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Apple recently released iOS 17.4 beta to comply with the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) antitrust law, which forces the company to allow alternative app stores on iPhones. This update also brings some changes related to web browsers, but it also includes some bad news. Users in the EU who installed the beta version found that they could no longer install and run his web apps on their iPhones.
Web app is no longer available for iPhone users in the EU
From the beginning, Apple has allowed users to add websites to the iPhone home screen, making them available as web apps. Over the past few years, Apple has added many features to improve support for his web apps. For example, in iOS 16.4, PWAs can now use icon badges to deliver push notifications.
But all these improvements seem to have disappeared, at least in European countries.As the developer pointed out Maximiliano FiltmanThe iOS 17.4 beta will remove support for Progressive Web Apps (PWA) from the system for users in the EU.
Furtman initially thought that PWAs might not work in the iOS 17.4 beta due to a bug. However, with the release of iOS 17.4 Beta 2 earlier this week, the system will now display a warning informing users that his web app will “open in your default browser from now on.” Also, although he can add the website to his iPhone’s home screen, the website will only open in his user’s default web browser.
This has a huge impact on users. For example, all data stored in these web apps will be automatically deleted with updates. Websites will no longer be able to send push notifications to users.
iOS 17.4 and DMA
Apple has not yet commented on these changes, but they appear to be related to DMA. One of the requirements set out in the new EU law is that Apple must let developers create their web browsers with their own engines. Currently, all web browsers available for iOS must be based on Apple’s WebKit.
As a result, iOS 17.4 not only allows developers to release web browsers with alternative engines within the EU, but the system now asks users which web browser they would like by default. However, since web apps are also based on Safari and WebKit, Apple may have chosen to remove his PWA in the EU to avoid being accused of making further use of its own engine.
It remains to be seen whether Apple will come up with a workaround or whether PWAs will become a thing of the past for people living in the EU.
iOS 17.4 is scheduled to be generally available in the first week of March.
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