Following the release of the second beta version of iOS 17.4, it emerged that Apple had restricted the functionality of iOS web apps in the EU. Web apps could no longer launch from the Home Screen in their own top-level window that takes up the entire screen, relegating them to a simple shortcut with an option to open within Safari instead.
The move was heavily criticized by groups like Open Web Advocacy, which started a petition in an effort to persuade Apple to reverse the change, and it even caught the attention of the European Commission. Now, Apple has backtracked and says that Home Screen web apps that use WebKit in the EU will continue to function as expected upon the release of iOS 17.4.
No one is saying you should have to. Any site that forces you to download an app on mobile is shitty.
They’re saying there should be an option for devs and users that want to use it. Web apps shouldn’t be the only way of reaching the smartphone audiences if you don’t want to go through the Apple App Store.
That isn’t a minor thing.