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Google Chrome now works on iOS

techcrunch.com

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Re: Google Chrome now works on iOS

#61

Post by kylebrown »

SoftwareMaven wrote: post #51
mtgx wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well that's unfortunate. And didn't we learn last year that Apple left WebView twice as slow as the browser? Or did they fix that?

UIWebView is slower for security reasons. (Non-Apple) Apps aren't allowed to mark memory as an executable code space, which JITs require. Perhaps there would be some way for Apple to solve that for Nitro without introducing security concerns for all apps, but I'm not convinced. I much prefer knowing apps can't surreptitiously create new executable parts of themselves.

I don't understand why they can't sandbox the UIWebView. That's how mobile Safari (presumably) is secured, as is Chrome. It has to render/execute untrusted content in any case.

Re: Google Chrome now works on iOS

#62

Post by ajross »

wavephorm wrote: post #54
speg wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

still use Apple's WebKit-based engine required by the App Store developer guidelines This is pretty retarded, and should really be looked at by the DoJ. To hobble all web browsers like this is something that even Microsoft, at the height of their dominance, didn't even attempt.

Apple isn't dominant like Microsoft was, though (though I'll be honest that it looked for a year or two like they would be -- I'm still wiping the sweat from my brow over that). It's not enough to be anticompetetive under antitrust law, you have to be a monopoly too. Apple's hobbled third party browser environment isn't hindering android adoption, basically.

Re: Google Chrome now works on iOS

#63

Post by georgemcbay »

This is a poor decision on Google's part. The end result is it tarnishes the Chrome brand.

Chrome's features like private browsing and tab/bookmark syncing are nice, but the defining feature of the brand IMO is that it is a very fast web browser. By linking the name to an app that will always be inherently slower than Safari on iOS, the brand is lessened with no significant upside.

I understand their desire to allow Chrome desktop users to have some meaningful interop between their desktop and mobile browsers, but I think they would have been much better served by not pretending this is an actual Chrome experience (much in the way Firefox allows some interop but keeps the distinction clear).

Re: Google Chrome now works on iOS

#65

Post by raldi »

georgemcbay wrote: post #63

This is a poor decision on Google's part. The end result is it tarnishes the Chrome brand. Chrome's features like private browsing and tab/bookmark syncing are nice, but the defining feature of the brand IMO is that it is a very fast web browser. By linking the name to an app that will always be inherently slower than Safari on iOS, the brand is lessened with no significant upside. I understand their desire to allow…

Download it and try it out -- to me, iOS Chrome seems much faster than Safari: http://itunes.apple.com/en/app/chrome/id535886823?l=nl&m...

Re: Google Chrome now works on iOS

#66

Post by adamjernst »

raldi wrote: post #65
georgemcbay wrote: post #63

This is a poor decision on Google's part. The end result is it tarnishes the Chrome brand. Chrome's features like private browsing and tab/bookmark syncing are nice, but the defining feature of the brand IMO is that it is a very fast web browser. By linking the name to an app that will always be inherently slower than Safari on iOS, the brand is lessened with no significant upside. I understand their desire to allow…

Download it and try it out -- to me, iOS Chrome seems much faster than Safari: http://itunes.apple.com/en/app/chrome/id535886823?l=nl&m...

Apple will never allow a JIT Javascript engine on any app except their own, for security reasons.

(App Store apps can't allocate pages with the executable bit set, which is a good idea really.)

Re: Google Chrome now works on iOS

#67

Post by kylebrown »

tree_of_item wrote: post #25

If it's just a WebView with JavaScriptCore, what's the point? Is tab syncing the only benefit?

Its not JavaScriptCore, its webkit (UIWebView which is non-Nitro).

Tab syncing is one heck of a benefit, I can't wait to switch. Now I'm definitely going to stick with Chrome on my desktop, even though I'd been considering going back to Firefox. Quite disappointing on Apple's part that its only in iOS 6 that Notes and Calendar will be synced with OS X, still not Safari tabs.

Re: Google Chrome now works on iOS

#68

Post by mmackh »

raldi wrote: post #65
georgemcbay wrote: post #63

This is a poor decision on Google's part. The end result is it tarnishes the Chrome brand. Chrome's features like private browsing and tab/bookmark syncing are nice, but the defining feature of the brand IMO is that it is a very fast web browser. By linking the name to an app that will always be inherently slower than Safari on iOS, the brand is lessened with no significant upside. I understand their desire to allow…

Download it and try it out -- to me, iOS Chrome seems much faster than Safari: http://itunes.apple.com/en/app/chrome/id535886823?l=nl&m...

I have to agree. The app itself feels very native (gestures, smooth animations) and browsing is fast too. It could be the absence of the blue bar on Mobile Safari, but webpages render instantly.

Re: Google Chrome now works on iOS

#69

Post by dljsjr »

adamjernst wrote: post #66
raldi wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Download it and try it out -- to me, iOS Chrome seems much faster than Safari: http://itunes.apple.com/en/app/chrome/id535886823?l=nl&m...

Apple will never allow a JIT Javascript engine on any app except their own, for security reasons. (App Store apps can't allocate pages with the executable bit set, which is a good idea really.)

While that does, technically, "matter", it doesn't really matter to users. I've been using it for a few minutes and I too can confirm that it feels very, very fast. Which is all that matters. In fact, a few years ago, Mozilla confirmed that seeming faster is much nicer than actually being faster:

http://www.johnwaynehill.com/blog/2010/06/16/perceived-speed...

The point is, the Chrome guys executed well enough on their iOS app that the inherent performance issues really don't seem to be a problem (though I've only been using the app for about 5 minutes so my opinion is limited). And it's quite a pretty app. It brings just enough of the Holographic UI to look nice without looking alien on iOS. They did well.

Re: Google Chrome now works on iOS

#70

Post by mtgx »

adamjernst wrote: post #66
raldi wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Download it and try it out -- to me, iOS Chrome seems much faster than Safari: http://itunes.apple.com/en/app/chrome/id535886823?l=nl&m...

Apple will never allow a JIT Javascript engine on any app except their own, for security reasons. (App Store apps can't allocate pages with the executable bit set, which is a good idea really.)

I'm sure Microsoft could've used 10 excuses like that for IE back in 2000.
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