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Apple confirms it's breaking iPhone web apps in the EU on purpose

techcrunch.com

11–20 of 829 posts

Re: Apple confirms it's breaking iPhone web apps in the EU on purpose

#11

Since the article doesn't actually repeat what Apple has said, here's what Apple says: == Begin quote == The iOS system has traditionally provided support for Home Screen web apps by building directly on WebKit and its security architecture. That integration means Home Screen web apps are managed to align with the security and privacy model for native apps on iOS, including isolation of storage and enforcement of sys…

TLDR: We did not want to give other browsers too powerful apis to compete with Safari & App Store.

Re: Apple confirms it's breaking iPhone web apps in the EU on purpose

#13
post #11

Since the article doesn't actually repeat what Apple has said, here's what Apple says: == Begin quote == The iOS system has traditionally provided support for Home Screen web apps by building directly on WebKit and its security architecture. That integration means Home Screen web apps are managed to align with the security and privacy model for native apps on iOS, including isolation of storage and enforcement of sys…

TLDR: We did not want to give other browsers too powerful apis to compete with Safari & App Store.

I think this is an extremely cynical interpretation.

Re: Apple confirms it's breaking iPhone web apps in the EU on purpose

#14
post #11

Since the article doesn't actually repeat what Apple has said, here's what Apple says: == Begin quote == The iOS system has traditionally provided support for Home Screen web apps by building directly on WebKit and its security architecture. That integration means Home Screen web apps are managed to align with the security and privacy model for native apps on iOS, including isolation of storage and enforcement of sys…

TLDR: We did not want to give other browsers too powerful apis to compete with Safari & App Store.

From the (admittedly little) I know about how iOS handles security and the speed at which they responded this sounds like a pretty credible explanation to me. What makes you think it isn't?

Re: Apple confirms it's breaking iPhone web apps in the EU on purpose

#15
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

TLDR: We did not want to give other browsers too powerful apis to compete with Safari & App Store.

I think this is an extremely cynical interpretation.

I think any other interpretation is extremely naive.

Re: Apple confirms it's breaking iPhone web apps in the EU on purpose

#16

In combination with the 'Core Technology Fee' that financially cripples any developer that tries to release a popular app outside the official app store, this is pathetic behavior. Hopefully the EU smacks them down for this temper tantrum at being forced to adhere to the DMA. They are trying to flex their market power and should be reminded they operate within a system of laws that doesn't bend for anyone, regardless…

I’m going to be level with you: there is nothing so great about PWAs that they’re worth mandating or protecting by law in any jurisdiction and the EU doesn’t owe it to you to try.

Web developers like them. That’s it, and their PWA advocacy completely disregards what a privacy and security nightmare they can be without proper safeguards, because this little device I carry around in my pocket is 1) always with me and 2) stores a lot of information about me 3) has a full sensory array installed within it.

Every new feature browsers add for better hardware access gets immediately disabled on any system I manage: cameras, mics, USB access, sensors, location, notifications, local storage, the whole works because the alternative is letting every website access those or getting spammed with access requests on every site I visit and the more crap that is added, the longer it takes me every time I setup a new browser install from scratch. Why disable them at all? Because 99% of these new features are primarily used to build a better supercookie to track and profile people without their consent. The actual marketable reasons are a secondary use at best.

So if it’s not on Apple’s priority list to build out whatever they need to support and allow other browsers to support PWAs in a secure and privacy conscious manner, good for them. Web developers who want to circumvent Apple’s fees entirely don’t need to be anywhere near their top priority and can wait. For Apple: users come before developers, and App developers before web developers.

Re: Apple confirms it's breaking iPhone web apps in the EU on purpose

#17

Since the article doesn't actually repeat what Apple has said, here's what Apple says: == Begin quote == The iOS system has traditionally provided support for Home Screen web apps by building directly on WebKit and its security architecture. That integration means Home Screen web apps are managed to align with the security and privacy model for native apps on iOS, including isolation of storage and enforcement of sys…

tbh, I thought the summary in techcrunch was much easier to read and concise.

>Browsers also could install web apps on the system without a user’s awareness and consent.

Couldn't this be entirely solved with an OS permission-like prompt "are you sure you want [progressive web app name] added to home screen?"

Re: Apple confirms it's breaking iPhone web apps in the EU on purpose

#18

Since the article doesn't actually repeat what Apple has said, here's what Apple says: == Begin quote == The iOS system has traditionally provided support for Home Screen web apps by building directly on WebKit and its security architecture. That integration means Home Screen web apps are managed to align with the security and privacy model for native apps on iOS, including isolation of storage and enforcement of sys…

Thanks for posting that. I'm no iOS expert but it actually sounds like a pretty reasonable explanation. It's at least good to hear Apple's side here, and more knowledgeable commenters here can weigh in as to whether it really does seem genuine.

Re: Apple confirms it's breaking iPhone web apps in the EU on purpose

#19
post #5

I don’t think Apple’s pettiness is gonna work in their favor. I am not in the EU but my next iPhone is almost certainly not gonna be an iPhone despite me having used a non iPhone for about 6 months in the last 15 years. Their throwing their customers under the bus just to throw a tantrum in the EU does not bode well for how they would treat their customers in other situations.

They're desperately hoping that their fanbois will howl so much, that MEPs will relent.

Re: Apple confirms it's breaking iPhone web apps in the EU on purpose

#20

Since the article doesn't actually repeat what Apple has said, here's what Apple says: == Begin quote == The iOS system has traditionally provided support for Home Screen web apps by building directly on WebKit and its security architecture. That integration means Home Screen web apps are managed to align with the security and privacy model for native apps on iOS, including isolation of storage and enforcement of sys…

> malicious web apps could read data from other web apps and recapture their permissions to gain access to a user’s camera, microphone or location without a user’s consent.

How is this even possible? It's shocking that these APIs even exist for any browser to use.

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