vote for Firefox, although I'm not hopeful that Apple will approve a version for the iPhone anytime soon. :( I'd love to be able to have my Firefox web browser bookmarks sync from both my Mac laptops to my iPhone.

[kas23]

Well probably get feautures to help increase purchases for iTunes content.

Good point. Apple always is coming up with innovative ways for us to part with our money.

[Stella]

Its great that Apple are relaxing their policies. I still don't know why Apple would want to stop 3rd party applications competing with their own... pretty damned weird. Safari is a good browser... but not the greatest.


Apple should now relax other policies such as restrictions on background applications etc.

When it comes to other web components, Apple should allow Flash, and other media players, so users can enjoy the full internet experience. If you don't like these, then don't install them, and life will go on as before!

These people complaining about Flash, I'm betting that these people don't know how widely it is used, some websites use it for navigation menus, or say, a photo gallery - which don't appear as being Flash driven at all.

[iJawn108]

iCab? lol

[hexonxonx]

Good point. Apple always is coming up with innovative ways for us to part with our money.

Which is the main purpose of the "iPhone" with integrated iPod and iTunes.

[iCantwait]

epic fail the lot of them, safari is still the best

[kdarling]

Gets my vote as "most misleading headline" of the month. As we can see from so many replies, it just raises false hopes of actual other browsers being allowed.

Should've been more like:

Apple Allows Simple Custom Browser UIs in App Store

Too bad they didn't go much further, and allow them to store pages locally as apps. Then they could claim a third of what the Palm Pre uses. (They'd still be missing access to system services and multitasking.)

[azentropy]

Since Apple hasn't added the ability to turn off auto-rotate in Safari, I'd just like to see a simple browser that you can lock it in which mode it displays - either portrait or landscape.

[sseelman]

As a parent with teens, I am most interested in the browser replacement that Safe Eyes will be releasing soon. Their browser would adhere to the parental control standards that we have set for use with the desktop version of Safe Eyes. Like a few other people in this post, I don;t really see a huge value in replacing Safari just for the sake of it. The Safe Eyes implementation appears to be a good reason - at least for my family.

http://www.internetsafety.com/safe-eyes-mobile-iphone.php

[Trooperof3]

This is good news..

My only problem Is if i got a replacement for Safari I wouldn't want it on my screen. Just like I hate having Weatherbug & the Apple Weather App. 1 is sufficent. I wish I could take off Apples.

[jessica.]

Gets my vote as "most misleading headline" of the month. As we can see from so many replies, it just raises false hopes of actual other browsers being allowed.

Should've been more like:

Apple Allows Simple Custom Browser UIs in App Store

Too bad they didn't go much further, and allow them to store pages locally as apps. Then they could claim a third of what the Palm Pre uses. (They'd still be missing access to system services and multitasking.)
Totally agreed. I was mildly excited ... which is odd but I was. Then ... disappointment yet again. :cool:
This is good news..

My only problem Is if i got a replacement for Safari I wouldn't want it on my screen. Just like I hate having Weatherbug & the Apple Weather App. 1 is sufficent. I wish I could take off Apples.

Awesome job. You read the title, posted a comment, bypassed all other information and now you're off looking for that new browser to download and possibility sitting there confused. ;) It pays to read at least the first post.

[kornyboy]

Wirelessly posted (iPhone: Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 2_2 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/525.18.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.1 Mobile/5G77 Safari/525.20)

This us great. I like safari but there are many features that I'm sure will be added to other browsers. Different ways of thinking.

[Maxington]

Please Give Me Flash.

I agree WRU flash

[lazyrighteye]

All Apple needs to do now is release an updated version of the SDK that allows apps to show up on an external screen. :D

Yes. That would be a more than welcome advancement.

[kdarling]

Amazing how news gets copied and warped around the blogosphere over something as simple as this.

There are even websites claiming that the "new" browsers can't possibly be as good as Safari's webkit. Idiots. It *is* Safari inside.

At least Gizmodo got it right:

Apple approves Safari apps (http://i.gizmodo.com/5130951/apple-approves-new-browsers-in-app-store-as-long-as-theyre-based-on-safari)

I guarantee a flood gate has opened, too. These kind of apps are fairly quick and simple to write.

[olternaut]

... So this means someone can develop an browser with Flash built-in?

Holy crap thats RIGHT!! :eek: Does anyone else think this is possible?

[thunderclap]

this is like the drm-free itunes now... apple as the iphone app bureaucrat realizing that being open is the future

Why does everyone blame Apple for the DRM? As I understand it Apple was against DRM from the onset but the record labels demanded it. That's like users giving negative reviews in iTunes because of the quality of video encoding, or problems with the audio. Don't the copyright owners handle the encoding of their products and Apple just supplies the space?

[EricBrian]

I just bought WebMate and gave it a test. Man, I love it. It is TONS faster than Safari. I think I won't be using Safari anymore.

Thank you RPA Tech! :)

EDIT:
People, even so though they might be using the same browsing tech, give them a spin... Like I said, WebMate renders the pages a lot quicker. Yes, the initial page.

[olternaut]

Amazing how news gets copied and warped around the blogosphere over something as simple as this.

There are even websites claiming that the "new" browsers can't possibly be as good as Safari's webkit. Idiots. It *is* Safari inside.

At least Gizmodo got it right:

Apple approves Safari apps (http://i.gizmodo.com/5130951/apple-approves-new-browsers-in-app-store-as-long-as-theyre-based-on-safari)

I guarantee a flood gate has opened, too. These kind of apps are fairly quick and simple to write.

He is right. :(

Multiple copies of the same freaking safari application just with different dressing. *iYawn*

[bytethese]

Except the biggest flaw in your logic (this makes every point you made invalid and you completely wrong) is that most, if not all apps needed to be updated in order to run on 2.2

So what's the difference between waiting for a native photoshop and waiting for a working Pandora app?

I'm not sure what you mean? All my apps worked fine after I updated to 2.2. I didn't know any "needed" to be updated in order to upgrade to 2.2. My Pandora was working fine as well...

[shiseiryu1]

I don't really care about Flash or Java, however, I would like StumbleUpon App.

[iSee]

It's silly to have 20 different browsers, each with only a one or at most a couple features:

edge browser
1password
incognito
etc.

They really need to open up a plugin interface to Safari.
So I could have 1password and incognito and an edge browsing options, etc., all at the same time if I want.

I mean, duh. It's not like I'm suggesting something radical here.

[TheSpaz]

Wow, this thread is getting pretty long. I didn't read every single post, but even though these are just front-end UI's for Safari's WebKit, up until now, you couldn't get a standalone Web Browser app on the App Store. Apple would say that it mimic's the already built-in Safari and wouldn't allow it. This is pretty good news. Maybe we'll see some browsers with better features than Safari and perhaps we'll see some email clients as well.

Someone should make a Safari clone that has the old pre-2.2 interface. I don't like the new Google search bar in my face all the time now... ugh.

[levitynyc]

i love Webmate too. It does scroll a little more jittery than Safari and I cant seem to find a way to Add bookmarks.

Am I missing something?

[TuffLuffJimmy]

I'm not sure what you mean? All my apps worked fine after I updated to 2.2. I didn't know any "needed" to be updated in order to upgrade to 2.2. My Pandora was working fine as well...

That's probably because the developers got their updates out the door very quickly, but none the less there were issues with 2.1 apps on 2.2

[razorianfly]

Did the 'Edge Browser' just disappear from iTunes UK? :eek:
Returning 'Item Not Available'.

Trying to pick them all up for review. :rolleyes:

R-Fly

[cc2096]

If this opens up the folks behind Skyfire to start working on an iPhone compatible browser we may finally get our Flash support.


www.skyfire.com

:D

[olie]

Damn, i was so happy to see my app finally approved after 2 months, only to see all of these appear.. :(

I think i will go into a marathon of new features for my app in the next few days to try to get ahead.

So if anyone has any Safari missing feature they would like, i'd be glad to hear.
Appname: QuickSurf.

Currently the main features over Safari are:
- Total full screen mode toggle (Including status bar)
- Toggle download of images on/off for faster browsing

Next version (Which hopefully will be approved quickly now) will include:
- Ad Blocker toggle (All known ad-servers will be blocked)
- Orientation Lock (Lock the current orientation to landscape or portrait, someone mentioned in this thread)

More ideas would be appreciated (Reasonable ones, not flash support :) unless you already have the code for it)

Thanks

[dariusperkins]

not in the uk store yet.

(sorry if someone's mentioned this but couldn't be arsed reading the whole thread)

[SpinThis!]

I gotta play devil's advocate for a second here... let's say Apple did lax some of their policies and Mozilla got Gecko (and subsequently Firefox) onto the iPhone. How good will it be?

All the cool plugins for Firefox would probably not be available in any shape or form. And I'm sure they would probably botch a few "minor" details that just end up hurting the use experience—double tap, panning around, pinch, font rendering (they can't even get that right on the Mac); it just wouldn't work the same as Safari. Apple's spent a lot of time getting these things right and I don't blame them for wanting to protect the iPhone's user experience. Is that would people are after—a clunky user experience? I use Firefox for development—the plugins are awesome—but as a day to day browser... not so much.

When Apple was shopping around for a rendering engine, they chose KHTML for a reason—the codebase was (and probably still is) way leaner than Gecko which made it ideal for mobile devices. Even if you could get some form of Firefox on the iPhone, it would need to be stripped down and most likely slow.

And Flash is never coming to the iPhone. It's a resource hog—even Flash "Lite"—and doesn't fit the iPhone's touch screen tap/multitouch paradigm.

[kdarling]

For those with the SDK, who are interested in how simple it is to get started with something like this:

Simple web browser code example (http://dblog.com.au/iphone-development/iphone-sdk-tutorial-build-your-very-own-web-browser/)

Heck, I think I'll do a custom one just for my grown up kids with iPhones (they're all in my "testing group" for private apps between just us).

[bigmouth]

Why on Earth would anyone want to go back to Opera Mini after using Safari?

[eplchamps0304]

Why on Earth would anyone want to go back to Opera Mini after using Safari?

Does safari do it all? No.

[jellomizer]

I think apple should allow any app that won't break the iPhone, that is where its focus should be. Not so much if it competes with its prebuilt in functionality. Allow Java and Flash, Other developer tools/runtime other then Objective C. I would say put a warning on the Apple store about apps that could be misused. Say an app that allows you get apps form untrusted sources. But I don't like the tight control of apps. It really should allow anything in and out.

[jellomizer]

Why on Earth would anyone want to go back to Opera Mini after using Safari?

Development testing your site for multiple mobile devices, on small screen.

[liptonlover]

I'm not sure if apple won't still limit what these browsers can do, though. Apple absolutely hates flash, so will they allow a browser with a built in flash player? I'm not so sure.

Anyways though, I'm sure we'll see opera soon. Didn't they have an app store-ready version quite awhile ago?

[MagnusVonMagnum]

MacWorld is now reporting that ONLY Webkit based browsers will be allowed. In other words, Apple will continue to block Firefox, Opera, etc. as competing with their own favored engine, Webkit. How is that relaxing anything? Those approved browsers are just another clone of Safari in disguise.

[SpinThis!]

Development testing your site for multiple mobile devices, on small screen.
One of the benefits of actually using Safari (to a developer at least) is your site essentially renders like it does on the desktop unless you explicitly define an iPhone version. Jobs mentioned this is the full, not "watered down Internet". It always pisses me off to go to various websites and they detect mobile safari so they show me a "mobile" version Mosaic 15 years might have rendered. (The reverse is also true—developers making an iPhone-only version of the site not renderable on the desktop—which is annoying.)

And for some web applications, Apple has hooks inside Webkit for rendering on the iPhone, specifically for mobile development—such as transitions, interaction with the calling features, etc. I don't think developers are going to spend much time (if any) with browsers other than Safari—especially if they rely on those features.

I suppose someone people might claim "monopoly!" and demand other browsers to be on the device but this is both Apple's hardware and software.

[velorapide]

<sarcasm>hmmm... anyone else think Safari is snappier?<sarcasm>

[T-Will]

now apple needs to let us remove stock apps.

Jailbreak and remove icons from Dashboard.

[Clive At Five]

When Apps compete, you win.

[kas23]

When Apps compete, you win.

Exactly. Just look what happened to Pull My Finger when iFart 2.0 was released. Man, it was like a totally new app! ;)

[peteo]

iblueangel browser came out on Jan 12th looks like it might be the best of the bunch. It lets you cut and paste, and email those clips, or paste it into a field in a web page

it looks like its getting good reviews


http://www.iblueangel.com/

[Lara F]

Since Apple hasn't added the ability to turn off auto-rotate in Safari, I'd just like to see a simple browser that you can lock it in which mode it displays - either portrait or landscape.

Will have to try it out but apparently iBrowser does this. :D It really does become a pain when lying in bed, I end up having to set it on my pillow.

[Trajectory]

Thank goodness, I am SOOO sick and tired of Safari crashing all the time (the 2.2 update didn't really fix that). I can't wait until Firefox runs on the iPhone! Now if only they'd allow us to delete Safari completely from the iPhone, it's useless and buggy.

[hexonxonx]

Thank goodness, I am SOOO sick and tired of Safari crashing all the time (the 2.2 update didn't really fix that). I can't wait until Firefox runs on the iPhone! Now if only they'd allow us to delete Safari completely from the iPhone, it's useless and buggy.

Firefox won't be allowed. Read the thread.

[moppsy]

Um, these kinds of apps have always been allowed in the app store.
1password is an alternate browser that has been in the app store since July.
Cooliris is also an alternate browser, added in October.

[TheSpaz]

Um, these kinds of apps have always been allowed in the app store.
1password is an alternate browser that has been in the app store since July.
Cooliris is also an alternate browser, added in October.

Name one app that was only a web browser.

[aafuss1]

WebMate seems to have disappeared according to a post at mactalk.com.au.

[ramboisyrfrend]

Now admittedly, I'm just a lowly iPod Touch 1g user but for some reason the Edge browser isn't working for mine. I tried through the iPod app store and then after it failed there, I went to iTunes to download it then upload it. I keep getting a message telling me that that app isn't compatible on this device. I don't have any issues with Safari, I just to try out the free one of the lot. Any ideas?

[MacsBestFriend]

hey, can anyone say iphone flash?

[kironin]

When I see Chrome or Opera mini in the App store, then the headline here will be accurate.

These skins ain't 3rd party web browsers.

[libmanj]

The feature I really want in an iPhone browser is a page down and a page up button. I'm so sick if having to flick 20 times to read through a page like this one. I would definitely pay for a browser just for forums and chat boards.

[kdarling]

The feature I really want in an iPhone browser is a page down and a page up button. I'm so sick if having to flick 20 times to read through a page like this one. I would definitely pay for a browser just for forums and chat boards.

Oooooo yeah! +1 for page up/down. Apple's UI usefulness brains went out the window when they jumped on the fingertip scrolling bandwagon.

And for goodness' sake, how about keeping the last page(s) in cache?

[derphoenix]

I dont need really any other browser, when Safari didnt quit so often itself during look a site doing nothing.

[snipper]

..And another vote from me for Flash on the iPhone please! :)

... So this means someone can develop an browser with Flash built-in?

Please Give Me Flash.