When the Digital Markets Act (DMA) came into force in the European Union, Apple had to accede to iOS to a number of changes. Developers in the EU can now create for iPhone and their own web browsers with their own rendering engine. But even after a year, none of the major browsers has released their "EU version". Why? In an exclusive interview for 9to5Mac this was explained by Opera's product manager for iOS Jona Bolin. According to him Apple The changes only met the basic regulatory requirements, but the environment for third parties remains severely limited.
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Opera admits it welcomes some elements of the new system. For example, the ability to choose a default browser when setting up a new iPhone has increased downloads of alternative apps and helped users better understand the options available. But the fundamental problem, according to Bolin, remains that Apple It did allow for custom browser cores, but the way it did it made it completely impossible to deploy them in real life. Developers can't automatically migrate users from an old version of the app to a new one. They would have to maintain two separate versions for the EU and the rest of the world, which is expensive and risky.
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"You have to play by their rules. And even if you adapt, it still limits you. It's like you're being Apple "he didn't believe it," says Bolin. The opera calls Appleto open up the possibility of using custom kernels outside the EU. If that is not possible, it should at least allow the development and distribution of several versions of the application, between which the user could choose. Bolin believes that global pressure from regulatory authorities willonec will make Apple open iOS truly to the fullest. Until then, Opera wants to bring new features to users within the current capabilities. Opera for iOS today offers the Aria AI assistant, built-in VPN, content blocking, and system support widgetand custom icons. The browser is free and emphasizes privacy, which is also related to its headquarters in Norway, where strict data protection rules apply.
