Comment by cromwellian
5 years ago
> Next you'll be telling me that pages should be able to use the camera
They already do have access to the camera through the getUserMedia APIs, and WebXR has Gaze Tracking. Even your iPhone allows camera access through the Web.
I am at least asked permission for camera use, as far as I know. Not so for the visibility API.
If gaze tracking or camera access is to be allowed without permission, I would consider that a gross violation of privacy.
Well many of the APIs Apple rejected asked for permission.
If asking permission is what it takes for Safari to implement something than they could suggest a modification with permissions.
Flat out rejecting everything comes across as Microsoft style aggression back when MS was actively seeking to kill open platforms in favor proprietary APIs.
Apple could even suggest tying permissions into the App Store and require web domains to be signed and approved by app stores for the permissions to work, but not presenting alternative proposals suggests they are not interested in making the Web better.
The whole App clips thing is kind of ludicrous because it’s a text book example (eg paying a parking meter) that the Web model excels at. The fact that they didn’t choose the web for that is telling. WeChat for example has deployed such mini apps for years in China to support interactions with vending machines, restaurants, etc by simply scanning a QR code. It works brilliantly and didn’t need an App Store.
But the argument there is also quite reasonable - the UX of popping up boxes for this stuff is terrible, it annoys people and they just start clicking "Yes" all the time or "no" all the time.
And this is because, while there clearly are good and valid web apps that use this functionality, the web is also a cesspit of abusers who will use any means they can to track, trace and infiltrate.
I don't know what the solution is, suffice to say I haven't really seen a good one yet, and until such time as one comes along I am happy using a browser that either lets me turn this stuff off in a blanket fashion or flat out doesn't include it.
Mildly lower friction on payment apps is not enough of a trade-off