by Hartley Charlton
Developers who want to develop browsers for iOS with third-party engines can only test their apps on devices physically located in the EU, according to The Register.
This rule introduces a considerable barrier for developers outside the EU, who are now limited to using simulators instead of actual devices for testing their browsers. This restriction complicates the process of developing and supporting browsers with alternative engines, as on-device testing is essential to accurate performance assessment and troubleshooting. Apple's previous policy, which remains in place in other regions around the world, demands the use of WebKit for all iOS and iPadOS browsers, effectively making every browser on these platforms a variant of Safari.
Under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), Apple was designated as a gatekeeper in the European Union, compelling the company to make changes to its policies. With the release of iOS 17.4, Apple began allowing the use of alternative browser engines within the EU. However, it has now emerged that testing of browsers with third-party engines is strictly geofenced to the EU, potentially hindering the ability of developers around the world to address security issues or implement updates efficiently.
The requirements raise some practical concerns about the feasibility of supporting a separate EU browser. Some developers have pointed out that Apple's extensive list of conditions makes it challenging to comply while also ensuring that the browser remains competitive and secure.
The European Commission has launched an investigation into Apple's compliance with the DMA, focusing on the restrictive nature of its latest changes. The investigation seeks to determine whether Apple's requirements are designed to circumvent the spirit of the DMA by making it difficult for competitors to operate on a level playing field.
Tag: European Union
[ 80 comments ]
Top Rated Comments
1Michael23
1 day ago at 07:15 am
Wow, Malicious compliance at its finest, Apple is willing to let their consumers hurt to prevent people outside the EU from what? 7 day developer signing a browser that doesn't run webkit? Why would they block this.
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
c84216
1 day ago at 07:19 am
I've been a fierce defender of the way Apple has done business. There's a reason iOS has been a secure (mostly) and malware-free platform.
But man. The petty decisions there's making around the EU regulations sort of have soured me on that idea. Hard to defend these juvenile actions.
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
robvalentine
1 day ago at 07:27 am
Stuff like this is why I switched to android. Not only is it more usable, they don't try and stiffle oposition, and customer experience like apple does.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Unregistered 4U
1 day ago at 07:30 am
Good, if the EU wants to force this gatekeeper crap then development and testing should happen in the EU. Play stupid games....
I mean, this is literally what the EU has asked for. “Give us special treatment” Ok, you’ve got the specialest treatment of all :)
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
hans1972
23 hours ago at 07:43 am
I've been a fierce defender of the way Apple has done business. There's a reason iOS has been a secure (mostly) and malware-free platform.But man. The petty decisions there's making around the EU regulations sort of have soured me on that idea. Hard to defend these juvenile actions.
I think it's great. Apple does the same thing I do with taxes, reluctantly comply.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rp100
23 hours ago at 08:14 am
It must be exhausting to constantly prevent users from doing what they want with their device.
Imagine if they spent those resources on R&D instead of fences and walls…
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments
Popular Stories
Troubling iOS 17.5 Bug Reportedly Resurfacing Old Deleted Photos
Wednesday May 15, 2024 5:29 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
There are concerning reports on Reddit that Apple's latest iOS 17.5 update has introduced a bug that causes old photos that were deleted – in some cases years ago – to reappear in users' photo libraries. After updating their iPhone, one user said they were shocked to find old NSFW photos that they deleted in 2021 suddenly showing up in photos marked as recently uploaded to iCloud. Other...
Read Full Article • 438 comments
iMessage Down for Some Users [Update: Service Restored]
Thursday May 16, 2024 3:00 pm PDT by Juli Clover
The iMessage service that Apple users to send messages to one another appears to be down for some users, and messages are failing to go out or are taking an extra long time to send. There are numerous reports about the issue on social networks and a spike of outage reports on Down Detector, but Apple's System Status page is not yet reporting an outage. Update: Apple's status page says...
Read Full Article • 136 comments
Apple Previews Three New CarPlay Features Coming With iOS 18
Wednesday May 15, 2024 9:18 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Apple today previewed new accessibility features coming with iOS 18 later this year, and this includes some new options for CarPlay. Apple highlighted three new features coming to CarPlay: Voice Control: This feature will allow users to navigate CarPlay and control apps with just their voice. Color Filters: This feature will make the CarPlay interface visually easier to use for...
Read Full Article • 80 comments
Hands-On With the New M4 OLED iPad Pro
Wednesday May 15, 2024 10:40 am PDT by Juli Clover
Today is the official launch day of the new iPad Pro models, and these updated tablets mark the biggest feature and design refresh that we've seen for the iPad Pro in several years. We picked up one of the new 13-inch models to check out everything new. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. When it comes to design, Apple is still offering 11-inch and 13-inch size options ...
Read Full Article • 114 comments
iPhone 16 Pro Max Looks This Much Bigger Beside iPhone 15 Pro Max
Thursday May 16, 2024 4:51 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
This year's upcoming iPhone 16 Pro Max is expected to get a boost in overall size from 6.7-inches to 6.9-inches, and a new image gives us a good idea of how the current iPhone 15 Pro Max compares to what could be Apple's largest ever iPhone. The image above, posted on X by ZONEofTECH, shows a dummy model representing the iPhone 16 Pro Max alongside an actual iPhone 15 Pro Max. Dummy...
Read Full Article • 139 comments
iPhone Emulators on the App Store: Game Boy, N64, PS1, PSP, and More
Thursday May 16, 2024 12:45 pm PDT by Joe Rossignol
In April, Apple updated its guidelines to allow retro game emulators on the App Store, and several popular emulators have already been released. The emulators released so far allow iPhone users to play games released for older consoles from Nintendo, Sony, SEGA, Atari, and others. A list of some popular emulators available on the App Store so far follows. Released Delta Delta is...
Read Full Article • 104 comments