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Attack of the Bugs

Opera Mini for the iPhone exists, but Apple doesn't allow competition

Tuesday, 28. October 2008, 14:11:26

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There's an interesting article about Opera at the New York Times BITS blog from yesterday. Of particular interest to those who have been asking for Opera Mini for the iPhone is this part:

Mr. von Tetzchner said that Opera’s engineers have developed a version of Opera Mini that can run on an Apple iPhone, but Apple won’t let the company release it because it competes with Apple’s own Safari browser.


It's pretty well known by now that Apple blocks competitors from their store. I'm not sure if we've ever confirmed that we actually had Opera Mini ready for the iPhone, but now you know that it did exist.

And now you know what keeps you from running Opera on your iPhone.

Update: It seems that the New York Times misquoted Jon. However, Apple's terms still block competitors from their App Store.

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Comments

Anonymous 2. November 2008, 19:54

Anonymous writes:

Gotta love those "anonymous people" as sources. Always reliable, and very easy to find.

The only emarassing thing here is trolls like YtseJam who refuse to answer questions when asked because he knows he's wrong.

Anonymous 3. November 2008, 12:35

zx writes:

what a joke.

so apple is afraid of you now? you guys are living in la-la land...it's a phone, not a trash can! and Apple wont let it be one.

*nice publicity stunt btw.

Anonymous 3. November 2008, 12:45

Anonymous writes:

@zx

The joke's on you, Apple Fanboi.

No one said anything about Apple being afraid. It was simply pointed out that Apple didn't want to allow Opera Mini.

Publicity stunt? This was a single sentence in a long interview about all sorts of stuff. The ones giving this publicity is Apple Fanbois who can't take it when Apple gets even a tiny bit of criticism for its Microsoft-like behavior.

Anonymous 3. November 2008, 13:29

zx writes:

@ Anonymous

The fanboy thing is getting old my friend...the real fanboys are the PC guys! Actually, mac fanboys may be a bit over the top:) but you guys are just bullys!!! just try to slip one plosive comment (apple) on Engadget and they'll bury your comment in a few seconds.

**And yes! they did said that apple are afraid of competition. and like i wrote - they are more afried of junk and clutter!


Best,
your fanboy

Anonymous 3. November 2008, 13:35

zx writes:

btw - Fanboy are the best excuse you guys ever had!

Windows7 = Vista done right!!! Right;)

Morten 3. November 2008, 14:15

All may not be as it appears. I caught up with Tor Odland, Director of Corporate Communications at Opera, who says earlier reports overstate the situation. In fact Odland says, "Opera has not yet submitted a version of Opera Mini to Apple's App Store, but may do so in the future."... http://www.pcworld.com/article/153191/why_opera_didnt_make_it_on_the_iphone.html


Who talks the talk, should walk the walk :wink:

Anonymous 3. November 2008, 15:13

Anonymous writes:

@zx

NO U!

Apple afraid of clutter, eh? Why do they offer all these apps then? And it's not like Opera would be forcefully installed on everyone's iPhones.

Anonymous 3. November 2008, 15:16

Anonymous writes:

@Investor

That article is garbage. There is nothing contradictory about these two sentences:

"Apple won’t let the company release it"

"not yet submitted a version of Opera Mini to Apple's App Store"

That it hasn't been submitted doesn't mean that Opera hasn't been in contact with Apple.

PC World is trash.

Morten 3. November 2008, 17:24

@Anonymous 15:16:01 : >That it hasn't been submitted doesn't mean that Opera hasn't been in contact with Apple. <

True.

But by submitting the OMini iPhone version to the Apple Store, it becomes official...

The ball would be in Apple's yard, for them to make the next move, and to answer the tuff questions from the press...

Would be a win win for Opera...

What we have now is a draw.


Anonymous 3. November 2008, 19:31

Anonymous writes:

No draw. Apple refuses, Apple loses.

We know that Opera Mini for iPhone exists. We know Opera talked to Apple about it. We know that Apple refused.

Morten 4. November 2008, 13:49

I asked Jon Stephenson von Tetzchner, Opera’s chief executive, about the iPhone, after he mentioned how the Opera Mini browser was popular on other smartphones. He replied that in fact some Opera engineers had started developing an iPhone version, but the company didn’t pursue it because Apple doesn’t allow products on the iPhone that compete with its own software — in this case, the Safari browser... He said that the development of the iPhone browser was more an “internal project” of some engineers than a product that management was committed to introducing. Indeed, development was halted after the company looked at the details of the license agreement in Apple’s software development kit and realized that it would not be permitted... We stopped the work because of the prohibitive license... http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/03/why-you-will-not-see-opera-on-your-iphone/


Anonymous 4. November 2008, 21:20

Funboi™ writes:

Total BS and major douchebaggery... laaaame

Anonymous 4. November 2008, 21:35

Anonymous writes:

"Total BS"? NYT just confirmed that Opera for the iPhone actually exists, you idiot. And it confirms that Apple won't allow apps like Opera Mini.

Now go away, Appe FANBOIIIII.

Morten 5. November 2008, 08:48

@Anonymous,

the Opera Mini iPhone project was abandoned, at the start...

We must assume SMART people examine the licence agreement first, before allocating alot of engineering power, and shareholder value, to a project...

OP is simply dead wrong...

* Opera Mini for iPhone does not exist....
* Thus Apple can't tell whether or not, to use it...


> We know that Opera Mini for iPhone exists. We know Opera talked to Apple about it. We know that Apple refused.<

No, we don't.

Anonymous 5. November 2008, 20:19

Anonymous writes:

They started actual work on it. Thus, it exists.

Phred 6. November 2008, 00:29

Originally posted by anonymous user:

They started actual work on it. Thus, it exists.

However, Apple has not actively blocked/rejected the app. Apple's policies reject the app passively but that doesn't always mean anything. There is no proof that Apple would reject the app however it is risky based on the Apple's policies.

Anonymous 6. November 2008, 04:42

Anonymous writes:

Why u guys release this version on opera mini via cydia?

Charles Schloss 7. November 2008, 01:31

Opera is very good at adapting there browser to diffent devices and OS. I don't think I have seen any other Company like Opera :smile:

A interesting thing on Apple's site:

About Opera Browser
Already regarded as the world’s fastest, most secure browser, Opera speeds up your web browsing with these innovative features...

http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/internet_utilities/operabrowser.html

Anonymous 10. November 2008, 08:45

Anonymous writes:

Looks like CEO John von Tetzchner is a liar or NYT reporter is a liar from the DaringFireball link. Either way, it's embarassing to say the least, even Haavard here seems to be clueless if he didn't know about Opera Mini not even submitted and this vindicates Apple from any wrong doing.

Anonymous 10. November 2008, 10:55

Anonymous writes:

So this last idiot trusts a random blogger with anonymous "sources" who even got the facts wrong more than the Opera CEO? Funny. Everything that has been said by Opera confirms that a version for the iPhone existed. Development was started, but then they looked at the terms and decided to stop the project.

Apple is still guilty of blocking competitors from their App Store. And nowhere does Haavard write that anything was submitted to the App Store, moron.

Phred 10. November 2008, 14:32

Originally posted by anonymous user:

Everything that has been said by Opera confirms that a version for the iPhone existed. Development was started, but then they looked at the terms and decided to stop the project.

Those two statements negate one another. I can start coding a version of Halo 3 for the iphone right now and stop in 2 hours. At the end of the 2 hours, most people would NOT say that a version of Halo 3 exists for the iphone.

I think Opera stopped preemptively as to not potentially waste time. There does not exist a version of Opera for the iphone from the statements I've been reading. Well actually I don't recall anyone saying how far they were into the process before stopping. So it is really unknown. Maybe they had worked on it for 2 days and then found the nazi Apple policies. Maybe it was 2 months. Only Opera knows.

Anonymous 10. November 2008, 15:48

Anonymous writes:

"There does not exist a version of Opera for the iphone from the statements I've been reading."

NONE of the statements made by Opera Software indicate that no version exists. ALL statements confirm that there was actual work on an iPhone version. Some statements even confirm that they had it running on the iPhone.

Phred 10. November 2008, 21:42

Originally posted by anonymous user:

Some statements even confirm that they had it running on the iPhone.

link(s) please. thanks.

Anonymous 11. November 2008, 19:51

Shervin writes:

Still it would be awsome if Opera was available in Cydia or Installer.

ɥʇɐǝp ɟo ssǝɔuıɹd 15. November 2008, 13:49

So in short.. i won't be able to download OperaMini for my iPhone?

theoddbod 15. November 2008, 15:11

Not unless one of two things happens :

1) Apple lifts many of their restrictions and allows Java to be installed, meaning that regular Opera Mini can possibly run.
2) Apple lifts many of their restrictions on applications, meaning that Opera now have a reason to finish writing the iPhone Opera Mini.

In summary, Apple are currently the obstacle.

Phred 15. November 2008, 16:43

There is a skype app although it competes with the calling and plans. If Opera were to submit it and then be denied, I would have more sympathy. The policy is in place but sometimes things skate by. Opera mini is different from Webkit/Safari in that it is saving bandwidth and doing things that Safari does not and cannot do. This may be enough to make it noncompetitive and may get it submitted. But no one knows, until they try.

ɥʇɐǝp ɟo ssǝɔuıɹd 17. November 2008, 06:03

crap.

I guess I'll persuade my dad to change phones with him. He has a samsung Omnia. I guess that's compatible... right?

Hein Tore 14. January 2009, 07:41

Good news: http://www.macrumors.com/2009/01/13/apple-allows-3rd-party-web-browsers-in-app-store/

Maybe we'll see Opera Mini for the iPhone after all?

Haavard 14. January 2009, 09:45

Those are just skins for the existing browser engine, but who knows what the future might hold.

Hein Tore 15. January 2009, 19:10

Bummer.

Well, at least it's a step in the right diretion.

ɥʇɐǝp ɟo ssǝɔuıɹd 21. January 2009, 12:10

I'm so definitely changing my phone. iPhone sucks!

Supreme-Empress 2. April 2009, 15:28

I would pay good money to see Opera Mini on iPhone- voided warranty or not!

Anonymous 9. June 2009, 01:53

Anonymous writes:

SUBMIT TO CYDIA! Since annoying Apple won't allow it. Submit it for the jailbroken ipod touch/iphone users. You can sumbit apps to websites like http://thebigboss.org/hosting-repository/submit-your-app/ They'll host them to Cydia(the jailbroken app store) so jailbroken users can get Opera mobile!

Anonymous 8. August 2009, 14:19

Anonimo writes:

Please, submit Opera mini for Iphone on Cydia! I can't stand Safari on my iphone, please please please!

dapxin 14. September 2009, 09:29

so is there a way to get Opera to run on iphone ?
I need it for a girlfriend who prefers opera on her new shiny toy.

Andrew Sam 18. September 2009, 11:12

Now that the FCC is getting into Apple app store rejections and finding out reasons and now that many browsers are there in the app store, isn't it still not viable to get opera mini or opera mobile for the iphone?

Haavard 18. September 2009, 11:40

The browsers in the app store are just wrappers around Safari (or WebKit).

I'm sure someone at Opera is working on getting Opera onto the iPhone. We'll just have to wait and see.

Andrew Sam 18. September 2009, 11:53

Wow... Millions of iPhone users (like me) can't wait to get their hands on Opera on iPhone. particularly now that Opera 10 is getting a lot more traction. Syncing between their desktop work and iPhone and added to it the increased speed, functionality and stability is what users like me are dreaming for.

Release it and we'd be drumming for it.

Even Nedberg 19. September 2009, 09:48

Originally posted by haavard:

I'm sure someone at Opera is working on getting Opera onto the iPhone. We'll just have to wait and see.



Good to hear! I'll be looking forward to it! Opera is the only thing I miss with my iPhone. Syncing with Opera Link is addictive!

rob 2. October 2009, 16:17

Just curious: has anyone that has a jailbroken iphone tried installing the JRE available on cydia and then running Opera Mini through that?

Anonymous 17. October 2009, 14:24

Anonymous writes:

Isn't there major laws about blocking or preventing competition? Shouldn't there be a law suit or something over this Apple tactic??

Charles Schloss 3. December 2009, 06:26

Anything new come up about this?

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