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

[arian71]

what about us the brexiters in UK ?

 

[Mrkevinfinnerty]

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).

Google Search, Chrome, and Android are all changing thanks to EU antitrust law

Some of Google’s most important services are changing.

www.theverge.com

 

[chachawpi]

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.

It sounds like they are giving consumers a choice on what to use.

 

[makitango]

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

Doesn't work like that I'm afraid. You need an EU model most certainly. Up to this moment, the article number's last country indicators dictated which iOS version gets installed.

 

[nikusak]

If users switch to Chrome as soon as it's available, it's certainly not because Safari was such a great alternative

Nobody will switch to Chrome because of this - 99,9% of consumers don’t understand any of this. They don’t care.

But lots of people are already using Chrome on their iPhone and those Chromes will start using real Google tech and Google dominance of web browser tech will greater than ever before.

EU has just handed Google a gift on a gold plate. Really amusing.

 

[1129846]

Still need to father like ending the ban on non safari /webkit engine world wide. Also I expect the core charge is going to get slapped down pretty hard as well.

 

[Rogifan]

So does this mean you’d be able to use any browser extension that’s available on the desktop version of the app?

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Nobody will switch to Chrome because of this - 99,9% of consumers don’t understand any of this. They don’t care.

But lots of people are already using Chrome on their iPhone and those Chromes will start using real Google tech and Google dominance of web browser tech will greater than ever before.

EU has just handed Google a gift on a gold plate. Really amusing.

99.9% ???

Sure... Exactly the reason that Chrome on Windows and Mac dominates, because users just don't care.

 

[1129846]

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.

Oh you know it might make Apple start improving their engine. It could easily be Apple has not bothered because they could get a massive FU to everyone and not keep it up with the times. Much like how MS let IE lag because what was anyone to do. Not use IE.

 

[makitango]

Nobody will switch to Chrome because of this - 99,9% of consumers don’t understand any of this. They don’t care.

But lots of people are already using Chrome on their iPhone and those Chromes will start using real Google tech and Google dominance of web browser tech will greater than ever before.

EU has just handed Google a gift on a gold plate. Really amusing.

EU has given Google the right to show its own engine vs that of Safari, this has zero to do with monopolies.

 

[Jack_SB]

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!

Try browsing with a 10 year old android phone with chrome and tell us if it’s possible.

 

[contacos]

I need more people in the EU to use Apple Music for it to be deemed a Gatekeeper so I can finally make Spotify my default music player. Thanks guys 😅

 

[FeliApple]

Finally! Devices running outdated iOS versions will be able to browse the web correctly, since Apple doesn’t allow Safari to be updated as a standalone app for older iOS versions. I have no device on iOS 17 (none of the devices on my current roster will get it), but going forward, the ability to run original iOS versions forever got a lot more appealing (since the #1 issue I have to circumvent on iOS 10 and 12 today is browser incompatibility).

Just like my 2015 MacBook Pro running OS X El Capitan and the latest version of Firefox with full browser compatibility. Running flawless iOS versions got so much better with this!

 

[GMShadow]

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.

Just means they can then extort more cash from Google later. Gotta think long term.

 

[5786735]

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.

Yes. It's possible that, for users who install these alternatives on their phones, this may be their experience.

 

[nt5672]

Apple making sure it sucks to be an American.

 

[iOS Geek]

Just means they can then extort more cash from Google later. Gotta think long term.

Unfortunately, in the meantime, there's lots of damage that can be done. Damage that the EU will have enabled and should therefore ALSO be held responsible for. There are certain things governments are better off keeping their grubby fingers out of. Unfortunately for us, they wouldn't know what to do with themselves if they couldn't dictate something.

 

[Mr. Heckles]

Will developers make 2 versions for the same OS?

 

[GMShadow]

It sounds like they are giving consumers a choice on what to use.

Consumers are stupid.

Oh you know it might make Apple start improving their engine. It could easily be Apple has not bothered because they could get a massive FU to everyone and not keep it up with the times. Much like how MS let IE lag because what was anyone to do. Not use IE.

WebKit is up to date. What Google is doing is introducing things that do not meet web standards and using their market position to try and force them to be de-facto standards. The EU is making this worse because they are rent-seeking morons who don't know the difference between their head and a hole in the ground.

 

[planetf1]

what about us the brexiters in UK ?

How will they handle users in Northern Ireland since they are within the customs union?

They’ll just be uk accounts?

So will Apple just apply same rules to uk or does it want to reopen the Good Friday agreement?

 

[planetf1]

How will they handle users in Northern Ireland since they are within the customs union?

They’ll just be uk accounts?

So will Apple just apply same rules to uk or does it want to reopen the Good Friday agreement?

Or will they use geolocation?

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Consumers are stupid.

First off, that is condescending as hell, and one of the reason that tech "nerds" are such a hated bunch...and for good reason.

Second, even if they are stupid, it's their choice. Let them do as they wish.

 

[@Brett]

Fantastic!

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

Great news for consumers.

How is it great news for consumers if most are using rubbish Chromium. Edge and Chrome are resource hogs. Watch battery drain go up. If anything it has opened iOS and iPadOs up to more intrusion.

 

[GeneralChang]

Of all the reasons I have to want to move to Europe, this is probably the lamest.

 

[hans1972]

This is very bad for those of us who use Safari on Mac.

Now, websites will have even less incentives to support Safari since they can just say install Chrome on iPhones.