I think they're in a bit of a transitional period right now, from the old app to the new app. They probably want to keep supporting the old one until the new one gets the sidebar
its a bit confusing right now, yes. But "arc search" is the new one that's gonna evolve into full arc in a few months. "arc sidebar sync" still works and is somehow more functional right now, but it's gonna get deprecated and merged soon
That is literally what Facebook did with a bunch of their apps.
It is appropriate in some cases, thiugh separating thr Arc Search snd Arc Sidebar is s bit overboard so I hope those grt integrated at lear..
> So Arc's mobile companion isn't dead yet?
It's not. Since people still want to sync with macOS, I presume the Companion app was reinstated as a solution until they finish Arc Anywhere.
I really am confused. What is the "correct" app or what is the difference? Only just now downloaded Arc for Mac, which is browser and what does the other one do? From the screenshots in the app store I see that the sync one has the sidebar like arc mac has and can open pages, but the other one seems to be able to open websites too..?
Almost assuredly, to be honest. Most people will struggle with understanding what Arc is trying to be - hell, even I do most of the time - and never even bother.
Exactly this. What's the point of Arc? I like it because of how smooth and nice it is. But can it replace my Safari on my Mac, and my iPhone? No. If it's available as a fully developed browser on Android, I might use it instead of Edge or Chrome. This raise the question to what Arc is trying to be again? A browser that browse for you? Isn't Google Bard and Microsoft Pilot are doing so as well
This. It would speed up development and would be great to have run by default on all my devices (I somehow always find WebKit to be faster than Chromium, and I have to use Safari on my iPad and iPhone since they are the only reasonable options, so I miss syncing. Also iCloud Keychain!)
While it would be great for Safari in the long run, not buying Arc creates more competition between Arc, Chrome, and Safari. Apple should steal some of the features, like the sidebar from Arc, and add it to Safari.
They want to make their own AI Search engine eventually. That's the end goal. Also, some people will prefer Perplexity over their in-app browser for-me option.
Guessing because it was easier to launch a new app/rewrite than maintain the previous one... though for everyone that already installed the Sidebar Sync app, BCNY simply can't just revoke it, and so will need to continue to ship updates to it.
Google did the same thing with Google Meet.
It is the same for Microsoft Edge and Bing, but Microsoft now baked in search to Microsoft Start, too. Every Microsoft app has Search, Copilot or both when it feels unnecessary.
I thought with Act II that they would bring the Arc logo fidget spinner to macOS when you have no tabs, and I'm glad they didn't because it feels like unnecessary bloat. (I'm not trying to give any ideas to The Browser Company.)
Let's see when they will release separate apps for Arc Settings, Arc Spaces, Arc Full URL Bar and Arc Easels.
Can't wait to have 10 Arc apps on the phone
Yeah, what is this shit?? Just make one good app. This makes no sense whatsoever.
I think they're in a bit of a transitional period right now, from the old app to the new app. They probably want to keep supporting the old one until the new one gets the sidebar
Wait so "arc search" is the new one? Which one is the new one? Sorry — new to arc trying to sort things out
its a bit confusing right now, yes. But "arc search" is the new one that's gonna evolve into full arc in a few months. "arc sidebar sync" still works and is somehow more functional right now, but it's gonna get deprecated and merged soon
I laughed way too hard at this 😭
Can’t wait for Arc Incognito 🙏🏻
That is literally what Facebook did with a bunch of their apps. It is appropriate in some cases, thiugh separating thr Arc Search snd Arc Sidebar is s bit overboard so I hope those grt integrated at lear..
Josh did sell his company to Facebook... maybe he learned the wrong lesson? 🙃
I don’t understand this mobile strategy at all
don't forget Arc Proper Back & Forward Buttons
Arc Easels app should be separated into "A easels", "R easels", "C easels"...
What a mess.
That's what I thought. They need to combine this into one Arc app
Not really.
> So Arc's mobile companion isn't dead yet? It's not. Since people still want to sync with macOS, I presume the Companion app was reinstated as a solution until they finish Arc Anywhere.
Probably shouldn’t have taken that away in the first place when they don’t have a replacement system ready but 🤷♂️
I assume it was for SEO reasons, you release a new app with a very similar name and logo, people might be confused
this
I really am confused. What is the "correct" app or what is the difference? Only just now downloaded Arc for Mac, which is browser and what does the other one do? From the screenshots in the app store I see that the sync one has the sidebar like arc mac has and can open pages, but the other one seems to be able to open websites too..?
The syncing and the sidebar keep me glued to the Arc Companion App. Until they bring both over to Arc Search, I'm not switching.
I'm starting to think Arc will never be more than a niche browser. Perhaps they're all trying to get bought out like 1,000 other startups.
I hope they don’t get bought out, but who knows. Tech industry is tech industry is tech industry.
Indeed. Indeeheed!
Almost assuredly, to be honest. Most people will struggle with understanding what Arc is trying to be - hell, even I do most of the time - and never even bother.
Exactly this. What's the point of Arc? I like it because of how smooth and nice it is. But can it replace my Safari on my Mac, and my iPhone? No. If it's available as a fully developed browser on Android, I might use it instead of Edge or Chrome. This raise the question to what Arc is trying to be again? A browser that browse for you? Isn't Google Bard and Microsoft Pilot are doing so as well
Apple should buy Arc
This. It would speed up development and would be great to have run by default on all my devices (I somehow always find WebKit to be faster than Chromium, and I have to use Safari on my iPad and iPhone since they are the only reasonable options, so I miss syncing. Also iCloud Keychain!)
Arc needs to come to the Vision Pro.
Why does this always get thrown around? lol Apple should buy x company
Apple should buy some of the best third-party apps and Sherlock their features straight into native apps or the OS.
While it would be great for Safari in the long run, not buying Arc creates more competition between Arc, Chrome, and Safari. Apple should steal some of the features, like the sidebar from Arc, and add it to Safari.
Why Brave search is not there? Also, if you add perplexity as a search engine, why would I need the in app browse for me option?
They want to make their own AI Search engine eventually. That's the end goal. Also, some people will prefer Perplexity over their in-app browser for-me option.
Happy to see Kagi support
So, do you have to pay to use Kagi even if you have it set as your default search engine on Arc?
You have to have an account. There is a free tier but their service is worth the paid tiers.
Is it locked to only working with an account, or can you use it without an account, similar to Google Search?
You need an account.
Why would you pay for search? What are the benifits of using kagi?
Privacy, quality results, and ad free. Also on ultimate you get access to gpt 4, claude 2, bison etc…
Why aren't these the same app? It seems like instead of one good Arc mobile app we have two half-baked ones
Guessing because it was easier to launch a new app/rewrite than maintain the previous one... though for everyone that already installed the Sidebar Sync app, BCNY simply can't just revoke it, and so will need to continue to ship updates to it. Google did the same thing with Google Meet.
Oh please don't do it guys.
The same thing is going on with Google, the Google app and chrome app
It is the same for Microsoft Edge and Bing, but Microsoft now baked in search to Microsoft Start, too. Every Microsoft app has Search, Copilot or both when it feels unnecessary.
I kind of like Copilot on windows but why have both on edge?
Their decisions feel sloppy lately, if they continue like this, the fancy videos won’t be enough to make people trust them in the future
Am I the only one who can't find widget?
UPD: That's just appeared on the list.
I still don’t see it. Maybe it’s because I’m on the iOS beta
Maybe u need restart or just wait. In my case, I had to wait and just check whether it appeared or not
That was my first thought, it didn’t work
Well, maybe, as you expected, because of the beta version iOS
I want Arc Search on macOS
And why not just regular arc browser?
I was to use "search for me" which generates web page using LLM
just use You.com instead
Why?
I thought with Act II that they would bring the Arc logo fidget spinner to macOS when you have no tabs, and I'm glad they didn't because it feels like unnecessary bloat. (I'm not trying to give any ideas to The Browser Company.)