Google Chrome now works on iOS • Hacker News Board

Re: Google Chrome now works on iOS

#11

Post by pcwalton » Thu, Jun 28, 2012, 5:57 PM UTC

SlimHop wrote: post #2

Does Chrome on iOS support WebGL?

Don't see how it can, as it's just a UIWebView.

Re: Google Chrome now works on iOS

#12

Post by mistercow » Thu, Jun 28, 2012, 5:58 PM UTC

nextstep wrote: post #10

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.

What's pretty nauseating about it is that it's exactly the kind of anti-competitive crap that Microsoft pulled in the first browser war, only more so.

Re: Google Chrome now works on iOS

#13

Post by kyrra » Thu, Jun 28, 2012, 6:00 PM UTC

speg wrote: post #9

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.

Which is why I still like Android as a mobile platform. Google gives users a choice, Apple makes you live within their walled garden.

Re: Google Chrome now works on iOS

#14

Post by gcp » Thu, Jun 28, 2012, 6:01 PM UTC

Synaesthesia wrote: post #6

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.

Does this mean it will be slow as molasses on JavaScript-heavy sites?

Re: Google Chrome now works on iOS

#15

Post by cooldeal » Thu, Jun 28, 2012, 6:02 PM UTC

The headline should read Google Chrome Skin now works on iOS. For all intents and purposes, the heart of the browser, i.e the rendering and scripting engines are not running on the iPad or iPhone.

Would it be accurate to state that IE now works on the iPad if Microsoft ported the IE browser chrome(UI) to the iPad?

Re: Google Chrome now works on iOS

#16

Post by cooldeal » Thu, Jun 28, 2012, 6:04 PM UTC

mistercow wrote: post #12

nextstep wrote: post #10

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.

What's pretty nauseating about it is that it's exactly the kind of anti-competitive crap that Microsoft pulled in the first browser war, only more so.

And while Mozilla made really loud noises with threats of complaints and legal action about Windows RT and Microsoft, they completely ignored Apple and made Firefox Sync which just syncs bookmarks etc.

Re: Google Chrome now works on iOS

#17

Post by ricefield » Thu, Jun 28, 2012, 6:10 PM UTC

speg wrote: post #9

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.

So, no V8 or Nitro, but Chrome/Chromium uses Webkit, so renders should be the same (just slower) right?

Re: Google Chrome now works on iOS

#18

Post by mbrubeck » Thu, Jun 28, 2012, 6:15 PM UTC

nthitz wrote: post #3

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

Vivian Li Cromwell from the Chrome team confirms that it uses the system rendering engine (presumably via UIWebView) and does not include the V8 JIT:

https://twitter.com/viviancromwell/status/218402587760795648

Re: Google Chrome now works on iOS

#19

Post by Zirro » Thu, Jun 28, 2012, 6:19 PM UTC

cooldeal wrote: post #16

mistercow wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's pretty nauseating about it is that it's exactly the kind of anti-competitive crap that Microsoft pulled in the first browser war, only more so.

And while Mozilla made really loud noises with threats of complaints and legal action about Windows RT and Microsoft, they completely ignored Apple and made Firefox Sync which just syncs bookmarks etc.

"they completely ignored Apple and made Firefox Sync which just syncs bookmarks etc."

There was plenty of sounds from them at the time when they wanted to release a Firefox for iOS, but that was a few years ago by now and it didn't get picked up in the media like the Windows-complaints.

Re: Google Chrome now works on iOS

#20

Post by TazeTSchnitzel » Thu, Jun 28, 2012, 6:20 PM UTC

cooldeal wrote: post #15

The headline should read Google Chrome Skin now works on iOS. For all intents and purposes, the heart of the browser, i.e the rendering and scripting engines are not running on the iPad or iPhone. Would it be accurate to state that IE now works on the iPad if Microsoft ported the IE browser chrome(UI) to the iPad?

Eh, it's WebKit. Not quite the same WebKit, but close enough.

It's not like they are using completely different rendering engines.