Apple suddenly approves a bunch of browsers for App Store; major policy shift in progress?

by Chris Ziegler posted Jan 14th 2009 at 6:20AM

Okay, so maybe a new browser isn't the first thing we'd like to see replaced with some fresh thinking out of the App Store -- that honor probably goes to the email client, preferably with something that could rival the G1's capabilities -- but regardless, Apple's infamous "duplication of functionality" argument has hamstrung iPhone developers from even coming close to stepping on the mothership's toes from day one. Consistent application of policy is still at a premium when it comes to getting iPhone apps approved, it seems -- it's hit or miss, and as best as we can tell, a happy ending involves the crossing of fingers and getting a reviewer inside Apple who's having a good day. It looks like Apple's slowly and quietly tweaking its game in response to complaints, though, with MacRumors noting that a slew of browsers have gone on sale in the past day; some of these things have submission dates several months old, so it seems like they've been holding in some sort of purgatory while Steve and the gang debate the merits of letting programmers actually practice their trade in peace. Odds are none of these initial entries will hold up to Safari for good, old-fashioned browsing, but more importantly, this might just open up the door for Opera and others to get in on the game.

Update: As it turns out, all these new browsers are WebKit-based, so while things do appear to be changing, we wouldn't hold out hope for an iPhone edition of Mobile IE just yet.

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Tags: app store, apple, AppStore, browser, iphone, web browser, WebBrowser

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

Neutral

CJ @ Jan 14th 2009 6:27AM

How come I get this horrible feeling that as soon as Mozilla come up with iFirefox, Apple is going to revert back to their old draconian policy when they realise that nobdoy uses Mobile Safari.

... Too snarky? Sorry, but I reckon it's going to go something like that.

Neutral

jOEfRO @ Jan 14th 2009 6:52AM

And now I start searching "Mozilla" on the App Store each day. As long as I can snatch it up when it becomes available it will be mine forever, even if they delete it. *Starts playing Tris on iPhone*

Neutral

Steveorevo @ Jan 14th 2009 6:57AM

Palm Pre's rumor of support Flash perhaps? Perhaps they are feeling the heat after seeing the demo of how smooth the Palm Pre is compared to the hiccups one has with iPhone's Safari. Palms copy of the scrolling is clear smoother and more responsive with ineretia effects and a blazing fast UI. Copy and Paste is reason enought to abandon iPhone but throw in a ultra simple SDK of Javascript, XML and CSS for 80% of your application development and you got a real winner.

It might not be too late if Apple opens up a bit...

Neutral

Todd @ Jan 14th 2009 6:58AM

May not be Firefox that triggers reversion but Chrome and/or IE.

Eww, you got IE in my iPhone!

Neutral

bondsbw @ Jan 14th 2009 7:31AM

I somehow doubt Firefox will start an iPhone revolution. Firefox hasn't even started a Mac OS X revolution... while I love Firefox for Windows and Linux, it has problems in OS X and I just have my doubts that it will be able to hang with Mobile Safari.

But, I at least hope they get the chance to try. Maybe with a little competition there, Apple will see the need to enhance their offering.

Neutral

AceMcLoud @ Jan 14th 2009 7:35AM

@Steveorevo

Funny, when the iPhone only had an "ultra simple SDK of Javascript, XML and CSS for 80% of your application development" everyone was complaining.

Neutral

bill cant fart @ Jan 14th 2009 8:00AM

@Todd

Hey! You got IE on my iPhone!

Neutral

Chet @ Jan 14th 2009 8:01AM

@ AceMcLoud

There is a difference between the web apps that Apple initially wanted and what webOS intends to do. In palms OS you will have access to system resources, where as all apple web apps had next to no access. So in short, you have no idea what you are talking about.

Neutral

Jay @ Jan 14th 2009 9:35AM

@AceMcLoud: In addition to what Chet said, Apple wanted webapps to be hosted on servers and just visited on Safari. Palm plans to actually integrate the web apps into the launcher, wiuth files apps stored locally on the device

Neutral

AceMcLoud @ Jan 14th 2009 9:43AM

@Chet

I know that Apple’s original approach was more limited than Palms announced plan.
In essence what you're saying is that a HTML/Javascript SDK ist preferable to a "proper" SDK that can do OpenGL and stuff?

Neutral

CJ @ Jan 14th 2009 9:45AM

Ace, we get it, you're a relentless Apple fanboy, you don't have to keep reminding us.

Now please stop clogging up my email inbox with messages from engadget.

Neutral

the Dude @ Jan 14th 2009 9:53AM

Shouda unchecked the " E-mail me" option before you posted your opinion CJ, ya dumb shit!

Neutral

Steve Miller @ Jan 14th 2009 10:38AM

You could always take the safe approach and jailbreak your phone, then neuter the app kill switch via boss prefs =D

Neutral

Alan Strangis @ Jan 14th 2009 10:59AM

@ AceMcCloud: As others have pointed out, comparing the WebOS SDK to Apples initial Web Apps just doesn't cut it.

Even the web based Mojo gives developers to elements of the WebOS that Apple's binary doesn't, namely the phone, messaging and background processes (It's been a few months since I looked, but I imagine these are still true).

Palm also said a binary SDK could happen at some point in the future as well.

It's also worth pointing out that Palms App Catalogue will be more open than the App Store, and that developers will also have the option to distribute outside the realm of the App Catalogue if they so choose...

"Chief among Palm’s innovations is the decision to throw the doors wide open on its application store — a depot of downloadable software that allows users to customize their phones. While the company will offer free and certified applications, anyone who wants to design software for the Pre will be free to do so and won’t be required to seek Palm’s approval, as seen with others such as Apple."
from:
http://www.rgbfilter.com/?p=271

If the hype around the Pre results in a successful launch (I suspect there's a lot of latent Palm fanboys - I know I'm one), this can only be good for everybody, including iPhone users, as it SHOULD pressure Apple to loosen their draconian and sometime incomprehensible reasons for banning apps.

Neutral

AceMcLoud @ Jan 14th 2009 11:07AM

Please don't get me wrong, the Palm concept is pretty nice and I'm perfectly aware of the differences to Apple’s original approach. I simply cannot accept that a Javascript based SDK is supposed to be "better" than Apple’s. And apparently there are enough people who can handle it, even if it’s not "ultra-simple" ;-)

It will be easy for Apple to add missing features to the iPhone (Copy & Paste. No, don't ask me why they haven't done so already.). But it will probably be hard for Palm to add missing features to their SDK (speed, proper graphics, 3D, etc.).

@ CJ
Thanks for the fanboy comment, makes it easier for me to ignore your future posts.

Neutral

OneLove @ Jan 14th 2009 11:33AM

cut and paste is next. :)

Neutral

Alan Strangis @ Jan 14th 2009 12:05PM

@ Ace (again): If we were to compare Apples initial offerings to Palms, hands down Palms is more robust.

Even compared to the current iPhone SDK, developers have more access to certain core functions of a device whose main purpose is mobile communication, while limiting access to other parts of the device (3D hardware).

In short, it's better if you want to code an SMS/mail app, but not better if you want to make Half-Life Mobile. Of course, this is all theoretical until the Pre is released and developers start poking around with the extent of access, but on the surface, more access is always better conceptually.

Neutral

Josh Ladella @ Jan 14th 2009 12:23PM

If this is for real, I would really like to see a browser that supports flash. I think that's the major chunk of teh internets that doesn't work on the iPhone/iPod Touch

Neutral

VanillaSpice @ Jan 14th 2009 10:19PM

Forget it, Ace - this is the Engadget crowd. You and I, and anyone with half a brain and a modicum of impartiality, know that while there are minor differences between Palm's initial approach and Apple's initial approach, both are substantively similar, and that "some access to system resources" is not what they were demanding of Apple when they released their initial approach.

This crowd is too invested in their Apple-hate to acknowledge such a basic fact. They'd much rather bash one company but praise another when both are doing (or did) the same thing ... something they often accuse the "Apple fanboys" of practising.

Neutral

loosely_coupled @ Jan 15th 2009 12:30AM

@steverevo

"Palm Pre's rumor of support Flash perhaps? Perhaps they are feeling the heat after seeing the demo of how smooth the Palm Pre is compared to the hiccups one has with iPhone's Safari."

Considering the "Pre" isn't even released yet, It is stupid to even try to compare it to the iPhone. Additionally, not only is the iPhone hardware over two years old at this point, but every significant feature of the "Pre", including the large, multi-touch, capacitive touchscreen and gesture/swipe controlled user interface is inspired by the iPhone. Even look at their SDK, user interface, and web browser --- They are all powered by the webkit browser engine which Apple CREATED.

An updated iPhone with a good camera and ARM Cortex-A8/PowerVR SGX -based CPU will once again set the standard for smartphones. And with a real low-level SDK and successful App store (and not just a glorified browser environment), the iPhone will continue to dominate the market, particularly if they finally create a CDMA model for Verizon/sprint.

Neutral

shugg @ Jan 16th 2009 3:27AM

read n learn fool.cell industry is like an election.,phones are all there to pick.,it so turns out in last 17 months iphone has won that election ,month after month. like dax said has highest consumer ratings, people are commiting 2 years to a company n cell.,people are making a consciuos decison.there have never been so many phones on the market here in the usa at 1 time, this is history being made. the american people have spoken,the votes have been cast,the votes have been tallied.,iphone has been crowned president over n over.,yes there are some failed murder attempts every now n then.300 million americans have chosen it to be the top dawg,regardless of its flaws. yes its not for everyone, just like a lamborghini isnt for everyone. in the meantime its going for its 18th month staraight in top smartphone sales here in the usa.,will it be nominated again this month ,allow 300 million americans to make that decision.,yes people will again cast their vote for the imperfect iphone.a phone with so many flaws. no mms,its too glossy too black too white,too old.

Neutral

shugg @ Jan 16th 2009 3:28AM

by the way, what kind of idiot carries around a cell that cant even replace an ipod.,let me guess your 1 of those techno dorks that stuffs ipod in left pocket n samsung glide in other.and they got YOU giving advice.,what a dee dee deee!

Low Ranked

Temmy @ Jan 14th 2009 6:27AM

Fastest way to get some cash for medication, is it Steve?

Neutral

Ethan @ Jan 14th 2009 6:54AM

That would be his giant, bulging wallet.

Neutral

Samboini @ Jan 14th 2009 7:02AM

I'm glad you said wallet there Ethan.

Neutral

Jimmy Jones @ Jan 14th 2009 6:30AM

pressure from emerging ...........imminent devices... better loosen up so you don't disappear off the list like Palm did for a long time........

Neutral

Afro_Samurai @ Jan 14th 2009 6:32AM

@CJ I totally agree!!!

Neutral

Gryphone @ Jan 14th 2009 6:36AM

So now you (begin to) share the same vision with your ol' friend, Gates eh, Steve?

Neutral

KarlW @ Jan 14th 2009 9:56AM

Is that the same Bill Gates who thought the Internet would never catch on, then stole IE from Spyglass when MS realized they couldn't compete without a browser and broke the Internet trying to force Netscape out of the game?

Neutral

Gryphone @ Jan 14th 2009 7:43PM

Oh, also the one who initiates IE-only websites, and gives such a pain in the ass to all (true) web designers . . . yep! That's the one . . .

". . . and he wears glasses."

Neutral

Drew @ Jan 14th 2009 4:04PM

@KarlW:
If by "stole IE from Spyglass" you mean "legitimately bought the rights to use the Spyglass Mosaic code, which was originally developed by the NCSA", then yes I guess so.

And Netscape, of course, also used code from NCSA Mosaic.

Highly Ranked

Jack @ Jan 14th 2009 6:36AM

mighty fine photoshoppin' there...

Neutral

wrabbit @ Jan 14th 2009 7:04AM

I know, I feel like I should wash my eyes with soap or something.

Highly Ranked

fh @ Jan 14th 2009 7:43AM

Real men use MSPaint.

Neutral

Kamokazi @ Jan 14th 2009 9:15AM

I remember using IE2...pulling down a large jpg over a 14.4 modem (I know 56k was around, but it was PCMCIA)...and then saving it to your stash....if you know what I mean. Those were the days. Or not....I'll stick to free streaming video. Yay for Redtube!

Neutral