Web Developers Form Advocacy Group to Allow Other Browser Engines on iOS

[MacRumors]

Apple is being challenged by a group of developers to end WebKit's dominance on its mobile devices and allow other browser engines on iPhone and iPad, following accusations that the current situation amounts to anti-competitive conduct.

For those unfamiliar with WebKit, Apple's browser engine powers Safari and other areas of the operating system where web content is displayed. Apple requires all third-party browser apps on iOS and iPadOS to use WebKit, but many browser developers are not happy with the limitations this imposes on them.

The latest pushback comes in the form of "Open Web Advocacy" or OWA, a project launched by UK-based developers who want third-party access to all the features that Safari enjoys but which are not available in WebKit.

"The motive of the group is to try to persuade Apple that they need to allow other browser engines on iOS, so the iOS can be a better platform for developing stuff for the modern web," developer Bruce Lawson told The Register. "Because at the moment, every browser on iOS, whether it be badged Chrome, Firefox or Edge is actually just a branded skin of Safari, which lags behind [other browsers] because it has no competition on iOS."

Some Safari features that are not available to other browsers that use WebKit include the ability to display fullscreen video on iPhone, install web apps, use browser extensions, and integrate Apple Pay. Developers are also frustrated that iOS forces Safari to be used in all instances of in-app browsing. These and more than 30 other missing functions or APIs for WebKit are outlined in the OWA's "Bringing Competition to Walled Gardens" paper.

Apple argues that WebKit limitations are motivated primarily by security and privacy considerations, but Lawson belives Apple's handling of Safari bugs makes a mockery of that claim.

"Over Christmas, there was a huge bug in something called IndexedDB," said Lawson. "That allowed any arbitrary website to see other websites you visited. Not all of them but those that use certain browser features. And that remained unpatched by Apple for 57 days. So for 57 days, every iOS user who used any web browser on iOS – because it was using WebKit – was leaking data left, right and center. If Apple actually did fix security errors fast, that would be a plausible defense, but they don't."

The OWA says it has been communicating with the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which has already heavily criticized Apple's policies around WebKit.

• Should Apple Continue to Ban Rival Browser Engines on iOS?

The OWA is now urging Apple users to contact regulators and legislators in other jurisdictions to galvanize support and force Apple to end its restrictions around WebKit, although such a move could make sideloading apps from the web a real possibility, and that is something Apple appears equally reluctant to allow.

Article Link: Web Developers Form Advocacy Group to Allow Other Browser Engines on iOS

 

[jdmachogg]

100% - Apple forcing everyone to use WebKit is extremely limiting and makes alternative browsers almost pointless. WebKit sucks.

 

[WiiDSmoker]

I’m reminded of Microsoft and IE dominance of the 90s. Apple needs to own this up.

 

[JokoWidodo]

good, it’s time to bring chromium to ipadOS

 

[TheMacDaddy1]

I use Edge on my iPhone and so far it’s works just as well for what I do. I also use the outlook email app so links from email open up in edge.

 

[tridley68]

Keep IOS secure don't give in to third party browsers.

 

[seanmills1020]

I demand that Apple allows Netscape Navigator for iOS.

 

[5aga]

Would be nice to have the real version of Firefox on iOS

 

[HQuest]

I demand these developers build their own phone, OS, support them and service them, before asking others to do it for their own “demands”.

Yea, I am aware developers are the ones who made the iPhone so incredibly popular, but nobody has or is forcing a developer to develop to iOS. It was for own choice, so demanding this sounds as clever as you wanting to use a Porsche engine on a Mercedes car.

 

[wanha]

100% - Apple forcing everyone to use WebKit is extremely limiting and makes alternative browsers almost pointless. WebKit sucks.

What's wrong with webkit?

 

[wanha]

I use Edge on my iPhone and so far it’s works just as well for what I do. I also use the outlook email app so links from email open up in edge.

I don't think you've quite understood what this post and discussion are about...

 

[BrownyQ]

If someone could be kind enough to explain for me...

I was under the impression that Webkit was open source. So if the bug mentioned was a Webkit flaw, why was the burden placed solely on Apple to fix it to prove their point of Webkit's shortcomings? Wouldn't all possible contributors share said blame? Or was the bug inherent to Safari?

 

[wanha]

As a non-technical layman, Apple's arguments for forcing all browsers on iOS to use webkit sure seem pretty weak...

 

[MacHiavelli]

Buy other devices. Let Apple build the wall higher and thicker and add a retractable roof as well.

 

[twinlight]

Not sure I need other browser engines but Apple forcing webkit and then cripple it at the same time is so stupid.

 

[ddtmm]

This can't come soon enough. I am really hopeful other browser frameworks get in soon. The first thing I am going to do once alternatives arrive is install uBlock.

 

[m4<d4ddy]

What's wrong with webkit?

Webkit is much slower to fix bugs and adopt new features than other big browser engines.

Most people who build large websites dislike and complain about Webkit the most — but you have to do silly things to support it because Apple doesn't allow alternative browser engines on iOS.
It's like IE 7 if you were around the web in the mid-00s...

 

[kelemor88]

I’m reminded of Microsoft and IE dominance of the 90s. Apple needs to own this up.

Microsoft didn’t make the computers they made the makers use IE or they didn’t get windows

Apple makes the iOS devices, the iOS software and this is nothing like that.

 

[kelemor88]

Buy other devices. Let Apple build the wall higher and thicker and add a retractable roof as well.

Other devices don’t make the developers the money they want

 

[cgs1xx]

No idea why anyone would use anything other than Safari on iOS. Just buy a non-iphone phone and leave Apple alone 🤷🏻
Why can’t a company stick to their own rules?

 

[WWPD]

I demand that Apple allows Netscape Navigator for iOS.

Prodigy is way better than Earthlink.

 

[bchah]

I develop a webapp which uses WebRTC in the browser extensively. The implementation of WebRTC on Safari/WebKit is so poor and seems to introduce new issues with every release. It's frustrating spending so much time debugging in Safari and reducing features to try and preserve the user experience, when Chrome / Edge / Firefox all work without a hitch. The endgame is that small web developers who should be thriving on iOS have to use the Apple-provided dev tools and publishing platform to really reach users. Somewhere along the way, the web browser became a second-class citizen for Apple.

 

[ricom2ger]

They misspelt Chrome Web Advocacy.

 

[velocityg4]

I’d really love other browser engines. I just want it to be Apple’s choice. Not a government committee.

Mainly I just want Firefox with add on support.

 

[inket]

So the goal here is to allow Chrome dominance on all platforms so that all web developers stop caring about other browsers reinforcing Chrome's position even more?

Chrome is already a resource-hog with a truckload of useless features. It's Google's attempt to get everyone to use it as an OS, because they're still sad they didn't get in on the OS boom of the 90s.

The future we're striving for is one where an advertising company controls the whole web. They're already 3 years behind on blocking third-party cookies because they don't want to hit their ad business. I mean, I wouldn't intentionally kill my cash cows either.

Go ahead, login to your Google account in Chrome so that their tracking and data-mining is even more effective. Leave WebKit alone.