Apple has reversed its plans to limit entry to sure net apps within the EU
Just a few days after the EU announced it would investigate Apple’s plans to limit entry to sure net apps that circumvent its App Retailer, the tech firm is now reversing that plan of action. In an replace to a developer help web page, as reported by 9to5Mac, Apple says it should “proceed to supply the prevailing House Display screen net apps functionality within the EU” in iOS 17.4.
Apple maintains that dwelling display screen apps will nonetheless have to be utilized by its personal Safari engine, WebKit. Any apps downloaded from third-party browsers will probably not seem on the house display screen and is probably not supported by their very own engines. In line with Apple, performance ought to return when customers replace to iOS 17.4 in early March.
Apple claimed that the choice to limit entry to net apps (also referred to as PWAs) was in response to the Digital Markets Act (DMA). PWAs enable corporations to develop apps accessible as webpages, showing as an icon on a cell consumer’s dwelling display screen. Subsequently, These could be downloaded with out accessing conventional app shops, which Apple reasoned that non-Safari browsers may pose unacceptable safety and privateness dangers beneath the DMA.
Apple vs the EU
This isn’t the primary time that Apple has gone up against the EU. Up to now, the corporate has resisted laws corresponding to common chargers and different digital market laws.
On this case, Apple has acknowledged that it’s reversing the choice after it “acquired requests” to proceed supporting the function, experiences the Verge. Whereas it’s unclear the place these requests got here from, Apple’s assertion that it could drop net apps drew criticism from builders and customers alike. For instance, the nonprofit group Open Internet Advocacy wrote an open letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook in regard to the transfer.
Featured picture: Unsplash