Apple might finally be eliminating iPhone's biggest limitation - The UpStream

Apple might finally be eliminating iPhone's biggest limitation

posted Sunday Feb 23, 2020 by Scott Ertz

Apple might finally be eliminating iPhone's biggest limitation

For anyone who has used a computing device other than iPhone or iPad at any time in the past few decades, there is one commonality - the ability to determine default apps for common tasks. The behavior is such an important piece of computing that, when Microsoft began to build their web browser, Internet Explorer, into Windows 98SE and beyond, Europe was afraid they were going to eliminate the ability to change the default browser option. That wasn't the plan, but it didn't stop worry, anger, and an anti-trust case.

Today, that anti-trust case has likely continued to have an effect on the industry. Almost all new platforms that have been created since have included the ability to set default web browser, email client, and more. The biggest exception to this rule is Apple's iOS and iPadOS. Owners of an iPhone or iPad are forced to use Safari as their web browser and Apple's email app as their default email. This is another example of Apple's attempt at owning a complete monopoly in its ecosystem. But that might finally be about to change.

According to Bloomberg News, iOS 14 will bring to an end that aspect of the company's monopoly. This move could possibly be the biggest change in Apple's policy of control since the inception of iOS, which issued in this new corporate philosophy. It might also be the most anticipated feature from Apple.

The ability to choose your own browser, email app, maps app, etc., are so commonly requested, that both Google and Microsoft have baked the ability into their own application ecosystems. If you use Outlook as your email client, which is very common, you can choose what apps will open from Outlook. Standard links can be opened in Safari or Edge, and location links can be opened in Apple Maps, Citymapper, Google Maps, or Waze. Google's applications offer similar settings, all for the same reason. But, it would be nice to know that, no matter where you open a link, it will open the way you want it to.

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