Safari WebKit Changes Mean Other Apps Will Get Faster, Too

When you're using an app like Facebook in iOS, opening a link up can be a bit of a pain. It opens up in Facebook's in-line browser, which is nowhere near as quick or responsive as Safari. Part of that has to do with Apple allowing limited use of Nitro Javascript for WebKit, the engine that powers Safari and makes it so quick. Developers now have access to APIs that let them tap into WebKit a touch more, which should speed everything up.

Also interesting is that the API is the same for both iOS and OS X, where Developers traditionally had to implement different classes. This keeps everything a bit more in-line, streamlined, and easier to write apps for. Though it still uses different view classes, the API makes for a much easier experience all the way around.

Aside from apps which offer content in-line like Facebook links, this can also improve competing browsers. Chrome on iOS is a touch slower than we find on Android, partly because Google isn't able to tap into WebKit as Safari can. Here, we may see Google toss this API into the fold, improving their service.

Coupled with Apple's open sharing tweaks in iOS 8, this should make for a faster and more cohesive experience across the board. Pages will open quickly, and sharing to other services will also improve dramatically. WebKit access via a simple API is something Developers may fall for once they start using it.

Via: 9to5Mac