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Comment by TechNewb | Hacker News Reader

Chrome for iOS please.

Apple doesn't allow applications to provide their own runtimes:

“3.3.2 An Application may not download or install executable code. Interpreted code may only be used in an Application if all scripts, code and interpreters are packaged in the Application and not downloaded. The only exception to the foregoing is scripts and code downloaded and run by Apple’s built-in WebKit framework.”

That's not very precise. Legally, Apple doesn't allow to use iOS SDK, i.e. to build such applications. If you manage somehow to build it any other way (not using Apple's SDK), this restriction has no meaning, and while Apple could reject such kind of software from their app store, you could deploy it to alternatives, like Cydia, and still be legal, since you didn't violate any licenses.

I.e. for browsers makers the concern is not that they'll be rejected from the app store, but that they can't even legally build them with the Apple's SDK.

"The App Store guidelines only apply to the App Store", while a true statement, is a pretty useless one.

The rule above is not from the App Store guidelines, but from the SDK license. I.e. even if you use alternative app store without restrictions (Cydia), but build a browser with Apple iOS SDK - it's still illegal, and that's why major browsers like Firefox wouldn't do it.

I'd say it's a very ugly practice, to use development tools license to ban competition. It's like saying buying this chisel you are bound to only carve logos of the chisel making company.

For the same reason there's no Firefox for iOS. Enjoy your walled garden.

I think it will be a matter of time until the iOS platform (3-5 years) is more akin to that of the Mac platform, where there is a walled garden app store, and an outside ecosystem as well. Buying from the walled garden will have many advantages, so it will thrive, but having the ability to buy apps from other locations will enable the platform to also stay competitive.

No luck. Just don't use iOS.

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