Apple has walked again its resolution to remove home screen web apps in the European Union (EU). After initially blaming its resolution to ditch them on the Digital Markets Act’s (DMA) requirement to assist non-WebKit browsers, Apple now says European customers will return to having fun with the identical net app expertise from earlier than when iOS 17.4 arrives early this month.
“Now we have acquired requests to proceed to supply assist for Residence Display screen net apps in iOS, due to this fact we are going to proceed to supply the prevailing Residence Display screen net apps functionality within the EU,” Apple wrote Friday in an up to date developer support document. “This assist means Residence Display screen net apps proceed to be constructed straight on WebKit and its safety structure, and align with the safety and privateness mannequin for native apps on iOS.”
Progressive web apps (PWAs) act very similar to native apps with options like devoted home windows, notifications and native storage. Apple eliminated them for European prospects within the second iOS 17.4 beta, as an alternative asking if customers need to open the web site in Safari.
On the time, the corporate claimed net app assist might compromise safety, given the DMA’s requirement to assist non-WebKit browser engines. “Addressing the complicated safety and privateness considerations related to net apps utilizing various browser engines would require constructing a wholly new integration structure that doesn’t at present exist in iOS and was not sensible to undertake given the opposite calls for of the DMA and the very low consumer adoption of Residence Display screen net apps,” the corporate wrote in February.
The Open Net Advocacy group chimed in shortly to criticize Apple’s now-reversed transfer. “Apple has had 15 years to facilitate true browser competitors worldwide, and practically two years because the DMA’s last textual content,” the group wrote in February. “It might have used that point to share performance it traditionally self-preferenced to Safari with different browsers. Inaction and silence speaks volumes.”
The EU didn’t sound a lot happier concerning the net app removing. European Fee officers said in late February they have been probing Apple’s resolution in what sounded just like the build-up to a proper investigation. The Monetary Occasions reported that regulators despatched builders questions concerning the affect of Apple’s PWA removing.
No matter could have occurred between then and now to vary Apple’s thoughts, it’s remaining tight-lipped. As an alternative, the corporate is framing its reversal as a easy response to “requests” it acquired to proceed providing residence display screen net apps. Maybe EU officers assured the iPhone maker the corporate wouldn’t have to assist PWAs from different browser engines, or possibly the corporate merely wished to move off a proper probe (and the unhealthy PR it might generate). Regardless, solely European iOS 17.4 beta customers are with out net apps, they usually’ll have them again as soon as the software program’s last model arrives.
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