What does the web use Bluetooth for? That sounds like a nightmare regardless of whether the browser will let it or not, lol
Nothing much at the moment, but that’s at least partially due to Apple’s lack of support 🤷
Web apps could theoretically do everything native apps can. The only thing you need are APIs implemented by browsers that “bridge the gap” between web apps running in it and the host OS.
A bunch of such APIs including access to talk to Bluetooth devices have been proposed a while ago, but are missing on Safari. Bluetooth is just one example, another is the ability to communicate with peripherals at all (e.g. USB or MIDI or Serial). Those APIs allow for example updating the firmware of a device, reconfiguring it, etc.
The availability of such APIs is just equivalency with native apps and the possible usecases are everything you’d currently need to install a native app for. Imagine for example just going to some website to change settings of your Bluetooth headphones instead of having to download the manufacturer’s app. Web Bluetooth also allows finding Bluetooth beacons, which would make for example museum audio guides with indoor navigation possible as a simple website. Etc. etc. 🤷
Nothing much at the moment, but that’s at least partially due to Apple’s lack of support 🤷
Web apps could theoretically do everything native apps can. The only thing you need are APIs implemented by browsers that “bridge the gap” between web apps running in it and the host OS.
A bunch of such APIs including access to talk to Bluetooth devices have been proposed a while ago, but are missing on Safari. Bluetooth is just one example, another is the ability to communicate with peripherals at all (e.g. USB or MIDI or Serial). Those APIs allow for example updating the firmware of a device, reconfiguring it, etc.
The availability of such APIs is just equivalency with native apps and the possible usecases are everything you’d currently need to install a native app for. Imagine for example just going to some website to change settings of your Bluetooth headphones instead of having to download the manufacturer’s app. Web Bluetooth also allows finding Bluetooth beacons, which would make for example museum audio guides with indoor navigation possible as a simple website. Etc. etc. 🤷
This has been insanely informative. Thanks for the detailed reply!