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Following yesterday's Gmail update that gave users the option to open links directly in apps like YouTube, Chrome, and Safari, Google has released a blog post detailing Chrome integration tools for iOS developers.
With the iOS Links functionality, developers can give users the option to open a link in Chrome rather than Safari. In addition to opening a link in Chrome, developers are also given a dedicated back button within the browser, which will return users to the original app.
As an iOS app developer, when your users want to access web content, you currently have two options: create your own in-app web browser frame, or send users away from your app to a browser.
With Chrome's OpenInChromeController class with x-callback, users can open a web page in Chrome and then return to your app with just one tap.
Chrome's integration tools for developers have existed for several months, but with the release of its own app that supports the opening of links in Chrome, Google is reminding developers about the available functionality.
Apple prevents third party browsers like Chrome from being set as the default iOS browsing option, which has prompted Google to create a workaround that provides a Google-centric experience on Apple's operating system.
Top Rated Comments
(View all)My first thought is. why? The WebKit web browser frame is, like, butt simple (2 lines of code), and it can load web pages from an external URL just fine (one line of code). Works perfectly. Simply bizarre why I would want to do this. The Chrome browser is not going to be faster than the WebKit plug in (slower, actually)...
What if you want a reload button? Forward and back buttons? Tabs? History?
At some point you realize you want a browser, not just a web view. Rather than roll your own integrated browser in your app, you could just use Chrome now, and when the user presses back enough times they'll end up back in your app. Sounds neat to me.
I would guess most people do use safari on their Mac.
I tried to find some official stats however nobody seems to be combining Browser + OS right now so theres no way of really knowing. Given Chrome's current marketshare I'm not so sure Safari is actually the most widely used OS X browser.
I really dont know how Apple get away with not allowing users to change default browser. Cant see the difference with what they are doing now and what Microsoft did with IE.
Agreed. Microsoft was sued for this
Hopefully iOS 7 let's users decide what they want or class action lawsuit