At the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Apple introduced significant iOS, iPadOS, and macOS updates. One particular upgrade hasn’t received much attention but could be important for some Windows users: starting with iOS 18, Apple Pay will be usable for web payments on browsers other than Safari including Edge and Chrome.
Apple stated that integrating Apple Pay into websites will be straightforward for developers. Once integrated, sites will display the Apple Pay logo and prompt users to “Scan Code with iPhone.” Users will then scan this code with their iPhone as they would with any QR code, completing the payment process on their iPhone.
Historically, Apple and Microsoft have been rivals, competing in various tech domains and having a long history of conflicts. Despite this, both companies produce software, services, and hardware, resulting in some overlap between their ecosystems.
Microsoft tends to prioritize cross-platform support, ensuring services like Microsoft 365 are fully functional on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. In fact, Office apps are sometimes better optimized for Apple devices than for Windows devices.
On the contrary, Windows users who wanted to use Apple’s music services had to rely on iTunes for many years, as opposed to Apple Music. It was only recently that apps for Apple Music, Apple TV, and Apple Devices (an app for managing Apple hardware) became available on the Microsoft Store.
Overall, Microsoft appears more committed to bridging the gap between the two ecosystems, though Apple has made efforts as well. For instance, iCloud now integrates with the Windows 11 Photos app, and iMessage can be sent and received through Microsoft Phone Link.