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voordelen | open platform
voordelen | open platform

Browser engine wars – Part 3 – iOS open platform benefits

The news that Google and Mozilla are working on their own engines for iOS was the motivation for this series of blogs. In the previous two blogs, we provided background material on browser engines and explained the current state of browser engines on iOS and the impact of Apple’s monopoly. Our third and final blog in this series examines the potential benefits of introducing an open platform and genuine competition on iOS. We also explain why web developers – including BSL – think this is a positive development.

More browser features on iOS

BSL and many other developers believe Apple’s WebKit engine lags behind Google’s and Mozilla’s engines, limiting the possibilities for developers compared to other more open platforms. Unfortunately, all iOS developers, including the developers of Firefox and Chrome browsers on iOS, must use WebKit for rendering web content. However, if and when other browser engines become available on iOS, users will be able to switch to a browser with more features if they wish.

A good example is the push notification feature, Web Push. This feature allows websites to push notifications to users. So, for example, a calendar web app can notify users of an upcoming appointment or milestone. All browsers have supported this feature on all platforms since about 2016, except for WebKit. This means that, on iOS, not a single browser was able to support Web Push..

Is this important? In the UK, over 50% of mobile users are iOS users. Unfortunately, the absence of Web Push support on iOS means that calendar web apps can’t send notifications to these users, even though this is a crucial feature for a calendar! As a result, calendar web apps will lose out on iOS to native apps that can send and display reminders.

open platform

Source: StatCounter Global Stats – Device Vendor Market Share

Fortunately, Apple is about to implement Web Push in their browser engine – after resisting for more than seven years. But if more browser engines had been available on iOS as part of an open platform, users could have switched to a browser that already supported this feature long ago. Moreover, with more browser engine choices, it is not Apple but the user who decides which features they need.

An open platform encourages improved web standards

Browsers can attract users by supporting as many popular features as possible. And this battle between browsers to attract users will benefit the evolution of Web standards. We believe that if the WebKit engine faces competition from Blink (Google) and Gecko (from Mozilla), Apple will need to put more effort into further developing its WebKit engine to keep Safari users satisfied. They will have to catch up with their competitors, fix bugs, implement features already available from other browsers, and possibly introduce new features.

We are already seeing this happen. With all the attention from regulators and supervisors, Apple seems aware that they must catch up with their competitors. For example, the WebKit development team has hired more people over the past two years, and Apple has fixed many bugs after years of silence. In addition, features available for years in other browsers, such as Web Push, will soon be supported. Even more surprisingly, Interop 2022, a dashboard showing how well browsers support a subset of Web features, indicates that Safari now outperforms Chrome and Firefox!

So Apple seems to want to prove itself again. And that has worked out well in the past. For example, at the time of the iPhone’s introduction, Apple led the way with WebKit and Safari. WebKit had something to prove at the time: that you could run a full desktop browser on an iPhone and didn’t need plugins. As a result, the team initiated many of the HTML5 features we now take for granted. Apple led the way in abandoning any need for plugins such as Flash for video and animation playback.

As a result of their investment in WebKit, driven in part by the possibility of competition, we can expect – and hope – that Apple may once again become one of the leading forces behind improving Web standards.

An open platform offers a better user experience

In conclusion, we believe the potential benefits of opening up iOS to multiple browser engines are twofold.

  • On the one hand, there will be direct benefits for iOS users, who will be able to switch to another browser because it supports features that are important to them. In that case, the proportion of users with access to new features will increase.
  • On the other hand, the competition will stimulate Apple to support new features more rapidly with WebKit, meaning that the set of features common to all browsers will become more extensive. So, for example, developers of web apps such as a calendar can assume they can send notifications to all users without the need for them to switch browsers just to use all their calendar app features.

As a result, both the lower and upper limits of browser performance will improve, benefiting all end users – especially those using iOS devices!

Want to learn more about web apps, native apps, and what best suits your business? Then please get in touch with us!

The benefits of long-term partnerships

The benefits of long-term partnerships

NBD Biblion offers personalised book and media title recommendations to schools and libraries, and supplies their clients with the titles they select. BSL has had a long-term partnership with NBD Biblion for more than twenty years, delivering development teams, technical advice, and support.

ChatGPT for business information analysis

ChatGPT for business information analysis

After the initial enthusiastic response to the introduction of ChatGPT and AI, attention switched to the unreliability of many ChatGPT answers. However, using Azure OpenAI (ChatGPT) and Cognitive Search with reliable data, we can deliver reliable, high-quality business information in response to natural language queries.

Browser engine wars – Part 2 – The impact of Apple’s iOS monopoly

Browser engine wars – Part 2 – The impact of Apple’s iOS monopoly

The Apple iOS monopoly means that every app on iOS – including browsers from Apple’s competitors – must use WebKit to display web content. While it’s not uncommon for browser developers to use a third-party engine, they can usually control which engine features they use in their browser and – if needed – add custom features.

Browser engine wars – Part 1 – How did we get here?

Browser engine wars – Part 1 – How did we get here?

The Register recently reported that Google is working on an iOS version of Chromium. A few days later, a second article claimed that Mozilla is working on an iOS version of Gecko, Firefox’s browser engine. Both reports suggest that the Apple browser engine on iOS, WebKit, is in danger of losing its monopoly.

Donation on behalf of earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria

Donation on behalf of earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria

On Monday, 6 February, several powerful earthquakes and aftershocks hit Turkey and Syria. This disaster affects as many as 23 million people, including many who are already in desperate need due to the conflict in Syria. If possible, please join us in making a donation on the Giro555 website.

WordPress and page-builders such as Divi and Elementor

WordPress and page-builders such as Divi and Elementor

For building websites on behalf of clients, we often use WordPress together with page-builders, making it easy to prototype and develop modern, responsive websites. With page-builders such as Divi and Elementor, you can easily and quickly design and build pages to match almost any design.

2022 and the Bright Side of Life

2022 and the Bright Side of Life

Taking the time to reflect regularly on the things we are grateful for at the Bright Side can help shift our perspective to focus on the positive aspects of our work. So, here are the things for which I’m grateful in 2022.

SEO benefits, and the power of good-quality content

SEO benefits, and the power of good-quality content

Many business owners still think their websites are merely visiting cards. Their “go-to” expression is: “our clients/audience already know where to find us…”. This may be true, but optimizing your website will reach new clients and audiences.

New Keylane Careers website

New Keylane Careers website

Keylane asked BSL to help design and build a new Careers website. The main aim is to increase the number of visitors by improving the organic search performance. To achieve this, we’re introducing a new design and adding blogs.

Cloud provider migration: What are the benefits?

Cloud provider migration: What are the benefits?

The focus of Cloud computing is to improve the efficiency of IT services. By choosing a cloud-based solution, organisations can stay up-to-date with technology innovations and benefit from higher scalability, lower expenses, and enhanced security.

A new website for BoekWijzer

A new website for BoekWijzer

We’ve completely revamped the BoekWijzer website! The website was built to support the BoekWijzer app, the mobile guide to the world of Dutch literature. Using the app, you can quickly and easily stay up to date with the latest literary news.

New developer / web designer at BSL

New developer / web designer at BSL

If you have any questions about your website or web design in general, then Patrick van Bennekom is ready to help you five days a week at BSL. Patrick helps to design and create websites and apps for our customers, including the design of logos and house styles to deliver a professional end product.

Migrating to the Cloud, benefits and opportunities

Migrating to the Cloud, benefits and opportunities

Several of our clients are migrating to the Cloud, and some that aren’t yet ready for this step are reviewing their legacy systems, intending to migrate to the Cloud in the future. We’ve recently completed two migrations on behalf of multinationals, and our experience has taught us that a direct approach (simply redeploying existing databases and applications on virtual machines) is not always the best route…

Beleev: Controlled Multisensory Environments

Beleev: Controlled Multisensory Environments

Perhaps you have never heard of snoezelen, a Dutch term that describes controlled multisensory environments (MSE) that stimulate various senses within a custom environment – a so-called “Snoezel” room. On behalf of St. John the Baptist special education school in Kerkrade, we’ve created custom software to create and manage so-called “Snoezel” rooms, controlling, lights, audio, switches and a video projector.

Goodbye 2021 and COVID-19 lockdowns – It’s time to look back

Goodbye 2021 and COVID-19 lockdowns – It’s time to look back

So who, in early 2020, thought that we’d still be operating under COVID-19 lockdown measures in January 2022? Luckily, my skill set has given me a better understanding of software development and technology than catering or hospitality. As director of an IT company, I’m happy to say that Bright Side of Life has taken to remote working as a fish to water. Let me tell you about our year.

Canon of the Netherlands apps now available in stores

Canon of the Netherlands apps now available in stores

The Dutch Canon of the Netherlands (2007) tells the story of how the Netherlands was formed. Using the Canon, BSL developed the popular EnToen Nu apps for iOS and Android a few years later. In 2020, the Canon was extensively revised, so we’ve completely rewritten the Canon apps, bringing them up-to-date, making them faster and even more fun to use. They’re now available in the app stores.

Integrating powerful AI search capabilities within apps and web-services

Integrating powerful AI search capabilities within apps and web-services

Search technology is continually evolving, so we’re always ready to adopt new technologies to meet specific client needs. This blog outlines our recent experiences with Azure Cognitive Search and Cognitive Search AI services – classifying thousands of new documents each day, delivering customised briefings to subscribers. Using Machine Learning and AI we can create intelligent search prototypes in just a few weeks.

Canon van Nederland apps coming soon!

Canon van Nederland apps coming soon!

The Committee on the Development of the Dutch Canon developed the Canon van Nederland in 2007. BSL developed the EnToen app a few years later, and since its launch in 2013, it has been a top-rated school app. In 2020, a new Canon Committee updated the Canon. We’re now busy working on new Canon Apps, with a modern look, and using the latest technical know-how.

Drupal 9 replaces Drupal 8. Long live Drupal 7!

Drupal 9 replaces Drupal 8. Long live Drupal 7!

Drupal 9 arrived last year, and Drupal 8 is end-of-life in November 2021. Nothing strange about this. But did you know that Drupal 7’s life has been extended to November 2022? Due to the high number of active users, it will remain in use longer than Drupal 8! Nevertheless, if you’re still using Drupal 7, you’re drinking in the last chance saloon, and it’s time to plan your transition to Drupal 9.

BSL delivers a new Pulse importer using the Forrester API

BSL delivers a new Pulse importer using the Forrester API

We developed our “Pulse” Business Intelligence Software for PwC. It’s a global service, maintained and supported by BSL. Pulse imports thousands of documents daily from commercial content providers and website feeds, delivering personal briefings to PwC subscribers throughout the PwC organisation. At the request of PwC, we recently created a new importer for Forrester using their API.

Outsourcing, retainers and long-term development partnerships

Outsourcing, retainers and long-term development partnerships

It’s not always straightforward for even large companies to create cutting edge development teams, as their core business may not be related to IT. Moreover, even when IT is a significant part of their business, there is frequently a wide gap between delivering core services and innovating with new technologies. BSL offers development services that can help fill the gap.

Machine Learning technology for Library services

Machine Learning technology for Library services

We’ve worked for many years with NBD Biblion, a unique organisation that selects and distributes books to public libraries in the Netherlands. They recently introduced Machine Learning (ML) technology to automate their client recommendations. After this success, NBD Biblion asked BSL to integrate a new Machine Learning service with MIPS, developed by BSL.

Drinks and a movie at BSL

Drinks and a movie at BSL

Enjoying a few drinks and watching a film together was a regular feature of life at BSL. I write ‘was’ because COVID-19 has kept most of us working from home. As a result, sharing a drink and watching a film together has not been an option. So instead, we’ve organised Digi-parties, Easter surprises and other events. Most recently, we arranged for everyone to enjoy a movie at home.

Two BSL anniversaries in May, time for a party

Two BSL anniversaries in May, time for a party

Two BSL anniversaries this week. Senior developer Peter Verbaan has been a key resource within BSL for 15 years, and front-end developer Roderick Gadellaa for 5 years. Reason enough for a party, you might say, and that’s something we love at the “Bright Side of Life.” For now, Corona makes this impossible, so it’s an online drink and a virtual hug.

Designing a simple phone app for 1888 information numbers

Designing a simple phone app for 1888 information numbers

1850 BV has asked us to design and develop a new simple phone app for Android and iOS, designed to help people who have difficulty using modern smartphones. After all, not everyone is excited about all the hundreds of features provided by a typical smartphone. It’s hard for people who lack the technological skills to figure all this stuff out. And or course, many simply find tiny screens challenging.

Early to market? Try developing a Minimum Viable Product

Early to market? Try developing a Minimum Viable Product

Entrepreneurs frequently contact us with ideas for their ground-breaking app, web-service, or web application. Their market research completed, business plan ready, financial backing sorted. They want to start, and get their product to the market as quickly as possible. This is when we introduce the concept of an MVP or Minimum Viable Product.

The Entoen Nu app makes history lessons easy

The Entoen Nu app makes history lessons easy

Do you sometimes have trouble with Dutch history? The EnToen Nu app is intended for those interested in Dutch culture and history, particularly children from grade 5 up to and including secondary school. It can be used at school, and at home. We’ve recently updated the app, adding support for the latest version of the Canon of the Netherlands.

SRS: New Job Model and Access Governance Foundation

SRS: New Job Model and Access Governance Foundation

Since developing the original Signature Registration System (SRS) on behalf of a large international bank we’ve made many changes. Migrating SRS to an Azure SQL cloud service is our current focus, but earlier this year we worked on two other infrastructure changes: Introducing NJM (New Job Model) and AGF (Access Governance Foundation) support in SRS.

Oracle migration to Azure SQL database – Part 2

Oracle migration to Azure SQL database – Part 2

In recent months, two clients have asked us to migrate legacy Oracle systems to Azure. In the previous blog, we explained how our tiered web applications make it easy to maintain our software and to migrate from one database to another. We asked Eric Wijnands to tell us about one of these migrations, moving a Banking solution from Oracle to Azure SQL.

Oracle migration to Azure SQL database – Part 1

Oracle migration to Azure SQL database – Part 1

Is Azure the flavour of the month? We’ve been approached by two clients in recent months to help them transition legacy Oracle systems to an Azure Cloud database. We’ve been building tiered database solutions for many years, with Front-end web applications calling web-services that use Oracle databases for storage. Just how easy is it to migrate these applications to Azure?

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