© Lemon squeezer
In March, Apple will release an iOS update to make its operating system compliant with the DMA, the new EU legislation to regulate digital giants. And this update will bring important changes to the iPhone. For example, Apple will, for the first time, allow installations of iOS applications outside of the App Store. In addition, the firm will also give more freedom to developers of browsers for iOS.
Currently, browsers like Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are forced to rely on Apple's WebKit technology. But, soon, in Europe, this technology will no longer be mandatory. For example, Google could launch a new version of Chrome based on its Chromium technology, while Mozilla has the possibility, if it wishes, of replacing WebKit with its Gecko engine. However, Apple explains that due to this change, it will end an iOS feature on iPhones used in Europe: Home Screen Web Apps.< /strong>
Indeed, in addition to iOS applications downloaded from the App Store, Apple also allows web applications to be installed on the screen of & #8217;welcome. This provides a shortcut to web applications, which can also access certain features of the OS, such as the ability to send notifications. But soon, for European users, it will no longer be possible to have web application shortcuts on iPhone.
Apple talks about security (again)
To justify the end of support for “Home Screen Web Apps” in Europe, Apple cites security concerns. According to Apple's explanations, this feature relies on WebKit's security architecture, so that the security of web applications is closer to that of native iOS applications. And the firm estimates that without these measures, malicious web applications could “read data from other web applications and retrieve their permissions to access a user's camera, microphone or location. user without user consent.”
“Browsers could also install web applications on the system without the knowledge and consent of the user”, also explains Apple. He adds that to have such high security barriers, while allowing alternatives to its WebKit technology, it would be necessary to build a completely new architecture which does not currently exist on iOS.
And Apple believes that this would not be practical, given that there are other changes to be made due to the DMA, and because these web applications on the screen of ;#8217;home would be little used on the iPhone. Therefore, the simplest way to comply with the DMA, without compromising security, would be to remove this functionality.
To quickly access web applications, EU iPhone users will be able to create bookmarks, and place these bookmarks on the home screen. Apple also assures that this change will have little impact on the functioning of web applications.
- Apple will deploy a major update to make the iPhone compliant with the DMA
- This update will bring big changes, but it will also remove a feature
- Due to new constraints, Apple has decided to no longer support web applications on the home screen in the EU< /li>
- The firm nevertheless indicates that this is a little-used feature
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