Opera Browser Not Allowed in iPhone App Store

MacRumors · Oct 30, 2008, 05:44 PM

The NY Times profiles Opera Software, the company that distributes the Opera browser for multiple platforms. According to the article, however, Apple is not allowing an iPhone version of the browser into the App Store:

Quote:

Mr. von Tetzchner said that Opera’s engineers have developed a version of Opera Mini that can run on an Apple iPhone, but Apple won’t let the company release it because it competes with Apple’s own Safari browser.

Gruber speculates that it could have to do with the Javascript interpreter or, more clearly, that Apple has been restricting apps that compete directly with some of their built in iPhone apps such as Safari.

Apple has been criticized for its decision to restrict certain applications from the App Store, and this suggests users shouldn't expect any other web browser alternatives (such as Firefox) to appear in the App Store at any point in the near future.

Article Link: Opera Browser Not Allowed in iPhone App Store

arn · Oct 30, 2008, 05:47 PM

yes. major typo. fixed it immediately. sorry. (damn forum spy

)

bradl · 05:48 PM

this does suck, but I can't say I didn't expect to see this. Opera is my browser of choice, and if they've put off having Firefox in the App Store, Opera, Chrome, and any other browser would be out as well.

Hopefully this puts the whole "Firefox on iPhone!" crap to bed.

Sad though, about Opera.

BL.

NT1440 · Oct 30, 2008, 05:48 PM

well, it does violate the SDK, im not sure why anyone would think its allowed...

ZiggyPastorius · Oct 30, 2008, 05:48 PM

I actually responded with joy when I read the title (without reading the thread). THen I edited it, but now the post is gone. Not sure what's going on there.

This is extremely unfortunate. Opera is the greatest browser on the planet, and there are few things I want more than it on my iPod.

Ronaldinho10 · Oct 30, 2008, 05:48 PM

Apple is being anticompetitive.

rubberduck007 · Oct 30, 2008, 05:49 PM

Competition is good... come on Apple play nice...

avigalante · Oct 30, 2008, 05:50 PM

Doesn't come as a surprise...

ZiggyPastorius · Oct 30, 2008, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rubberduck007

Competition is good... come on Apple play nice...

Well, it's hard to say they're not protecting their asses...as if Opera was allowed on the iPhone, it's hard to believe anyone would use another browser

phakebrill · Oct 30, 2008, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NT1440

well, it does violate the SDK, im not sure why anyone would think its allowed...

but surely you agree it is anti-competitive...

DanielJvdBerg · Oct 30, 2008, 05:50 PM

Imo duplication of functionality. I don't like Opera, and sincerely don't think it could be better then Apple's offering atm.

About anti-competitive, why as a company would you do that. I don't see a reason for it to destroy your own offering. If they really want to be so competitive and open they should go to Android imo.

NT1440 · Oct 30, 2008, 05:51 PM

How where these developed. The SDK. The SDK clearly states that you cant have access to certain things, that to make a browser, you would clearly need.

thulsmans · Oct 30, 2008, 05:52 PM

This goes a little to far. Some people bought this phone for having a "full" web browser. Safari doesn't do that. It lacks Flash. Now a Company took the time, resources effort to put together a browser that would make the iphone user base happier and apple rejects it because it is essentially better than its one.

Then again Apple made the app store apple should be able to run it the way they choose

NT1440 · Oct 30, 2008, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phakebrill

but surely you agree it is anti-competitive...

I agree that the more open source the iphone gets, the more were going to hear people bitching about crashes and other things of that nature. Apple is doing this to ensure that everything works so people wont bitch.

Unfortuneatly, they bitch anyway.

Kobekes · Oct 30, 2008, 05:53 PM

If Neelie Kroes (European Commissioner for Competition) hears this ...

Quote:

"Competition means a greater choice and higher quality of products and services"

http://ec.europa.eu/commission_barro...hatido_en.html

Pikemann Urge · Oct 30, 2008, 05:54 PM

It's a mixed thing for me. If Opera promised to exclude Flash then Apple should just let the damned thing in. But if this sort of tactic is necessary to keep crappy software off the iPhone, so be it.

NT1440 · Oct 30, 2008, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thulsmans

This goes a little to far. Some people bought this phone for having a "full" web browser. Safari doesn't do that. It lacks Flash. Now a Company took the time, resources effort to put together a browser that would make the iphone user base happier and apple rejects it because it is essentially better than its one.

Then again Apple made the app store apple should be able to run it the way they choose

you have proof its a "better" browser?

And flash = battery destroyer. So you can either cry about not having flash (which PERSONALLY ive never needed on my touch) or you can cry about having ******(er) battery life.

pick your battles people.

O. Frabjous-Dey · Oct 30, 2008, 05:55 PM

Ugh, this is disgusting.

Let's hope healthy competition from the quickly-maturing Android becomes a wakeup call for Apple.

benpatient · Oct 30, 2008, 05:55 PM

ha. lame.

"Microsoft doesn't like iTunes, and will therefore not allow it to operate under Windows."

"Microsoft doesn't like Safari, since it duplicates the functionality of IE."

Microsoft has been dealing with the legal ramifications of their actions (which were mild in comparison to this Apple policy) for over a decade now.

Apple's about to get sued out of the EU. Good thing they have all those cash reserves, because I hear those anticompetitive penalties in Europe can be a real bear...

Voidness · Oct 30, 2008, 05:55 PM

On a related note, Trend Micro announced that they're planning on releasing a "secure web browser" for the iPhone. I posted a thread a few days ago:

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=586026

ZiggyPastorius · Oct 30, 2008, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NT1440

you have proof its a "better" browser?

And flash = battery destroyer. So you can either cry about not having flash (which PERSONALLY ive never needed on my touch) or you can cry about having ******(er) battery life.

pick your battles people.

Well, the only problem with that is that this is an application in the app store...meaning people would be able to choose to download it or not download it. Apple could restrict the use of flash to only the browser itself (how else would it happen?) and then people who downloaded Opera can have all the flash they want, without you having to.

dukebound85 · Oct 30, 2008, 05:56 PM

i would love to have the OPTION to run flash however.

imagine hulu on the iphone *drool*

if this would support flash ( does it?) then i might have been just pushed over to jailbreak the iphone if it happens to turn up on cydia

DanielJvdBerg · Oct 30, 2008, 05:57 PM

People should note that Microsoft has a monopoly on the OS market, and therefore MUST allow competition, while Apple does NOT on the smartphone market, so I think they should be allowed to play their own game.

bradl · Oct 30, 2008, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NT1440

I agree that the more open source the iphone gets, the more were going to hear people bitching about crashes and other things of that nature. Apple is doing this to ensure that everything works so people wont bitch.

Unfortuneatly, they bitch anyway.

You're also equating 'crashing' with open source, which isn't always the case. Firefox is open source, yet it has significantly less issues than Safari or IE.

Also, may want to read up on Opera. It isn't open source. It's built entirely by Opera ASA, out of Norway, and is closed source.

BL.

ZiggyPastorius · Oct 30, 2008, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benpatient

ha. lame.

"Microsoft doesn't like iTunes, and will therefore not allow it to operate under Windows."

"Microsoft doesn't like Safari, since it duplicates the functionality of IE."

Microsoft has been dealing with the legal ramifications of their actions (which were mild in comparison to this Apple policy) for over a decade now.

Apple's about to get sued out of the EU. Good thing they have all those cash reserves, because I hear those anticompetitive penalties in Europe can be a real bear...

Erm. While this is certainly anti-competitive, it's not anticompetitive in a legal sense.

Oct 30, 2008, 05:47 PM	#3
bradl macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jun 2008	this does suck, but I can't say I didn't expect to see this. Opera is my browser of choice, and if they've put off having Firefox in the App Store, Opera, Chrome, and any other browser would be out as well. Hopefully this puts the whole "Firefox on iPhone!" crap to bed. Sad though, about Opera. BL. Last edited by bradl : Oct 30, 2008 at 05:48 PM. Reason: title already fixed.

Oct 30, 2008, 05:48 PM	#5
ZiggyPastorius macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Berklee College of Music	I actually responded with joy when I read the title (without reading the thread). THen I edited it, but now the post is gone. Not sure what's going on there. This is extremely unfortunate. Opera is the greatest browser on the planet, and there are few things I want more than it on my iPod. __________________ The multiplying villainies of nature do swarm upon him, and fortune, on his damned quarrel, smiling, showed like a rebel's whore.

Oct 30, 2008, 05:50 PM	#8
avigalante macrumors 6502 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New York City	Doesn't come as a surprise... __________________ MacBook Air B&W Zeppelin \| Shure SE530 tv \| iPhone 3G \| iPod Nano \| iPod Shuffle

Oct 30, 2008, 05:50 PM	#11
DanielJvdBerg macrumors regular Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Netherlands.	Imo duplication of functionality. I don't like Opera, and sincerely don't think it could be better then Apple's offering atm. About anti-competitive, why as a company would you do that. I don't see a reason for it to destroy your own offering. If they really want to be so competitive and open they should go to Android imo. __________________ iPhone 3G 16GB Black, iPod Nano 1G 1GB

Oct 30, 2008, 05:54 PM	#16
Pikemann Urge macrumors regular Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: melbourne.au	It's a mixed thing for me. If Opera promised to exclude Flash then Apple should just let the damned thing in. But if this sort of tactic is necessary to keep crappy software off the iPhone, so be it. __________________ Good Morning Finland (weather report) My Flickr images The God Show The Resident - Cleaning up today's dirty media

Oct 30, 2008, 05:47 PM	#2
arn macrumors god Join Date: Apr 2001	yes. major typo. fixed it immediately. sorry. (damn forum spy )

Oct 30, 2008, 05:48 PM	#4
NT1440 macrumors 601 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Rochester	well, it does violate the SDK, im not sure why anyone would think its allowed...

Oct 30, 2008, 05:48 PM	#6
Ronaldinho10 Banned Join Date: Oct 2008	Apple is being anticompetitive.

Oct 30, 2008, 05:49 PM	#7
rubberduck007 macrumors member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: London	Competition is good... come on Apple play nice...

Oct 30, 2008, 05:51 PM	#12
NT1440 macrumors 601 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Rochester	How where these developed. The SDK. The SDK clearly states that you cant have access to certain things, that to make a browser, you would clearly need.

Oct 30, 2008, 05:52 PM	#13
thulsmans macrumors newbie Join Date: Jun 2008	This goes a little to far. Some people bought this phone for having a "full" web browser. Safari doesn't do that. It lacks Flash. Now a Company took the time, resources effort to put together a browser that would make the iphone user base happier and apple rejects it because it is essentially better than its one. Then again Apple made the app store apple should be able to run it the way they choose

Oct 30, 2008, 05:55 PM	#18
O. Frabjous-Dey macrumors regular Join Date: Dec 2006	Ugh, this is disgusting. Let's hope healthy competition from the quickly-maturing Android becomes a wakeup call for Apple.

Oct 30, 2008, 05:55 PM	#19
benpatient macrumors 65816 Join Date: Nov 2003	ha. lame. "Microsoft doesn't like iTunes, and will therefore not allow it to operate under Windows." "Microsoft doesn't like Safari, since it duplicates the functionality of IE." Microsoft has been dealing with the legal ramifications of their actions (which were mild in comparison to this Apple policy) for over a decade now. Apple's about to get sued out of the EU. Good thing they have all those cash reserves, because I hear those anticompetitive penalties in Europe can be a real bear... __________________ Home Office: MacBook 1.8 • 2.5GB • 80GB; Mac Pro 8x2.8 • 10GB • 2TB; Samsung 275T Work: Mac Pro 4x2.66 • 8GB • 1.5TB

Oct 30, 2008, 05:55 PM	#20
Voidness macrumors 6502a Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Null	On a related note, Trend Micro announced that they're planning on releasing a "secure web browser" for the iPhone. I posted a thread a few days ago: http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=586026 __________________ void...

Oct 30, 2008, 05:56 PM	#22
dukebound85 macrumors 603 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Upstate New York, but will always have my heart in Colorado	i would love to have the OPTION to run flash however. imagine hulu on the iphone drool if this would support flash ( does it?) then i might have been just pushed over to jailbreak the iphone if it happens to turn up on cydia __________________ "The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries." - Churchill

Oct 30, 2008, 05:57 PM	#23
DanielJvdBerg macrumors regular Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Netherlands.	People should note that Microsoft has a monopoly on the OS market, and therefore MUST allow competition, while Apple does NOT on the smartphone market, so I think they should be allowed to play their own game. __________________ iPhone 3G 16GB Black, iPod Nano 1G 1GB

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