Hacker News Reader

Comment by macspoofing | Hacker News Reader

Dare I dream that iOS will finally get an alternative browser rendering engine? Or more precisely, would Mozilla and Google finally be allowed to release their browsers on iOS?

View on HN

What you really want is the ability to sideload apps without the App Store. Then you'd get your alternative browser rendering engine as well as tons of other useful apps that will never be available. Apple can do their best to make it difficult and warn users of the risks but it should be possible.

> What you really want is the ability to sideload apps without the App Store

Not really. The curation and verification of the App Store is a feature. I don’t want to have to download a must-have sideloaded Google app for work that snuzzles up all my data to Mountain View.

> snuzzles

This word is a treat, thanks :D

We wouldn't have had the insane progress when it comes to software and hardware if everything was locked down from the beginning as it is with Apple.

There are multiple ways to allow sideloading without your grandpa getting infected.

> if everything was locked down from the beginning as it is with Apple

Everything isn’t. Just one device among many.

Then don't, you still have the option to get everything from the App Store.

If not using the App Store is an option, then a developer could just not use it and you could be forced to get an app from an insecure place. That defeats the purpose of the App Store.

> That defeats the purpose of the App Store.

It puts pressure on the App Store to not be so restrictive and greedy with royalties.

You still have the option of not using that app.

Developers will want to use the app store because they'll want to reach a broad userbase, just like on Android with the play store. (The Play Store has lots of scummy apps, but that's down to Google doing an awful curation job.)

On Android, It can install apps from anywhere if user set a config. But most apps are still on Google Play Store so rarely need to install app from external sites/apps. I expect similar thing happens if Apple allows it.

This exists, albeit limited: https://altstore.io/

I'd be satisfied with just being able to set a default browser at the very least.

I hope they stay the same, and Apple users have to live with the consequences of buying Apple products.

(My iPhone users have to use a web app because I refuse to give Apple money)

or rather than being bitter, having apple open up to other browser engines will open the way to your users to get better experience from your own web app as well.

Let me guess you use Arch or Gentoo.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com