Ask HN: Why is there no stopping Apple's monopoly of tablet/phone's browsers?

#1

Post by b4c0n » Sun, Jul 22, 2012, 4:52 PM UTC

If there is lawsuit after lawsuit against microsoft for things such as, e.g., having Internet Explorer pre-installed, bundling their media player with the operating system, etc., then why the fuck hasn't there been anything done about the fact iOS, as now more than ever, being in a dominant position in the tablet/smartphone market offers literally NO alternatives of browsers or outlets with which to install software (App Store)?

Have they built something that slots perfectly in a loophole which prevents any kind of requirement of freedom of choice for browsers, and indeed all software?

Re: Ask HN: Why is there no stopping Apple's monopoly of tablet/phone's browsers?

#2

Post by wems » Sun, Jul 22, 2012, 4:58 PM UTC

Microsoft also said they would drop licensing to companies like dell, toshiba, if they were to include netscape in the PCs that they sold

Re: Ask HN: Why is there no stopping Apple's monopoly of tablet/phone's browsers?

#3

Post by b4c0n » Sun, Jul 22, 2012, 5:12 PM UTC

wems wrote: post #2

Microsoft also said they would drop licensing to companies like dell, toshiba, if they were to include netscape in the PCs that they sold

Still doesn't answer my question.

Re: Ask HN: Why is there no stopping Apple's monopoly of tablet/phone's browsers?

#4

Post by LoganCale » Sun, Jul 22, 2012, 5:18 PM UTC

There are multiple alternate browser choices for iOS devices. Apple distributes Chrome and Opera for iOS through the app store. Mozilla has chosen to not support iOS.

Re: Ask HN: Why is there no stopping Apple's monopoly of tablet/phone's browsers?

#5

Post by b4c0n » Sun, Jul 22, 2012, 5:28 PM UTC

LoganCale wrote: post #4

There are multiple alternate browser choices for iOS devices. Apple distributes Chrome and Opera for iOS through the app store. Mozilla has chosen to not support iOS.

No, they are all forced to render using Apple's Webkit, there might be a different skin on top, but the underlying technology is STRICTLY no-touchy. Its a monopoly of the worst kind.

Re: Ask HN: Why is there no stopping Apple's monopoly of tablet/phone's browsers?

#6

Post by codedivine » Sun, Jul 22, 2012, 5:29 PM UTC

LoganCale wrote: post #4

There are multiple alternate browser choices for iOS devices. Apple distributes Chrome and Opera for iOS through the app store. Mozilla has chosen to not support iOS.

True, but bear in mind that third-party apps still have limitations such as no JIT compilation, that hurt the JS performance of third-party browsers. Safari does not have this limitation which gives it an unfair advantage.

Re: Ask HN: Why is there no stopping Apple's monopoly of tablet/phone's browsers?

#7

Post by polyfractal » Sun, Jul 22, 2012, 5:37 PM UTC

LoganCale wrote: post #4

There are multiple alternate browser choices for iOS devices. Apple distributes Chrome and Opera for iOS through the app store. Mozilla has chosen to not support iOS.

Alternatives were available to IE as well (netscape).

Re: Ask HN: Why is there no stopping Apple's monopoly of tablet/phone's browsers?

#8

Post by true_religion » Sun, Jul 22, 2012, 5:41 PM UTC

polyfractal wrote: post #7

LoganCale wrote: post #4

There are multiple alternate browser choices for iOS devices. Apple distributes Chrome and Opera for iOS through the app store. Mozilla has chosen to not support iOS.

Alternatives were available to IE as well (netscape).

IE won because:

(a) It was sincerely better than Netscape at the time (b) It came bundled in with the system (c) It came bundled in with the system because Microsoft chose not to charge ISPs to do.

Re: Ask HN: Why is there no stopping Apple's monopoly of tablet/phone's browsers?

#9

Post by mixmastamyk » Sun, Jul 22, 2012, 5:45 PM UTC

The tablet market didn't exist few years ago and the govt is slow to notice things. They do not dominate the smart phone market, android has a larger market share.

Re: Ask HN: Why is there no stopping Apple's monopoly of tablet/phone's browsers?

#10

Post by douglasisshiny » Sun, Jul 22, 2012, 5:47 PM UTC

codedivine wrote: post #6

LoganCale wrote: post #4

There are multiple alternate browser choices for iOS devices. Apple distributes Chrome and Opera for iOS through the app store. Mozilla has chosen to not support iOS.

True, but bear in mind that third-party apps still have limitations such as no JIT compilation, that hurt the JS performance of third-party browsers. Safari does not have this limitation which gives it an unfair advantage.

It's also worth to note that the EU is checking into Windows 8 RT concerning no JIT access for other browsers as an extension of their Windows 7 agreement [1].

Considering Windows RT will be a minority player in the marketplace, with Apple the dominant player, one would think that Apple would face equal attention from the EU.

[1]http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2407324,00.asp