Apple Now Allowing Non-WebKit Engines in EU, Offering More Options for Changing Default Browser

[MacRumors]

With the iOS 17.4 update, Apple is making sweeping changes to iOS in order to comply with the Digital Markets Act in the European Union. Apple is opening up the browser engine, and giving users more choice over what apps and services they use as the defaults on their devices.

Users in the EU who update to iOS 17.4 will be presented with a splash screen upon opening Safari that allows them to choose a new default browser. Apple is not providing just the standard browsers that have been options on iOS in the past, but a list of the most downloaded browsers on iOS devices. Some of the options include Firefox, Opera, Chrome, Brave, and Microsoft Edge.

Browser apps can also now use browser engines other than WebKit, both for browser apps and in-app browsing experiences within apps. At the current time, Apple requires all browsers on iOS to use the WebKit engine, including popular options like Chrome and Firefox. Going forward, Chrome will be able to use Blink, for example.

Users will also be able to choose a default app marketplace, thanks to support for alternative marketplaces, and they will be able to select a default contactless app for contactless payments. These changes are limited to iPhone and iPad users in the European Union, and they are being implemented as part of iOS 17.4, which is available to developers as a beta as of today.

Article Link: Apple Now Allowing Non-WebKit Engines in EU, Offering More Options for Changing Default Browser

 

[sniffies]

About damn time! Hopefully this change will make its way to U.S. as well.

 

[5786735]

U.S. next please and thank you.

 

[a m u n]

I agree:

However, Apple has less ability to address other risks — including apps that contain scams, fraud, and abuse, or that expose users to illicit, objectionable, or harmful content. In addition, apps that use alternative browser engines — other than Apple’s WebKit — may negatively affect the user experience, including impacts to system performance and battery life.

 

[Eminemdrdre00]

Safari will no longer be the only default browser option available, with third-party apps like Chrome now able to be set as the default, similar to how browsers work on Mac.

This was added years ago

 

[Realityck]

Terrific news with iOS 17.4!

 

[Riovfo]

Does this mean there will finally be a working Adblock under Firefox. At least for the EU?

 

[Gee4orce]

Kiss goodbye to 15 years of websites working correctly on iPhone. Lazy web devs will now optimise just for Chrome. Well done EU!

 

[jav6454]

It's great for choice, but terrible in keeping tabs where your apps are now downloaded from or if now a different store forces you to re-purchase an app.

Ultimately, easier fraud. Sounds like Apple-koolaide, but it's the truth. Average people will get dupped easier now.

 

[nikusak]

Fantastic!

Google’s victory in the web engine technology is now pretty much complete!

Great news for consumers.

 

[luckystar101]

Apple, can you allow to install a browser on Apple TV please??

 

[hagar]

Kiss goodbye to 15 years of websites working correctly on iPhone. Lazy web devs will now optimise just for Chrome. Well done EU!

While the omnipresence of Chromium is definitely a huge problem, you hardly can blame the EU for this as their intention is to offer more choice. It’s up to Apple to make Safari better, not to limit choice.

 

[glsillygili]

This sounds familiar to me...

Now the question is will Apple force devs to make Webkit versions of their browsers for the rest of the world if they have a non-webkit browser already in EU

 

[BadApe]

I will keep Safari. Thanks alot.

 

[hieranonymous]

The main reason Safari/WebKit has any browser share at all is because it’s the default browser on iOS. Even on macOS most people I know prefer Chrome/Blink. I wonder what this means longterm for Safari/WebKit.

 

[Kazgarth]

Sucks for the rest of the world, I will never be able to run real Firefox on my iPhone.

Stuck with Safari webkit with Firefox logo.

 

[iOS Geek]

The main reason Safari/WebKit has any browser share at all is because it’s the default browser on iOS. Even on macOS most people I know prefer Chrome/Blink. I wonder what this means longterm for Safari/WebKit.

What it means, is the EU, in their "attempt" to make things more "fair"...may have single handedly helped Google dominate anywhere they had yet to do so. For an organization that supposedly hates monopolies, they may have just made it easier for one to form. And a MASSIVE one at that.

 

[TigerNike23]

With Chrome’s upcoming changes to how they handle extensions (mainly adblockers), this might be the last chance Google has to increase market share.

I personally use Edge over Chrome (even though it’s the same engine), and Firefox.

 

[Amazing Iceman]

While the omnipresence of Chromium is definitely a huge problem, you hardly can blame the EU for this as their intention is to offer more choice. It’s up to Apple to make Safari better, not to limit choice.

I have no issues of Safari on any platform. I do have Edge on my Mac for some very specific troubleshooting I need to do at work. Chrome? No way!

 

[NOATAK]

Fantastic!

Google’s victory in the web engine technology is now pretty much complete!

Great news for consumers.

If users switch directly to Chrome, it's certainly not because the whole world has been waiting for it, but perhaps because Safari wasn't so appealing after all.

 

[nikusak]

While the omnipresence of Chromium is definitely a huge problem, you hardly can blame the EU for this as their intention is to offer more choice. It’s up to Apple to make Safari better, not to limit choice.

Chrome and Edge will switch to native Chromium and as a result, Google will have total control of web tech.

This is an amusing decision considering that even now WebKit is the underdog by a huge margin. Google is sure as hell laughing right now.

I’m really worried that Safari becomes a second class citizen for web developers. If that happens, people switch and often there is no way to get those switchers back, no matter how good technically Safari is.

I have zero interest in switching to Chrome. Safari is fantastic.

 

[rafark]

Kiss goodbye to 15 years of websites working correctly on iPhone. Lazy web devs will now optimise just for Chrome. Well done EU!

It’s the other way around. Now you will be able to use old devices for much longer. iPhones, iPads and even iPod touches running an unsupported iOS version today won’t render half the websites you visit because safari can’t be updated to support new web technologies. But in the future with browsers powered by other engines you’ll be able to browser the web with a 10-15 year old device!

 

[Mrkevinfinnerty]

Fantastic!

Google’s victory in the web engine technology is now pretty much complete!

Great news for consumers.

Yes it was really close until this happened..

 

[antnythr]

I’m opening an EU account so I can have a real Firefox

 

[iOS Geek]

Yes it was really close until this happened..

View attachment 2341093

Doesn't matter how "close" it is now. Now, that gap is going to just widen even more. All thanks to the EU (who supposedly HATE monopolies. I wonder if they'll step in to throw a wrench into Google's dominant spot).