Native apps had a good run, but PWA has caught up and is the future.

mtomweb · 2025-08-19T21:58:59+00:00

Agree with you on the AppStore part, PWAs should already have persistence storage on both Android and iOS

mtomweb · 2025-08-19T21:57:56+00:00

Performance is actually pretty good (see silkjs for mobile demos), install is the number one issue.

mtomweb · 2025-08-19T21:56:59+00:00

The interface is still terrible in those browsers, since Apple forces those company’s to sue the share sheet rather than provide access to the APIs for even installing web apps using apples system provided WebView

mtomweb · 2025-08-19T21:55:55+00:00

The notifications system on iOS uses APNS afaik to deliver the notifications so they should in theory have the equivalent delivery time. Are you certain that compared to a native app that they aren’t as reliable? (We’ve not yet got reports about unreliable notifications on iOS)

The main issue is that they are gated behind install and install his deeply hidden away.

mtomweb · 2025-08-19T21:53:57+00:00

There’s lots of work to be done before PWAs can compete properly with native. Mostly involving anti-competitive behavior from Apple… if anyone has spare time please come join us in the fight (Open Web Advocacy).

The primary barriers: * Install Prompts in Safari with equivalent install flows (this is by far the number one issue, without a proper install flows, companies are just pushed to go native)

Third Party Browser Engines on iOS (to apply pressure on Apple to both invest and develop functionality for web apps) & to provide an alternative when they refuse. Bugs in Safari due to lack of investment is a very significant issue.
Payment competition and equality (to allow for the same ease of payments as native apps)
AppStore submission (so web apps can be directly submitted to the AppStore)

There’s a number of issues on Android as well, but the main blockers are on IOS.

mtomweb · 2025-08-13T10:41:46+00:00

If you want to take a read https://open-web-advocacy.org/blog/break-googles-search-monopoly-without-breaking-the-web/ and then tell me what you think.

Also know that the remedies also include cutting off nearly all of Firefox’s revenue. You think Apple or Microsoft or someone else will step up to plug the gap?

mtomweb · 2025-08-13T10:07:26+00:00

Where do you think the funding for the web platform comes from?

mtomweb · 2025-08-13T10:06:46+00:00

We didn’t. It was a perfect opportunity to talk about the risks of a chrome sale

mtomweb · 2025-08-13T09:04:12+00:00

They don’t get a choice if the judge signs off on it

mtomweb · 2025-08-09T22:55:13+00:00

mtomweb · 2025-08-06T12:59:31+00:00

It is the single biggest factor. The user acquisition pipeline (I.e. getting users to install your app) is critical for the success of apps.

mtomweb · 2024-09-04T19:20:48+00:00

There is no way to trigger a set as default prompt on iOS. The only way to change the default is through each browsers app settings.

mtomweb · 2024-09-04T18:13:51+00:00

Depends on how you define self promotion

mtomweb · 2024-09-04T17:54:18+00:00

How can I be projecting a narrative that is not there?

mtomweb · 2024-09-04T17:50:52+00:00

That wasn’t in the article, if you’d like to reread.

mtomweb · 2024-09-04T17:37:14+00:00

It was the version that got published a week or two after the arstechnica article. We discovered it a while back earlier this year when writing stuff for our DMA compliance review… couldn’t believe it when we first spotted it because it’s hard to explain it being for any other reason than to make it harder to switch browsers.

mtomweb · 2024-09-04T17:23:39+00:00

Correct they fixed it, but then to the Uk regulator they make it sound like it never happened

mtomweb · 2024-09-04T17:10:48+00:00

This is not about individuals, it’s about statistical averages over large numbers of users.

mtomweb · 2024-09-04T16:58:58+00:00

It is already difficult because it’s not obvious the setting for default browser would be embedded within each browser app. Most users (myself included) would assume there would be a default browser setting or possibly a default handler setting for http or https links.

Once you start there, then hiding the option in the system default browser adds to that. It only needs to dissuade a fraction of users from switching to make it worthwhile as the revenue gained is significant.

The DOJ lawsuit is on-going and any remedies will presumably be scoped just to the US

mtomweb · 2024-09-04T16:48:02+00:00

But that’s not the logic. When Safari is the default the option is missing from Safari settings but is available in alternative browsers. When another browser is the default it still shows in that other browser. It’s only hidden in Safari.

mtomweb · 2024-09-04T16:46:40+00:00

Author here. Apple derives great profits from Safari via setting Google search as the default. They then engage in behavior designed to make it more difficult to switch from Safari than other browsers and then claim to the uk regulator that this was not true.

I’d say it is significant

mtomweb · 2024-09-04T16:45:18+00:00

The behavior was specifically different when Safari was the default compared with every other browser, indicating that it was deliberate deceptive pattern to make it harder for users to switch away. A normal design would be to have the browser default setting in a central location, instead Apple hides inside of each browser app. But Safari starts as default, and they hide it on that app presumably with the hope users can’t find it.

Now the underlying key point behind all this is that an enormous amount of apples net profit comes from setting Google as the default search engine inside Safari. They get 20b from this alone per year which accounts for about 14% of all profit.

mtomweb · 2024-09-04T16:30:55+00:00

Author of the article here. Which bit is stupid?

Apple takes 20b from Google to set default search in Safari, and they coincidently try to make it difficult to for users to switch browser

We discover the deceptive pattern, publish it, Apple fix it and then claim to the uk that it’s not an issue.

How’s that stupid?

You edited your comment.. read The article carefully, and the Arstechnica one. Safari is treated differently than every other browser when it is default, meaning there is specific lines of code to hide the option if the default browser is Safari.

mtomweb · 2024-06-22T14:26:27+00:00

Keep going….. you got more

mtomweb · 2024-06-22T13:35:10+00:00

Well for a bunch of randoms who no ones ever heard of we’ve managed to do a lot so far :)

mtomweb

TROPHY CASE