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Why would I want any of this in a web browser?

• iwwr 11y ago
  Because it's the lowest common denominator and most "portable" platform out there. It also allows client-to-client communication without an intermediary server.
  • Khaine 11y ago
    Its a web browser. Its suppose to be used to view web sites! Its not a chat client, or a game!
• greggman 11y ago
  What's the alternative? Installing native apps that can own your machine, install root kits, and spy on your entire system? Why would I want to install a native app to do any of this (skype, google hangouts, fb messenger, ...) if I can do it in a browser and not have to trust the app?
  • hollerith 11y ago
    Statistically speaking, more users get owned via web browsers than via native apps, and that is unlikely to change if people keep on adding new APIs to web browsers because every time a new API is added to my web browser, every web site I visit gets a chance to use the new API to try to own me. I certainly understand why developers and others find it convenient and profitable to keep on adding APIs the client part of the global client-server document-publishing platform, but I am simply amazed to come across someone using security of all things as an argument or a justification for doing it. Think about what you are saying! You have a new API you want to make available to developers, but of course it is really hard to create an API that cannot be exploited, so to keep things as secure as possible, every time the user needs to check the weather forecast, look at the new photos of the grandkids or look for a new recipe, some random web server plus zero-or-more third-party ad servers should get a crack at exploiting the new API!
    • roarkjs 11y ago
      > Statistically speaking, more users get owned via web browsers than via native apps Source? Seems like a long stretch, especially if you factor in non-windows desktops and all mobile devices. If you really are concerned about security wouldn't you rather trust basically just Apple and Google or Apple, Google, and every native app developer in the app store? Having a load of random apps installed on your smartphone is simply less secure than than just using that functionality within a sandboxed and standardised web browser that goes through endless routine security updates.
      • Khaine 11y ago
        No, Its much easier to chose what to install from an app store. If you click on the wrong link, or if you receive malvertising, boom! vulnerabilities in this could cause your phone to be infected.
• kitsunesoba 11y ago
  I can see why WebRTC is useful, but I personally wouldn't want to make regular use of any video or audio chat service that requires a web browser. The last thing I need is yet another tab to keep open (please give me something I can use my operating system's window and process management facilities with), not to mention a native app will probably do the same thing more efficiently.
• dmm 11y ago
  Live streaming video to a web browser without the use of flash. Peer-to-peer video chat is just one application.