Apple Confirms iOS 17.4 Disables Home Screen Web Apps in the European Union

[hans1972]

Biggest BS ever, since WebKit is still the standard on iOS

No, the user will be prompted to choose a browser and they could also choose another browser later.

If the user has chosen another browser than Safari and Apple uses Safari (really Webkit) to handle the web app, they'll violate parts of the DMA.

 

[G5isAlive]

But Android does do PWA with different browsers…so I guess incompetence or laziness from Apple? And how is the usbc?

Are we now holding up Android as the gold standard in security? Maybe Android doesn't care. Their whole claim to fame is have it your way. Including the right royally screw things up. I am glad Apple doesn't follow Android's descent.

 

[hans1972]

Even if there is a little bit of truth in Apple's reasoning, it sure does not seem like Apple tried very hard and instead just opted for a slap in the face of users in the EU.

It would require a lot of work and risky changes to the security model which are used by web apps.

Since web apps are only used by a very low number of iPhone users in the EU, there is no reason to try hard.

 

[hans1972]

Great move. Punish your customers for a legislation you don't agree with.

I don't use PWAs much. In fact I only had one installed for a web app from my home server. But I'm sure there are others who are going to be more disappointed. Possibly some SMB customers.

You can still use web apps. They'll even open in your browser of choice.
You just can't open them full screen.

 

[hans1972]

Ok, then explain to me how web apps on the homescreen are different from web apps launched in your browser? Because I don't see in this annoucement that Apple decided to remove Safari from iOS.

The DMA requires Apple to offer a freedom of browser choice. That means Apple can't serve the user Webkit or Safari if the user has chosen another browser.

Web apps have relied on Webkit since 2007 and it would require a lot of work and some risky changes to the security model of web apps in iOS to support other browser.

So, Apple does the easy thing. Web apps will launch in the default browser the user has chosen.

 

[cocky jeremy]

Hahaha. I love it. Anytime anyone throws a middle finger up to any government, I'm a fan.

 

[hans1972]

You can follow maliciously or you can follow while keeping the feature set full.

Apple could have easily implemented support for the PWAs capabilities for 3rd party browsers. They could have added additional API to have 3rd party browser display PWAs just like Safari/Webkit does now.

Apple choose not to. They intentionally choose to be anti-consumer.

This is the opposite of what Apple said. It would require a lot of work and a need to change the security model for web apps on iOS.

This is not something you do unless you have to.

When only a few users in the EU uses it, and they'll still support it, just not full screen, it's an easy decision to make.

 

[hans1972]

But Android does do PWA with different browsers…so I guess incompetence or laziness from Apple? And how is the usbc?

Apple never intended for it to be other browser engines on iOS therefore the architecture wasn't designed to support it.
PWA will work on iOS, just not full screen.

 

[.wojtek]

Apple is tumbling from dumb to dumber to dumbest... ffs...

 

[toobravetosave]

i wonder if ma bell had similar fanboys protesting against anti monopoly action because they thought it would destroy the world

 

[Timo_Existencia]

i wonder if ma bell had similar fanboys protesting against anti monopoly action because they thought it would destroy the world

27% in the EU is a monopoly?

 

[hans1972]

There are no requirements in the DMA that require them to block this. You don't see Google do this on Android, or Microsoft do this on Windows, for the very reason that there simply are no rules that would require anything of the sort. This is just Apple being a little child.

Again; they did absolutely not have to do this to comply with any laws. There is no law that says a browser cannot support PWAs.

PWAs aren't "integrated into the OS itself" any more on iOS than they are on any other OS. Heck, if anything, the OS integration on iOS and its derivatives if by far the least integrated of any of them due to the severe lack of APIs in Webkit to actually fully support PWAs.

Web apps use Webkit on iOS. The entire security model for web apps is based on the presumption it's using Webkit. The interaction with operating system is through Webkit. Webkit is heavily integrated with iOS, much more than other browsers would be.

The DMA requires Apple to let the user choose another browser. If Apple then let iOS start Webkit for web apps, it would violate the DMA.

So Apple had two choices:

1) Launch web apps in the default browser
2) Make large changes to the security model of web apps and WebKit which would be risky and require a lot of work, probably also creating extra APIs and require co-operation from the other browser makers. Also few users in the EU uses web apps.

Apple chose 1).

I would have done the same thing.

 

[SanderEvers]

You can follow maliciously or you can follow while keeping the feature set full.

Apple could have easily implemented support for the PWAs capabilities for 3rd party browsers. They could have added additional API to have 3rd party browser display PWAs just like Safari/Webkit does now.

Apple choose not to. They intentionally choose to be anti-consumer.

So you are a developer of the core iOS operating system? Because you say they can "easily" do so? No, PWA's can do more than a normal webpage can. So allowing other browser this kind of access could violate the user's privacy / security. Honestly I am happy Apple decided to block it.


To make it work they would have to put every PWA in a sandboxed App container including the default browser. Which would require changing how these containers currently work within iOS. Not an easy thing to do.
Now it's just a bookmark that opens the default browser with an url.

 

[MilaM]

27% in the EU is a monopoly?

It's a duopoly between iOS and Android. Not very hard to understand.

 

[Timo_Existencia]

Can someone point me to the part of the DMA that requires Apple to support PWAs?

 

[klasma]

That required Apple to basically trash PWAs, you can't have your cake and eat it too.

Chrome and Android are also designated gatekeepers. I very much doubt that Google will disable PWAs on Android, and I also very much doubt the EU will disagree with that choice. Apple is just being pig-headed.

 

[toobravetosave]

27% in the EU is a monopoly?

you should read more carefully since anti monopoly actions can be invoked for a wide variety of circumstances when anti competitiveness becomes entrenched

 

[Timo_Existencia]

It's a duopoly between iOS and Android. Not very hard to understand.

The post I was referring to was calling it a monopoly. But even in a “duopoly” it makes very little sense to go hard after the company that has less than 30% Market Share, in exactly the way they compete against the company that has 70+ % market share.

This is not about monopoly or duopoly. This is naked protectionism.

 

[Timo_Existencia]

you should read more carefully since anti monopoly actions can be invoked for a wide variety of circumstances when anti competitiveness becomes entrenched

I’ve read quite extensively, thanks. Comparing Apple to Ma Bell is simply a ridiculous analogy.

 

[toobravetosave]

The post I was referring to was calling it a monopoly. But even in a “duopoly” it makes every little sense to go hard after the company that has less than 30% Market Share, in exactly the way they compete against the company that has 70+ % market share.

This is not about monopoly or duopoly. This is naked protectionism.

it’s about removing barriers to competition in markets deemed important enough to care about. thankgod professionals handle this stuff oy vey

 

[SanderEvers]

It's a duopoly between iOS and Android. Not very hard to understand.

A duopoly is not a monopoly. It's in the name.

 

[MilaM]

No, PWA's can do more than a normal webpage can.

A PWA is nothing more than a web app. If web apps are so insecure, then Apple should ban browsers altogether. They would probaly love to do that, because it's hard to monetize the web the same way as native apps. But they can't do it yet. The backlash would be too big.

 

[windywalks]

BuffyzDead
38m ago

I just hope that the EU DMA act, inflicts so much pain, to users in the EU, that the users demand the EU. Change the laws OR the users are forced to abandon Apple, and “choose” Android. … it will prove what is Factual. That users Always had a choice, and no one is forcing them to use an iPhone. Apple will survive, no worries there

What do you care?
Judging from your stance you're not even impacted by these changes, just throwing a tantrum.
FWIW I live in the EU and couldn't give a rat's behind if they block these web apps.
I'm going to use Microsoft's store to download the Xbox game pass app the moment it arrives.
Seems to me you're jealous the EU has forced Apple to do something to open up, while you're stuck with no other choice than the App Store.
Time will tell who comes out on top.

 

[turbineseaplane]

i wonder if ma bell had similar fanboys protesting against anti monopoly action because they thought it would destroy the world

If forums had been around for the mainstream, I’m sure it would have been a thing.

There’s a cohort to defend or argue about seemingly anything that happens (or that might or might not)

Consequences of “a microphone for all” I guess

 

[windywalks]

Apple is tumbling from dumb to dumber to dumbest... ffs...

How exactly is complying with legislation dumb?