Did Apple Sabotage iCab & Atomic Web & other alt browsers...??

I made a video of the scrolling issue. It's worse since the update. I don't personally think it's terrible but there is no doubt much worse than before Apple forced the developers to use the documented API's in the Webkit.

http://youtu.be/2KqfY2fra_o
 
I don't see any scrolling issues in iCab on 90% of the sites I visit, it's only when I get to a site with lots of images where the scrolling is now noticably worse than it was before the private API calls were removed (at Apple's request).

For those people wondering about Opera on iOS, well you probably won't see any problems there because the Opera app on the iPad isn't a native web browser and so doesn't use UIWebView to generate web pages on the device. The web page processing is done on Opera's servers and the iOS app is basically a display client that downloads highly compressed screen images from the servers and then displays them on the the device. This will not be affected by Apple messing with the UIWebView APIs.

- Julian
 
I just found "Ichromy" google chrome browser and tested it on the jerky scrolling site. Www.bgr.com, the scrolling is superb, like Safari

I can't find a way to add bookmarks or to import bookmarks
 
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As I said when making the video I did not think it was that bad, but it's clearly different/worse since the update. But for the ones who are saying it's terrible are you using iPad 1's or 2's? Maybe it's a performance problem with the first iPad.
 
Guy1717 said:
I just found "Ichromy" google chrome browser and tested it on the jerky scrolling site. Www.bgr.com, the scrolling is superb, like Safari

I can't find a way to add bookmarks or to import bookmarks
Click to expand...

Just click on the little star on the address line. It's a lot like the regular chrome browser.
 
Guy1717 said:
I just found "Ichromy" google chrome browser and tested it on the jerky scrolling site. Www.bgr.com, the scrolling is superb, like Safari

I can't find a way to add bookmarks or to import bookmarks
Click to expand...

I got this new browser also. I am very much wondering why this brand new browser has smooth, speedy scrolling on pages with much content/images. How can it be that Apple just gave the shaft to Atomic, iCab, Terra yet this iChromey enters the market (i.e. Apple approved the app) with smooth perfect scrolling.

Somthing funny is going on here...

(also, notice how no media has touched this story, just another example of how all the established media outlets simply copy each other and will not touch certain stories/issues not deemed wothy from above...)
 
You're right, somethings funny is going on, or strange
A story for the twilight zone, ichromy is perfectly smooth scrolling.
I still believe that Icabmobile is the best browser, like Firefox on pc.
some time ago it was smooth scrolling, not anymore. :mad:
I hope Firefox makes a webbrowser for the Ipad
 
Good news guys: Readdle team managed to keep Terra's speed and performance at the same level. Hopefully, the update will be submitted soon.

Stay tuned.
 
Readdlemate said:
Good news guys: Readdle team managed to keep Terra's speed and performance at the same level. Hopefully, the update will be submitted soon.

Stay tuned.
Click to expand...

Somehow I doubt it.

However if this statement is true, you can count on your browser shooting to the top rating of all the alt browser apps for iOS, because, as has been well documented above, the rest of the main players have all been gimped...
 
I don't understand why Apple would *not* want these third party browsers to be able to take advantage of the smooth scrolling technology integrated into Safari. Apple doesn't make any money off Safari - it already comes with the iOS software for "free".

However, Apple makes $$$$$ - 30% of all sales of all third party apps. The more Apple supports the third party developers, the more people will want to buy the product and the more Apple will make. Isn't it really all about money anyway for Apple?

I love Apple products, but some of their policies/practices just leave me scratching my head with confusion.

I just don't get it.....:confused:
 
Yes it's all true. The only way to maintain a quality experience is to ditch the likes of the icabs, mercuries and atomics and cast the net further.

This also impacts the likes of Flipboard which is sad indeed.

But, as a result I have found a browser that to me is the cream of the crop for iPad. The design, the look, and how pages are cached under low memory are significantly ahead of the competition.....and smooth scrolling intact as we remember...

Free...

Http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sleipnir-mobile-web-browser/id404732112?mt=8
 
doug in albq said:
Sleipnir is a cool browser.

I wonder if they have an "update" on the way...?
Click to expand...

I've just tried sleipnir.

The browsing is super smooth on heavy image sites. ICab is p**s poor. This isn't fair.

Sleipnir is good but I love iCab so I won't migrate.

I want the old iCab back.

How do I complain to apple?
 
joec1101 said:
I don't understand why Apple would *not* want these third party browsers to be able to take advantage of the smooth scrolling technology integrated into Safari. Apple doesn't make any money off Safari - it already comes with the iOS software for "free".

However, Apple makes $$$$$ - 30% of all sales of all third party apps. The more Apple supports the third party developers, the more people will want to buy the product and the more Apple will make. Isn't it really all about money anyway for Apple?

I love Apple products, but some of their policies/practices just leave me scratching my head with confusion.

I just don't get it.....:confused:
Click to expand...

It's the use of private API calls to get the smooth scrolling. If Apple allowed any App to use private API calls managing the iOS platform would get a lot more difficult. While an API is being developed it often needs to change, however once the API is in common use that change can be very difficult to achieve. Apple solves this problem by developing APIs in private that can only be used by internal code and then once the APIs are stable they are made public for anyone to use.

So the smooth scrolling issue is simply a result of the global rule that Apps cannot use private APIs. Maybe Apple should be moving more quickly to make this particular API public, I don't know what Apple's reasons are for not doing so. If Webkit2 gets included in iOS5 then maybe the need for API goes away entirely.
 
blackNBUK said:
It's the use of private API calls to get the smooth scrolling. If Apple allowed any App to use private API calls managing the iOS platform would get a lot more difficult. While an API is being developed it often needs to change, however once the API is in common use that change can be very difficult to achieve. Apple solves this problem by developing APIs in private that can only be used by internal code and then once the APIs are stable they are made public for anyone to use.

So the smooth scrolling issue is simply a result of the global rule that Apps cannot use private APIs. Maybe Apple should be moving more quickly to make this particular API public, I don't know what Apple's reasons are for not doing so. If Webkit2 gets included in iOS5 then maybe the need for API goes away entirely.
Click to expand...

Sorry, how long have we had smooth scrolling in iOS? For years now, and it's still private? ...it's what gives iOS the edge over other platforms, the super smooth glitch free user experience.
 
doug in albq said:
(also, notice how no media has touched this story, just another example of how all the established media outlets simply copy each other and will not touch certain stories/issues not deemed wothy from above...)
Click to expand...

Heh, if you think the media blackout of iPad browsers is bad, try campaigning for Ron Paul...
 
The problem is obviously with you and not Apple. if you don't like Safari go buy a Galaxy Tab or something!

</sarcasm> hehe
 
Muzzakus said:
Yes it's all true. The only way to maintain a quality experience is to ditch the likes of the icabs, mercuries and atomics and cast the net further.

This also impacts the likes of Flipboard which is sad indeed.

But, as a result I have found a browser that to me is the cream of the crop for iPad. The design, the look, and how pages are cached under low memory are significantly ahead of the competition.....and smooth scrolling intact as we remember...

Free...

Http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sleipnir-mobile-web-browser/id404732112?mt=8
Click to expand...

It IS kinda cool, but there is very little help on how to add bookmarks etc.

EDIT: Never mind, found out :)
 
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