7 ms·

Also wondering, since to be truly competitive (on iOS) developers would need access to APIs they can't currently use.

by iansinnott 2y ago

KerrAvon 2y ago
Like what?
- fragmede 2y ago
  It's rather dated, but https://github.com/nst/iOS-Runtime-Headers https://github.com/nst/iOS-Runtime-Headers
- idle_zealot 2y ago
  JIT code execution, NFC access, ability to use microphone and webcam while multi-tasking, to name the ones I've encountered.
  - teaearlgraycold 2y ago
    Pretty sure normal apps can use the mic when multitasking
    - reaperducer 2y ago
      Yep. The Cornell University bird identification app listens for birds just fine while the user is doing something else.
    - idle_zealot 2y ago
      It's specifically the camera feed that cannot be used while doing split view or other multitasking modes on the iPad, unless the app has Apple's special blessing. This very clearly puts any new or small video chatting apps at a disadvantage compared to incumbents.
  - al_borland 2y ago
    As a user, I don't want any apps to have direct access to sensing hardware without going through Apple's APIs that control prompt for access and respect user settings.
    - idle_zealot 2y ago
      That's fine. I sure hope nobody is asking for apps to be able to ignore the user's intent. Currently, there is no way for a user to grant applications these permissions, only Apple can bless apps with them.
    - skzv 2y ago
      Of course, but that's not the issue that's being described here. The issue is 1st party APIs that only Apple or Google have access to, that 3rd party apps can't use, regardless of whether the use would like to grant them permission.
      - maccard 2y ago
        So apple are required to offer a stable API for everything their device can possibly do, from the get go?
        glitchdout 2y ago
        Yes. Apple’s own apps should have no advantages over third-party apps.
        LexGray 2y ago
        Is it that big an advantage to test APIs that are still in beta and may change at any time? With their built in apps they can fix both pieces at once, but if they started breaking large numbers of apps every update I do not think developers would be happy.
        vel0city 2y ago
        Apple already has the API for it, they use it all the time themselves. They just lock out a lot of the features for third party developers.
  - bena 2y ago
    NFC is accessible through the API
- blackeyeblitzar 2y ago
  Anything you’d be able to access on a general computing device. For example the Windows API.
- doctorpangloss 2y ago
  Having the same APIs that Photos uses being accessible from any app on any platform would be as big of a leap in photography as the cellphone was. Allowing people to choose an Apple News backend would save the news industry. Apple’s P2P payments are a huge flop. Let any vendor do it. Don’t even get me started on the App Store. Come to think of it, almost every Apple app I use nowadays either sucks or is absolutely terrible. Notes might be the only thing I use that I would still choose to use despite alternatives, everything else is compulsory (or someone else’s compulsory thing). Like fuck Gmail for not blocking Promotions. So it’s all a win for consumers and producers alike.
- ok_dad 2y ago
  The ability to sync data in the background with the screen off is one. For example, Google Photos and Spotify require the screen on and app open to sync, while the Apple apps sync anytime they need to.

Also wondering, since to be truly competitive (on iOS) developers would need access to APIs they can't currently use.

KerrAvon 2y ago

Like what?

fragmede 2y ago
It's rather dated, but https://github.com/nst/iOS-Runtime-Headers https://github.com/nst/iOS-Runtime-Headers
idle_zealot 2y ago
JIT code execution, NFC access, ability to use microphone and webcam while multi-tasking, to name the ones I've encountered.
- teaearlgraycold 2y ago
  Pretty sure normal apps can use the mic when multitasking
  - reaperducer 2y ago
    Yep. The Cornell University bird identification app listens for birds just fine while the user is doing something else.
  - idle_zealot 2y ago
    It's specifically the camera feed that cannot be used while doing split view or other multitasking modes on the iPad, unless the app has Apple's special blessing. This very clearly puts any new or small video chatting apps at a disadvantage compared to incumbents.
- al_borland 2y ago
  As a user, I don't want any apps to have direct access to sensing hardware without going through Apple's APIs that control prompt for access and respect user settings.
  - idle_zealot 2y ago
    That's fine. I sure hope nobody is asking for apps to be able to ignore the user's intent. Currently, there is no way for a user to grant applications these permissions, only Apple can bless apps with them.
  - skzv 2y ago
    Of course, but that's not the issue that's being described here. The issue is 1st party APIs that only Apple or Google have access to, that 3rd party apps can't use, regardless of whether the use would like to grant them permission.
    - maccard 2y ago
      So apple are required to offer a stable API for everything their device can possibly do, from the get go?
      - glitchdout 2y ago
        Yes. Apple’s own apps should have no advantages over third-party apps.
        LexGray 2y ago
        Is it that big an advantage to test APIs that are still in beta and may change at any time? With their built in apps they can fix both pieces at once, but if they started breaking large numbers of apps every update I do not think developers would be happy.
      - vel0city 2y ago
        Apple already has the API for it, they use it all the time themselves. They just lock out a lot of the features for third party developers.
- bena 2y ago
  NFC is accessible through the API
blackeyeblitzar 2y ago
Anything you’d be able to access on a general computing device. For example the Windows API.
doctorpangloss 2y ago
Having the same APIs that Photos uses being accessible from any app on any platform would be as big of a leap in photography as the cellphone was. Allowing people to choose an Apple News backend would save the news industry. Apple’s P2P payments are a huge flop. Let any vendor do it. Don’t even get me started on the App Store. Come to think of it, almost every Apple app I use nowadays either sucks or is absolutely terrible. Notes might be the only thing I use that I would still choose to use despite alternatives, everything else is compulsory (or someone else’s compulsory thing). Like fuck Gmail for not blocking Promotions. So it’s all a win for consumers and producers alike.
ok_dad 2y ago
The ability to sync data in the background with the screen off is one. For example, Google Photos and Spotify require the screen on and app open to sync, while the Apple apps sync anytime they need to.