Jeff WI really don’t understand why Apple is needlessly restricting the default browser selection in the EU. They have to offer browser choice, which is good - so allow any “browser” app installed to be selected. That’s the way it works on a Mac & most computers. (1/3)
Instead, Apple for some reason only allows the 13 (?) most downloaded “browsers” with over a certain number of DLs, and is strangely specific to each country. France’s list may be different than Germany. This makes zero sense to me. Why restrict to 13? What about new, startup browsers? What about a browser that’s popular in another country? Say you are Japanese living in France, and want to install a really popular browser from Japan, but which has very limited traction in France? (2/3)
Obviously this restricts choice and competition, and is probably not DMA compliant. For example, a new browser may never be able to make it into the chosen thirteen. I don’t even see how this could help Apple’s profit or business either. So why bother? All the wasted engineering efforts and needless scrutiny on something completely unnecessary like this when there are so many bugs. (3/3)
I’ve been following Apple long enough to know everything Apple does is for a reason, and generally like with most companies, that reason is for their bottom line or to protect some perceived self interest.
I am having trouble figuring out what that could be in this specific browser case though. (1/3)
Their self-interest here is to protect Safari or revenue streams. This “thirteen” choice, and varying that by country, does neither. So what is the point? It’s adding needless complexity and engineering effort (and inviting DMA scrutiny) to a simple default browser choice that’s already been on Macs for ever now. (2/3)
Which raises the question: Why is Apple so opposed to handling things on iOS the same way it handles them on Mac, when it works fine on Mac. Again, I would say “revenue stream.” But when it doesn’t affect that, why? This isn’t about lock-in in this case. (3/3)
Bigger Insights@jwaddell This is just how Apple operates. We would expect nothing less from them.