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Where is the logic in not allowing default apps?
- Thread starter Zaft
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Applejuiced
macrumors Westmere
You mean like setting a default 3rd party app for certain functions instead of automaticly opening the stock app?
He means clicking a link and it opening safari instead of opening chrome, or using Gmail to send email instead of using the mail app.
bigjnyc
Suspended
Because Apple gives us features in small increments, iOS 10 you were able to hide stock apps, iOS 11 you'll probably be able to pick default apps for specific functions.... being an Apple customer is like being in a hamster cage with the little drip water thingy feeding you slowly.
ericwn
macrumors G5
Oh ok.
To OP - I wouldn't hold my breath for default app customization in iOS 11. No rumors have indicated apple is even looking at that as a possibility yet.
Same logic as only apps from the App Store are allowed, or less options being available -- macOS and iOS are similar in various respects but different in others.
Apple wants to control the default experience, it's as simple as that. And you can use any application you want.
I'm wondering if allowing the user to select/change default apps would increase the workload required for troubleshooting. Having a problem with auto-opening a URL would point someone directly to Safari. However, introducing a third-party app into that issue would increase troubleshooting time due to Apple not being familiar with the code/behavior of the third-party app.
I'm no expert, but I think it has to do with the "sandboxed" nature of iOS's design. Apps can't really interact with or access other apps unless they are designed specifically to do so.
eyoungren
macrumors Nehalem
It's not so much that, it's just the redirect behavior.
Browser Changer, which is a jailbreak tweak, intercepts link requests when given to Safari and redirects them to your browser of choice. That's all it does. If the third party app is malfunctioning that's an issue for the dev of the app, not Apple. But it's got nothing to do with how the OS picks a browser to open a link in.
There are similar jailbreak tweaks that allow you to choose which app to open if you press on a stock app icon. Yahoo Weather instead of the stock Weather app for instance. Again, just intercepts and redirects - nothing more than that.
Ah, so this has to do with intercepting and redirecting a request, which the user has no control over unless the device is jailbroken. That explains a lot.
So many questions like these can be answered simply with one answer.
Because Apple.
Because Apple.
eyoungren
macrumors Nehalem
Exactly. And it's that control Apple does not want to surrender even though this would be a trivial matter.
That type of answer implies bias and false assumptions.. which automatically removes it from consideration.
So it's because Google? No, it's because of Apples policy. Pure and simple.
So, because Apple.
So, for Apple to change this, they would need to move the setting from the off-limits system area (implied due to the need for a jailbreak) to userland and add a variable to store the value of the newly selected default app. They may also need to add something to the Settings app in case the user wants to restore defaults. Would that be a correct assumption? I'm just guessing, I love problem-solving but I could be wrong.
Whats odd is apple now allows the stock apps to be deleted, yet when I click an email address in imessage it asks me to re install the mail app...
Why even allow me to uninstall it if I cant replace it..I think apple will allow this in ios11 but who knows...
Average Joe/Mary dont care so apple caters to them first.
Why even allow me to uninstall it if I cant replace it..I think apple will allow this in ios11 but who knows...
Average Joe/Mary dont care so apple caters to them first.
eyoungren
macrumors Nehalem
Yes, that's correct. It's probably just down to an entry in a plist somewhere I'd think. Pretty much the same as you'd do on a Mac for which app you want as the default to open certain files.
ibookg409
Suspended
What I don't get is why there is no stock weather or calculator app on iPad like there is on iPhone.
apparently Steve Jobs found them to be ugly on the iPad. Not a big deal as there are plenty of apps for those.