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Apple declined to implement 16 Web APIs in Safari due to privacy concerns

(www.zdnet.com)
428 points coronadisaster | 4 comments | 29 Jun 20 10:16 UTC | HN request time: 0.818s | source
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thayne ◴[29 Jun 20 18:40 UTC] No.23680835[source]▶
There may be some legitimate fingerprinting concenrs. But given the list of API's it's hard not to see this as Apple crippling PWAs to prevent them from replacing native iOS apps (and hurting Apple's revenue from the Apple tax).

And maybe I'm missing something, but wouldn't the fingerprinting concern be mitigated by the fact the app has to ask for permission before using the API? If an app that doesn't have to do with MIDI asks for permission to use my MIDI device, I'm going to be instantly suspicious.

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chvid ◴[29 Jun 20 19:32 UTC] No.23681559[source]▶
Exactly. This is about making sure web apps are not as powerful as native apps.

One thing is the revenue generated by the App Store but suppose JavaScript web apps were just as powerful and well integrated as native apps; then why use native apps at all? Why have an App Store at all? Why have a Mac or an iPhone if any device with a modern web browser would do?

When Huawei tried to create their alternative to Android. The big thing missing wasn't the hardware or the operation system. It was the App Store with your map app, your banking app, your scooter app and so on.

The App Store and the proprietary development platforms for Android and Apple has become a way to keep their duopoly in place.

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1. mavhc ◴[29 Jun 20 20:36 UTC] No.23682600[source]▶
Isn't Google the one implementing all these APIs though?
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2. thayne ◴[29 Jun 20 21:06 UTC] No.23683063[source]▶
But for google, the benefits of having richer web apps on which they can show you ads and have app developers pay google for ads may be more valuable than any revenue they lose from the app store.
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3. millstone ◴[30 Jun 20 02:53 UTC] No.23686007[source]▶
Speaking as a Xoogler, there's no coordination between the teams building Chrome APIs and those working on Android. Leadership is content to see what sticks (and they may be right).
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4. warkdarrior ◴[01 Jul 20 21:00 UTC] No.23706625{3}[source]▶
Sure, they are not micromanaging the Chrome APIs or the Android APIs. But the strategic direction is clear: "develop more web APIs and make them useful, so more people stay on the web so we can show more ads."