Google Chrome now works on iOS

Can someone clarify? I thought replacing the browser (actually even stronger: rendering web content using anything but the browser) was one of the items forbidden by the app store guidelines?

Re: Google Chrome now works on iOS

#6

Post by Synaesthesia » Thu, Jun 28, 2012, 5:51 PM UTC

nthitz wrote: post #3

Does it use it's own rendering engine or is it just interface on top of a UIWebView?

Apps on the store have to use UIWebView, which of course doesn't get the Nitro JavaScript engine.

Re: Google Chrome now works on iOS

#7

Post by glhaynes » Thu, Jun 28, 2012, 5:52 PM UTC

ajross wrote: post #5

Can someone clarify? I thought replacing the browser (actually even stronger: rendering web content using anything but the browser) was one of the items forbidden by the app store guidelines?

It's still the system rendering and JavaScript engines.

Edit: Which, from the vast majority of users' perspectives, are functionally identical.

Re: Google Chrome now works on iOS

#8

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Jun 28, 2012, 5:53 PM UTC

ajross wrote: post #5

Can someone clarify? I thought replacing the browser (actually even stronger: rendering web content using anything but the browser) was one of the items forbidden by the app store guidelines?

[deleted]

Re: Google Chrome now works on iOS

#9

Post by speg » Thu, Jun 28, 2012, 5:53 PM UTC

ajross wrote: post #5

Can someone clarify? I thought replacing the browser (actually even stronger: rendering web content using anything but the browser) was one of the items forbidden by the app store guidelines?

While Chrome for iOS will include a number of key features, including incognito mode and tab syncing across devices, the browser will still use Apple's WebKit-based engine required by the App Store developer guidelines. It also will lack the Nitro JavaScript engine that Apple uses to speed Safari's performance.

Re: Google Chrome now works on iOS

#10

Post by nextstep » Thu, Jun 28, 2012, 5:55 PM UTC

But, Chrome on iOS will still be a "second class citizen" the way Opera mini and the other browsers on the AppStore. If you want to open a link in Chrome, you will need to copy/paste the URL, no "Open in Chrome" functionality like Safari has. For better or for worse, Apple has not opened up system-wide integration of third party apps, and I don't seem them allowing you to change your default browser anytime soon.