AngularJS/PhoneGap/Ionic: filter to convert links for opening in separate mobile window

app.js

//*
//*     See the JS Fiddle:  http://jsfiddle.net/sxcjmoj5/3/
//*
//*
// make sure ngSanitize module is installed:
// https://docs.angularjs.org/api/ngSanitize
//
// To convert links from plaintext, you must use the linky filter which is included with ngSanitize 
// https://docs.angularjs.org/api/ngSanitize/filter/linky
//
// You might need to install inappbrowser if you haven't done that: 
// https://github.com/apache/cordova-plugin-inappbrowser/blob/master/doc/index.md
//
// In your app.js

var myApp = angular.module('myApp', ['ngSanitize']);

myApp.filter('hrefToJS', function ($sce, $sanitize) {
    return function (text) {
        var regex = /href="([\S]+)"/g;
        var newString = $sanitize(text).replace(regex, "onClick=\"window.open('$1', '_blank', 'location=yes')\"");
        return $sce.trustAsHtml(newString);
    }
});

myApp.controller('MyCtrl', function ($scope) {
    $scope.html = "This a link: <a href='https://www.google.com'>Google</a> :)";
    $scope.plaintext = "This is a link: https://www.google.com :) "
});

///Usage in your HTML template
/*

<div ng-app="myApp">
    <div ng-controller="MyCtrl">
         <h1>Before</h1>

        <p ng-bind-html="html"></p>
        <p ng-bind-html="plaintext"></p>
         <h1>After</h1>

        <p ng-bind-html="html | hrefToJS"></p>
        <p ng-bind-html="plaintext | linky | hrefToJS"></p>
    </div>
</div>


*/

I've got this working on android after building an angular 1.5 app through ionic/cordova build. But on iOS the outgoing link does not open safari. It goes to the app's home page, which I'm assuming is the "otherwise" part of the routes kicking in. I've got inappbrowser installed. Perhaps that's not configured correctly?

Thanks for this! My Ionic1 app doesn't open links in the browser (webview) mode when target=_blank, instead it requires target=_system. I adapted the code slightly and now it works for me in both browser mode and iOS. If you're having the same problem, try this:

        var newString = $sanitize(text).replace(regex, "href onClick=\"window.open('$1', '" + (ionic.Platform.isWebView()) ? '_system' : '_blank' + "', 'location=yes');return false;\"");