According to a recent report, instead of Apple’s WebKit engine, Google’s Chromium team is testing the Blink browser engine on iOS devices.
The terms and conditions of the Apple App Store mandate that all software, including the current version of Google Chrome, use the WebKit engine. However, Chromium’s engineers are planning for when the business could employ the Blink engine that typically drives its browser in other places.
Apple’s iOS App Store Review Guidelines state, “Apps that browse the web must use the appropriate WebKit framework and WebKit Javascript.”
Specifically, “this experimental application will be used to measure graphics and input latencies by providing traces for analysis,” according to a Chromium bug report on the subject.
“Experimental only, not a launch bug for a shippable product,” the post says further.
“This is an experimental prototype that we are developing as part of an open-source project with the goal to understand certain aspects of performance on iOS. It will not be available to users and we’ll continue to abide by Apple’s policies,” a spokesperson told The Register.
Given that Apple continues to enforce its WebKit policy, it is unclear why Google is working on a project that uses Blink on iOS devices.
However, others have argued that due to pressure from the US government to open up platforms, along with other EU regulatory actions, meant consumers should be able to download programmes outside of their original shop environment; Apple may soon have to permit several business practices that it has previously denounced.
If this is the case, it’s feasible that a Chrome app powered by Blink will be approved, bringing it in line with the rest of Google’s products and giving it an advantage over rivals who will probably be tempted to use their default engines rather than Apple’s WebKit.
A representative for Google told Techradar, “We are creating this experimental prototype as a part of an open-source effort with the intention of better understanding specific areas of iOS performance. Users won’t be able to access it, and we’ll keep up with Apple’s rules.”
Apple’s rules have been a contentious point among competitors and the web development community. Critics have argued that Apple’s browser restrictions, which turn every iOS browser into a Safari clone, more or less, make web applications less capable and less attractive. It also steers developers toward writing native platform apps for iOS, over which Apple has gatekeeping and monetary powers.
The report comes amid the latest questioning of Apple’s authority from the US National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), which at the beginning of 2023, issued a report calling for changes to the mobile app ecosystem to promote competition.
As per The Register, “The NTIA report echoes concerns raised by other regulators like the UK Competition and Markets Authority, and competition authorities in Australia and Japan. What’s more, the European Digital Markets Act, which comes into effect next year, is expected to force Apple to allow third-party app stores and perhaps to alter its WebKit requirement.”