Third-Party Mail and Browser Apps Able to Be Set as Default in iOS and iPadOS 14

[MacRumors]

In iOS and iPadOS 14, users will be able to set a third-party app as the default mail or browser app for the first time, a major change that iOS users have been wanting for years now.

Apple didn't mention the new feature on stage, but it is included on the Preview website for the update.

Set default email and browser apps. With iOS 14, you can set a third‑party app as the default email or browser app systemwide.

With this option, iPhone and iPad users who prefer third-party email apps like Spark or Edison or third-party browsers like Chrome or Opera will be able to use those by default when tapping on links that compose mail messages or open browser windows.

Apple has been criticized for forcing iOS users to use its built-in Safari and Mail apps, with no option to change those defaults, so this should be a welcome change for those who prefer third-party apps to Apple's own apps.

Apple also plans to allow third-party music services to be used on the HomePod for the first time.

Article Link: Third-Party Mail and Browser Apps Able to Be Set as Default in iOS and iPadOS 14

 

[e1me5]

So, is Apple building a walled garden making the Mac run on ARM, or are they opening up the rest of the platforms, creating a similar user experience on all of their devices?

 

[Blackstick]

Going to stick with Safari and Mail, but I'm sure this is welcome by a few.

 

[gaximus]

This is great, I won't use it I prefer Safari to Chrome. But this is great news.

 

[Cosmosent]

Would love to see the same for third-party Camera Apps !

 

[Nozuka]

Perfect timing... since i just switched to Outlook on the iPhone.

 

[maninhat]

Hopefully maps next year...

 

[Dozer_Zaibatsu]

What about the ability to install browser extension on iPadOS? That's what I'm waiting for.

 

[cmaier]

So, is Apple building a walled garden making the Mac run on ARM, or are they opening up the rest of the platforms, creating a similar user experience on all of their devices?

Either way, everyone in macrumors forums will be ticked off
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What about the ability to install browser extension on iPadOS? That's what I'm waiting for.

Probably yes for ipados.

 

[itunexify]

Useless. They should let developers use their own engine. Chrome, Firefox, Edge, they’re all Safari with a skin

 

[farewelwilliams]

Except for "Hey". Because Apple secretly has an evil grudge against Hey for some reason, right?

 

[roxics]

As a Chrome user. This is nice!
I prefer chrome because it runs on multiple platforms. So I can sync my bookmarks and links across Mac, PC, Android and iOS.

 

[Sasparilla]

Nice! Would be even better if other browsers could bring their own engines in with them, but this is good to see. Quite a day for announcements. Really feels like Apple is firing on all cylinders as far as focusing on all these different OS's at once. (I also expect them to be rough with bugs because of the amount of changes, but these changes are fantastic)

 

[ph001bi]

When they say, they'll allow third party browsers as default do they mean that we can have non webkit browsers? Currently all the alternative browsers available for iOS or iPad OS are just wrappers for Safari.

 

[Bandaman]

We need to be able to set default apps for everything like in Android, not just the mail and browser apps.

 

[robvalentine]

How about Spotify as default music app...

 

[xDENTALPLANx]

Will it still be really slow to open Chrome on iOS compared to how fast Safari opens up though?

 

[Bandaman]

Will it still be really slow to open Chrome on iOS compared to how fast Safari opens up though?

Might want to ask Google that.

 

[kognos]

Spark or Edison? What the heck are those?
Outlook for the win!
And Edge for the win too, this will be fantastic.

 

[itsmilo]

Now all they need to add is a toggle in the settings to enable or disable a „lock“ for each app installed and it will basically be on par with my jb iPhone ca. 2017

 

[XXPP]

Doesn't matter for me. Mail and safari is excellent.
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Spark or Edison? What the heck are those?
Outlook for the win!
And Edge for the win too, this will be fantastic.

Outlook is complete disaster.

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

So, is Apple building a walled garden making the Mac run on ARM, or are they opening up the rest of the platforms, creating a similar user experience on all of their devices?

If Apple stops permitting running apps downloaded from the web on macOS, then they've walled it in, and I'd say they've successfully devolved the Mac to the point that it doesn't qualify as a computer anymore.

If Apple does the reverse and allows apps downloaded from the web on iOS, then they've finally torn down the wall, and I'd say they finally turned iOS devices into computers.

 

[dmk1974]

How about the ability to set a non-@icloud.com alias as your send from and reply when using iCloud/Apple Mail? Is it really that hard? Gmail and others can do it no problem.

 

[shamino]

Useless. They should let developers use their own engine. Chrome, Firefox, Edge, they’re all Safari with a skin

These apps still provide different user experiences. The ability to use the one you like best as the default is certainly not useless, even though it is not what you were hoping for.

Now that they've cracked the door open a bit here, I'm hoping they allow other types of app default configurations. Especially maps. I'd really love it if I could get Siri to launch navigation with Google Maps instead of Apple Maps.

 

[kognos]

Outlook is complete disaster.

I agree... it's an complete disaster that it wasn't mentioned as a major awesome email application!