Apple App Store Approves 3rd Party iPhone Web Browsers, BUT…
It looks like Apple has begin to approve some 3rd party web browsers for the iPhone. Like the (Jobs save us) “fart” apps that were pulled or pending for a long while only to flood the market on some magic-8-ball decided day, some of these web browsers were biding their time in the App Store approval queue for a good long while according to MacRumors:
Edge Browser (Free) – No loss of screen real estate to the address or navigation bars. Incognito ($1.99) – Now you can browse without leaving a history of any kind. WebMate:Tabbed Browser ($0.99) – Web Mate simplifies browsing by queuing up all the links you click on, then allowing you to view them one by one when you’re ready. And Shaking Web ($1.99) – adds a sophisticated algorithm to compensate small hand shaking to allow for easier reading.
BUT (you did see the big old BUT in the headline, right), those thinking, hoping, praying, or reporting that these are actually alternative rendering engines need to back on up a second. To the best of our knowledge, these are merely different UI implementations of the built-in iPhone WebKit rendering engine, much like those already used in Twitterrific, 1Password, and other long-ago approved Apps. The only difference — that TiPb can tell — is that these are stand-alone iPhone WebKit implementations (like MobileSafari, though more limited due to SDK restrictions and non-default status).
So, no Firefox, Chrome, Opera, or (Jobs save us again!) IE 6 for the iPhone just yet, okay?
Still, for those who want different user experiences and features, well, now you can go get them! Anyone try one yet?
January 14th, 2009 at 12:02 am
Although i dont condone such anarchy, I do agree that no web browser can come close to mobile safari. And they probably wont for a few years.
Its been months since i used my ipod touch (i gifted it to my grandmother) and yet whenever im at my desktop i keep wishing firefox had some of the mobile safari tricks, like tap the top bar and it goes to the top
January 14th, 2009 at 3:04 am
God damn, approve Opera now, Apple!
January 14th, 2009 at 4:19 am
I want use firefox,but…
January 14th, 2009 at 4:35 am
Safari is great. I like the idea of new UI’s being allowed, but there are so many great mobile websites being based around webkit, that might not happen if we go back to fragmented browsers.
January 14th, 2009 at 7:53 am
Once again Apple is making the same mistake with the iPhone/Touch that it made in the early 90’s with the II/Mac systems. Over controlled, over regulated, an early lead that will quickly evaporate.
January 14th, 2009 at 8:06 am
Absolutely stupid. It’s like a restaurant having three different brands of mustard on the table.
January 14th, 2009 at 9:48 am
at least they are dropping some control
January 14th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
Its a step in the right direction but not really a problem for me. In my humble view, limiting third-party apps is what keeps Apple’s quality so high in default mode.
January 14th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
How about somehow makes a browser that doesn’t crash every day(if not more)?
January 15th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
Why have a choppy Opera or Stiffy FireFox?! Safari is the very best you can get on any computer platform. Period. So quit hoping do something you already have and then some!
January 16th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
Well, not all browser-like apps implemented using WebKit have been accepted. The Mobicip App has been waiting for the past 5-6 weeks. We have an online petition going. Would appreciate any support we can get. http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/mobicip
January 16th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
I downloaded Edge on my laptop, but it won’t sync to my iPod… I agree with everyone else that there’s nothing wrong with the functioning of mobile Safari. But if I could just get a hiding navigation bar, (or even transparent nav soft keys) I’d be in heaven. With so little screen real estate in a mobile, there’s no excuse for using 15 some odd rows of pixels with a nav bar.
January 19th, 2009 at 10:15 pm
Apple should just add in a flash support for their browser. Other than that i dont see the need for a new browser as safari is made in mind for the iphone anyways. so i guess the general ruling is add what is good and dont fix what is not broken.
February 27th, 2009 at 1:47 am
Any Webkit browsers on the iPhone are severly limited. They cannot open links that use javascript to open a new page. This breaks a lot of websites for any third party browsers on the iPhone! Of course Safari does not suffer from this particular flaw.
May 21st, 2009 at 2:06 am
It’s like a restaurant having three different brands of mustard on the table.
August 25th, 2009 at 12:28 am
very useful information
August 25th, 2009 at 12:29 am
it is very fun, i just like it