At some point is there a risk that Apple may also start to ban the web browser, despite that it's under strict control on IOS?
Apple/Google/Platform Owner will always do what's right for them, not the customer, and not the developer, for example banning Amazon from selling books in their kindle app, not allowing competing browsers (they recognise the power of the web as a platform), not allowing competing sales mechanisms (where they don't get a cut), and here not allowing developers to update their apps except through the store mechanism. I have some sympathy with Apple here, and see why they're doing it (they have to control what software is installed for security reasons as well as platform protection), but this is all about control over what you install on your own device. Sometimes their actions will be in the best interests of customers, even if not the best interests of developers, but most of the time their actions are simply aimed at preserving their control of the platform and control of the money flowing through it.
The web is the one exception to this rule which works across all platforms and devices (because it is so dumb and simple), and has survived attempts to corral it to a walled-in commercial offering remarkably well.
it is like to say that GM is completely withing their rights to restrict where you can drive your GM car. Mind you, that is coming in pretty near future too - giving all the computerization/connectivity/self-driving of the cars which would make the cars into GM's "application platform" with DMCA protecting such a platform too like it protects Apple/Google/FB/etc...
i wonder whether you're intentionally skipped that part or just don't know that in case of non-jailbroken iPhone the "GM dealers" is the only way to get "aftermarket accessories". There is no "if they want to sell their products through", instead there is "if they want to sell their products at all".
Or, try making a Photoshop clone, CAD software or similar without being on someone else's platform. Oops.
"it don't work"
:)
as for video games, yes you'll be beholden to the platforms you build it under. this is why I say to devs, always build it cross platform!
Or is the right challenge "make a game for PC that isn't in the microsoft app store"? Which is in fact no hindrance at all.
It's not really "someone else's platform" just by using someone's software. They have to be in control.
Reject this naive approach to reality. No, we will not disregard Tim Berners-Lee's role, timing, or place in history. We will not pretend that Cupertino should ignore their responsibility to prevent arbitrary code execution on one of the most widely deployed platforms on the planet. If anything, we celebrate that despite Apple being a giant target for quite a bit of criticism these days (some deserved, some not), for the most part, people on this thread recognize what a giant, unacceptable vulnerability Rollout.io is.
Tech must advance beyond adversarial, animus-based, abrasive reactions to other operating systems, ecosystems, and the like. No time like the present and no better opportunity than some ignorant HN strawman.
Imagine the kerfuffle if Google had Chrome on iOS. 2% of "PC" users complain of Chrome hitting their battery hard on macOS. iOS has a much bigger market share.
Competition is healthy, I agree. But sometimes the best interest of the vendor and the users don't align, and I'm more confident Apple is prioritizing battery life and performance over other things, while Google will prioritize those other things (like ads and data collection). I can't imagine them allowing adblockers on iOS (exactly as they don't on Android, afaik)
It would be possible to build a browser without JavaScript though.