Apple has released the new iOS 17.4 beta version for iPhone users which is for the first time coming in two options for different markets. The company is complying with the new European Union (EU) rules which forces Apple to open iOS to third-party app stores, third-party billing systems and more.
However, the EU rule also requires Apple to allow other web browsers to function as a standalone app, which means iPhone users in these regions will not have access to the web apps available on the home screen. Apple realises that making changes to accommodate other web engines could compromise its own security standards and to avoid those issues, the company has decided to remove progressive web apps from iOS 17.4 beta for the EU region.
Basically, Apple is hinting at the privacy nightmare it could face because of the unwanted access that web apps could gain from an iPhone user. The concerns also look at the possible intrusion of malicious web apps that could be used to access a phone’s camera, microphone or even gather their location data. Web apps are a crucial part of the mobile ecosystem and developers continue to invest in them for Android and iOS users.
Apple moving away from PWAs does sound like a big jolt to the community but the company feels the impact of its decision will be minimal. So, those using the iPhone in Europe with the iOS 17.4 beta version will be able to use these web apps via the Safari browser or any other browser that you can have as default on the iPhone.
Most of Apple’s concerns about opening iOS to other platforms is centred around security. Allowing iPhone users to sideload apps means it doesn’t have all the control on the kind of apps that people are installing. However, these changes are limited to the EU region, at least for now, so that should help the company monitor and filter out the bad apples.
Comments
0 comment