AfterDawn: News

Opera Mini blocked from iPhone App Store

Apple has come under criticism this week for their apparent blocking of the popular mobile browser Opera Mini from the iPhone App Store.

Opera chief Jon Stephenson von Tetzchner has said they have the alternative to Apple's Safari browser already developed but Apple's App Store guidelines will not let it through as it will compete directly with Safari.



When the iPhone SDK was released in March, it became clear that Apple would "specifically bars third-party interpreters that call on non-Apple frameworks and languages, which by definition would include Opera's web rendering engine. This would have left Opera Software converting software unlikely to be released in the near term."

The news marks at least the second time an App has been blocked for competing directly with Apple products. Last month a podcast download and playback utility called Podcaster was blocked because it apparently replicated iTunes. There is currently no Apple-based equivalent available.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 2 Nov 2008 0:16

• Previous article

• Standalone VCRs go out of production

• Next article

• DSi to hit NA and Europe in August 2009

• 9 comments

• c.trigger

  they haven't even submitted it yet from other rumors
  http://daringfireball.net/2008/11/opera_app_store

  2.11.2008 01:09 #1

• llongtheD

  Lets see, microsoft was sued for bundling internet explorer with windows (just bundling it.)They did not block use of any other browser. Sounds like apple is trying to stifle competition even more so than microsoft.

  2.11.2008 11:41 #2

• Hunt720

  If the app was downloadable via the opera website people with unlocked phones could still use the app. People do it all the time with other apps such as the various video recorders that the app store still lacks. If enough people unlock their phones to get restricted apps maybe apple will get off their high horse and either allow them or upgrade safari to support flash 9. I am interested to see how this goes.

  2.11.2008 13:26 #3

• ThePastor

  Wait, you mean that Apple wants you to only use their software? That's not like Apple at all! Apple is all about being open and accessable...
  
  Oh wait, I'm wrong...
  
  This is what you get with Apple products. Apple users should be used to it by now.

  3.11.2008 18:38 #4

• 20TONS

  This is exactly why I will never own any Apple products.

  4.11.2008 23:17 #5

• o0cynix0o

  This is why I Pwned my iPod.

  4.11.2008 23:46 #6

• varnull

  It's just one reason why apple never see my money... reason 2 is that I'm not a cappuccino drinking jazz listening t--t.
  

  
  
  Free open source software = made by end users who want an application to work. The flower of carnage-shura no hana..

  5.11.2008 00:42 #7

• hermes_vb

  Originally posted by ThePastor: This is what you get with Apple products. Apple users should be used to it by now.It's the new users who are finding out the hard way.

  7.11.2008 13:28 #8

• New (unverified)

  Originally posted by hermes_vb: Originally posted by ThePastor: This is what you get with Apple products. Apple users should be used to it by now. It's the new users who are finding out the hard way. Tell me about it!
  
  I'm beginning to leaning heavily towards jailbreaking my iphone... Apple will be the losers here because I pay for apps... but I really hate being told how much I can use something that I have paid for.
  
  I just pray I don't brick it.

  4.4.2010 05:12 #9