Apple final yr launched the potential for third-party net browsers so as to add net apps to the iOS House Display, a characteristic that was beforehand unique to Safari. Nevertheless, these net apps nonetheless rely on Apple’s WebKit. However Apple is altering that with iOS 18.2 – a minimum of for a particular group of customers.
Updates for third-party browsers and net apps on iOS
With the discharge of the primary beta of iOS 18.2 to builders on Wednesday, Apple has revealed documentation for a brand new API that can let third-party browsers add net apps to the iPhone House Display utilizing their very own customized engine. Which means that the complete net app expertise will run utilizing the identical engine because the browser by which it was added.
After all, there’s a catch. At the moment, solely net browsers distributed within the EU can have a customized engine. In the remainder of the world, Apple nonetheless requires net browsers for iPhone and iPad to make use of Safari’s WebKit. Unsurprisingly, the brand new API for net apps can also be solely out there within the EU.
Apparently, Apple even thought of eradicating assist for net apps on the House Display of iOS gadgets within the EU. Nevertheless, the EU fee stated it could examine such a choice, which led Apple to backtrack and hold net apps within the EU.
On a associated observe, iOS 18.2 additionally provides a new API that lets builders combine Apple Intelligence Writing Instruments into apps with customized textual content engines. At the moment, Writing Instruments are solely out there in apps that use the system’s default textual content engine.
Extra about iOS 18.2
iOS 18.2 brings further Apple Intelligence options. This consists of Picture Playground, Genmoji, ChatGPT integration, and Visible Seek for iPhone 16 fashions.
For now, iOS 18.2 beta is just out there for gadgets appropriate with Apple Intelligence. Which means iPhone 15 Professional or later and M1 iPads or later. After all, the replace will ultimately be out there for different gadgets too. Apple beforehand advised that iOS 18.2 shall be launched to the general public in December.
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