Apple, Firefox and the EU

27 January 2024, 11:59:56

I don't use anything but Linuix in my private life so things like this just seem to be so alien, but here it is....

https://www.theverge.com/2024/1/26/24052067/mozilla-apple-ios-browser-rules-firefox

I had no idea that firefox didn't work on apple. How is it possible with a BSD core on IOS?

Re: Apple, Firefox and the EU

Reply #1 – 27 January 2024, 20:37:05

It's not a technical limitation. If Mozilla wants to put a browser in the app store, they must abide by Apple's rules and build a Webkit browser. They can customize the chrome and even integrate with their Firefox syncing service. But under the hood, it's still Safari.

What's crazy to me is this is very obviously more egregious than what Microsoft did with IE back in the day. Microsoft's crime was bundling IE with Windows. Not only is Safari bundled with iOS, but all the alternative browsers in the app store are also Safari. It was at least possible to install and use Netscape on Windows, but 100% of iPhone users use Safari. And not because it's good.