23 votes

Introducing Vivaldi on iOS

12 comments

  1. [5]
    JXM
    Link
    The issue with iOS browsers is that they all use the same rendering engine (Apple’s built in WebKit implementation). That means that all browsers are basically just different front ends for the...

    The issue with iOS browsers is that they all use the same rendering engine (Apple’s built in WebKit implementation). That means that all browsers are basically just different front ends for the same backend.

    But it does look like Vivaldi brought over most of their headline features from the desktop, which is great. Not quite sure how I feel about the tab interface on iOS, but I really like the iPad design.

    There was talk last year of Apple allowing third party rendering engines, but it doesn’t look like anything has come of it yet.

    15 votes
    1. Akir
      Link Parent
      I'm hoping the change happens soon. The minute it happens, I'm putting Firefox back on my phone.

      I'm hoping the change happens soon. The minute it happens, I'm putting Firefox back on my phone.

      8 votes
    2. [2]
      vczf
      Link Parent
      That frontend makes a big difference though. On mobile, it's hard for me to go back to Firefox because Vivaldi's tab groups are ergonomic. I'm not sure how much I really care about the rendering...

      That frontend makes a big difference though. On mobile, it's hard for me to go back to Firefox because Vivaldi's tab groups are ergonomic.

      I'm not sure how much I really care about the rendering engines anymore, besides not wanting any one org to control web standards. To that extent, Apple insisting on Safari support serves that purpose.

      3 votes
      1. donn
        Link Parent
        It's weird. Like, Apple being able to dictate an engine for an entire platform is objectively just anticompetitive. But without it, the web would be a near-Chromium monoculture.

        It's weird. Like, Apple being able to dictate an engine for an entire platform is objectively just anticompetitive. But without it, the web would be a near-Chromium monoculture.

        12 votes
    3. actionscripted
      Link Parent
      I mean that’s the web nowadays: Blink/V8 or WebKit/JavaScriptCore. And Blink came from WebKit. Edge, Chrome, Vivaldi, Opera are all Blink/V8. Safari is WebKit/JavaScriptCore. Closest to those two...

      That means that all browsers are basically just different front ends for the same backend.

      I mean that’s the web nowadays: Blink/V8 or WebKit/JavaScriptCore. And Blink came from WebKit.

      Edge, Chrome, Vivaldi, Opera are all Blink/V8. Safari is WebKit/JavaScriptCore. Closest to those two would be Gecko/SpiderMonkey but use of Firefox is super low.

      All the major browsers are one of two cores with their frameworks and UI/UX being the major difference.

      It would be nice to have engine freedom on iOS but nowadays the differences for most use cases are negligible.


      Also even if it limits iOS freedoms I’m glad to have Apple keeping WebKit/JSC going. Don’t let Google power all of the major browsers (just…most of them. Even Firefox, financially.)

      Also also: use Firefox. Or anything that isn’t Google powered. Whenever you can.

      3 votes
  2. romeoblade
    Link
    Awesome, Vivaldi has been my desktop browser of choice since it was in beta.

    Awesome, Vivaldi has been my desktop browser of choice since it was in beta.

    3 votes
  3. [2]
    Gramage
    Link
    The only thing I care about is if there will be a fully functional adblock feature or plugin available. Mobile browsing is terrible without one and it's the one thing I consider a major downside...

    The only thing I care about is if there will be a fully functional adblock feature or plugin available. Mobile browsing is terrible without one and it's the one thing I consider a major downside after switching from Android a few months ago.

    2 votes
    1. anbe
      Link Parent
      I use the AdGuard app with Safari, it works very well. Runs in the background and blocks almost all ads in Safari.

      I use the AdGuard app with Safari, it works very well. Runs in the background and blocks almost all ads in Safari.

      2 votes
  4. vczf
    Link
    Vivaldi is my most used app on Android. I'm contemplating switching to iOS if my current Motorola becomes unusable, and this is a significant weight on that balance.

    Vivaldi is my most used app on Android. I'm contemplating switching to iOS if my current Motorola becomes unusable, and this is a significant weight on that balance.

    1 vote
  5. Nijuu
    Link
    Vivaldi is great on android or desktop.Its the same devs who originally made Opera a success (up to version 12.x - anything after than used a different engine - at that pointOpera by bought by a...

    Vivaldi is great on android or desktop.Its the same devs who originally made Opera a success (up to version 12.x - anything after than used a different engine - at that pointOpera by bought by a 3rd party who basically fcked it up imho).

  6. [2]
    Fishtail_Parka
    Link
    Hi Safari web browser app can display JPEG-XL images with iOS17. Maybe Brave and Chrome too with iOS17. JPEG-XL Test Page Does Vivaldi display JPEG-XL images with iOS17?

    Hi
    Safari web browser app can display JPEG-XL images with iOS17.
    Maybe Brave and Chrome too with iOS17.
    JPEG-XL Test Page

    Does Vivaldi display JPEG-XL images with iOS17?

    1. Muffin
      Link Parent
      Yes. The animation doesn’t play on the last example though.

      Yes. The animation doesn’t play on the last example though.

      2 votes