Okay, so maybe a new browser isn't the
first thing we'd like to see replaced with some fresh thinking out of the App Store -- that honor probably goes to the
email client, preferably with something that could rival the G1's capabilities -- but regardless, Apple's infamous
"duplication of functionality" argument has hamstrung iPhone developers from even coming close to stepping on the mothership's toes from day one. Consistent application of policy is still at a premium when it comes to getting iPhone apps approved, it seems -- it's hit or miss, and as best as we can tell, a happy ending involves the crossing of fingers and getting a reviewer inside Apple who's having a good day. It looks like Apple's slowly and quietly tweaking its game in response to complaints, though, with
MacRumors noting that a slew of browsers have gone on sale in the past day; some of these things have submission dates several months old, so it seems like they've been holding in some sort of purgatory while Steve and the gang debate the merits of letting programmers actually practice their trade in peace. Odds are none of these initial entries will hold up to Safari for good, old-fashioned browsing, but more importantly, this might just open up the door for
Opera and others to get in on the game.
Update: As it turns out, all these new browsers are WebKit-based, so while things do appear to be changing, we wouldn't hold out hope for an iPhone edition of Mobile IE just yet.
posted Jan 14th 2009 6:20AM
Opera on iPhone without jailbreaking? Do want.
This was pointed out some time ago, but these are NOT new "WebKit-based" browsers. They're add ons to the existing Mobile Safari, that give alternate functionality depending on which one you opt to launch Safari with.
http://www.rgbfilter.com/?p=275
Or you could read some of the actual product descriptions, where they actually SAY that they use the existing Safari engine.
While it's cool that they're starting to release some competitive products on the App Store, I haven't found a need for a new browser yet. It'd be nice to play around with Opera on my iPhone, but I don't really see anything replacing Safari yet, since it's just so quick and renders pages so nicely. My experienced with Opera on other mobile phones hasn't been anywhere near similar yet.
I'm sure Apple will eventually change it's policies of what is allowed on the iPhone as Mobile OSX matures. I would imagine Apple was trying to keep the iPhone platform as stable as possible. I'm certain eventually the iPhone will be as open as OSX desktop. I can't imagine how Palm is going to handle the flood of new apps and associate problems on a new OS with it's meager resources of cash and manpower.
haha
nice picture :-)
The iPhone vs. Pre crap is starting already, eh?
As an iPod Touch owner, I'd absolutely welcome some browser competition. While Safari renders beautifully, it crashes more than any other mobile browser I've worked with. The simplest things like ordering a book on Borders.com over Wi-Fi become frustrating to the point of torture when you're randomly dumped back out to the main menu repeatedly.
As for Apple's policies, I don't see them letting Mobile OSX ever become open regardless of how much it matures. 'Taint the Apple way.
Hehe... you said...
Anyway, you're right. Apple will never embrace change that they don't have 100% control over.
I, too, get the Safari crashes and I hate it. I thought mac products were known for their stability. To give them some credit, I think it has more to do with the application running out of memory then the actual process crashing. They barely have enough memory on this thing.
yes opera is at the least equal to safari.. i put my touch pro next to an iphone.. i believe safari renders slightly faster but opera auto adjusts text when u zoom and is all the way configurable.. i changed my opera to tell websites its firefox on a windows xp machine so i dont get mobile sites.. And to the other guy palm may be almost dead but they are far from broke venture capitalists gave them a few hundred million recently.
"we wouldn't hold out hope for an iPhone edition of Mobile IE just yet"
and just why would you want to? i use Mobile IE and outside of mobile formatted sites, it's near useless. i personally love the WebKit based Iris Browser. i would use it as my default if it wouldnt lock up on my phone every time i leave the program and try to return to it.