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0 pointsfilleokus2y ago0 comments

> […] enabling developers to use browser engines, other than WebKit

I'm afraid this announcement will turn out to be disastrous for the open web as we know it. Even if some enthusiasts now will be able to use Firefox proper, the real change is that WebKit usage will more than half over night. After this I guess the rendering engine market share will be roughly 80/20 Chromium/Webkit with Gecko as some rounding error.

For how long will it be defensible for the average company to test their site on anything but Chromium?

0 comments

jayflux2y ago

> the real change is that WebKit usage will more than half over night.

No it won’t.

The majority of “normal” users aren’t even aware their “chrome” app isn’t real chrome, so why would there be a mass install of a different browser? Some will yep but the mainstream aren’t going to change their habits over this. Your average person isn’t going “damn I wish I could have a different rendering engine on my phone”.

Over a longer period of time we’ll see some interesting changes, but nothing is going to move the needle in the first few months or even first year.

filleokusOP2y ago

Based on the data I've seen, about 15-20% of iOS users on mainstream popular (top ≈30) websites in Sweden use Chrome. I'm not sure how representative this is of all of EU. Those 15-20% will be "lost" overnight, or as soon as Chrome drops Webkit on iOS (which is what I meant by overnight).

Maybe it was pessimistic of me to assume Chrome will more than double its user base with the new browswer-picker-modal "overnight". But I would be surprised if it's not noticeable. Normal people will see it and go "Oh that's the logo I click to get the internet on the PC in the study, let's try that, maybe all my football bookmarks will be synced".

sircastor2y ago

It's not unreasonable to say that once they can, Google will issue an update to Chrome that replaces the WebKit version with the Blink version wholesale.

That whole group applies (as far as I can tell) only to EU users.

I don't use Chrome (Brave - I know, it's still Chromium) but every chance they get Google tries to get me to switch to Chrome proper.

graphe2y ago

If they allow desktop extensions then I can see it happening.

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