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For the majority of Hispanic immigrants, smartphones are their only computing device. I'm a believer than an app always outdoes a "mobile-friendly" site. Also a

For the majority of Hispanic immigrants, smartphones are their only computing device. I'm a believer than an app always outdoes a "mobile-friendly" site. Also an app lets you require a user to sign a ToS once after installation without requiring accounts. For a website it's not as seamless.

SamBam 10y ago
But if all you're doing is reading the feed on this app, then why do you need to require accounts or ToS? StackOverflow doesn't require accounts to read posts (unlike some similar sites...).
- wjmclaugh 10y ago
  To protect ourselves. While we do not offer legal advice per se, we do explain how removal proceedings, visa processes, and other sensitive topics work . Given how quickly immigration policy changes, the ToS allows us to say that info is provided as-is.
  - Kiro 10y ago
    You can have that without anyone having to sign anything.
cmdrfred 10y ago
>I'm a believer than an app always outdoes a "mobile-friendly" site. I disagree. Downloading and installing a binary blob in order to then download some text is a worse UX for me. >Also an app lets you require a user to sign a ToS once after installation without requiring accounts. A cookie would solve this problem. I suspect the real reason people keep pushing apps is they are much more monetizable rather than taking the user into account.
- Freak_NL 10y ago
  > I suspect the real reason people keep pushing apps is they are much more monetizable rather than taking the user into account. Exactly. With an app you get full control over the users experience. No adblockers, no tracker disabling extensions (e.g., Privacy Badger), none of the benefits of a simple website. What about immigrants who can't afford a smartphone and use a computer at a public library? If you want to be seen as the StackOverflow of immigration, providing an Android/IOS-only experience instead of simply requiring a modern web browser is either short sighted or suspicious — why do you need people to install your software?
Ajedi32 10y ago
> Also an app lets you require a user to sign a ToS once after installation without requiring accounts. For a website it's not as seamless. Huh? I don't think I've ever visited a purely informational website (like this one apparently is) that required me to sign a ToS just to view it. You just click the link, read whatever information you came for, and leave when you're done. That's far more "seamless" than having to install an app before you can do anything.
- icebraining 10y ago
  I think the point is that they want to get users to sign the TOS. Probably for liability reasons due to the legal & sensitive nature of the information.
  - wjmclaugh 10y ago
    Exactly. Plus the constantly shifting landscape of immigration itself. Relevant info one day is stale the next.
    - inian 10y ago
      Exactly why a website makes more sense. You get the latest version by just reloading the page.
      - icebraining 10y ago
        You can do the same with an app, though.
        inian 10y ago
        I meant without downloading a 40 MB binary upfront.
throwaway91111 10y ago
Sure, but not everyone wants to install an app for every site they visit; installation is about as non seamless as it gets! Plus, the TOS bullshit is no excuse. Just require registration to post.
- wjmclaugh 10y ago
  We don't want a database of undocumented immigrant emails, but agreed we will figure out a way to create a web portal as well.
  - throwaway93058 10y ago
    By only offering the information in an app via the Play Store, you're creating a database of undocumented immigrant cellphones, and giving the feds a ready-made way to backdoor their phones. The security risk here is enormous if you're interested in protecting undocumented immigrants from being located by the US government. (A website without login doesn't have this problem.)
Avenger42 10y ago
> I'm a believer than an app always outdoes a "mobile-friendly" site. On the other hand, the website is available on all platforms. An app is typically only available on whatever platform(s) the creator thinks is/are most valuable.

SamBam 10y ago

But if all you're doing is reading the feed on this app, then why do you need to require accounts or ToS? StackOverflow doesn't require accounts to read posts (unlike some similar sites...).

wjmclaugh 10y ago
To protect ourselves. While we do not offer legal advice per se, we do explain how removal proceedings, visa processes, and other sensitive topics work . Given how quickly immigration policy changes, the ToS allows us to say that info is provided as-is.
- Kiro 10y ago
  You can have that without anyone having to sign anything.

cmdrfred 10y ago

>I'm a believer than an app always outdoes a "mobile-friendly" site. I disagree. Downloading and installing a binary blob in order to then download some text is a worse UX for me. >Also an app lets you require a user to sign a ToS once after installation without requiring accounts. A cookie would solve this problem. I suspect the real reason people keep pushing apps is they are much more monetizable rather than taking the user into account.

Freak_NL 10y ago
> I suspect the real reason people keep pushing apps is they are much more monetizable rather than taking the user into account. Exactly. With an app you get full control over the users experience. No adblockers, no tracker disabling extensions (e.g., Privacy Badger), none of the benefits of a simple website. What about immigrants who can't afford a smartphone and use a computer at a public library? If you want to be seen as the StackOverflow of immigration, providing an Android/IOS-only experience instead of simply requiring a modern web browser is either short sighted or suspicious — why do you need people to install your software?

Ajedi32 10y ago

> Also an app lets you require a user to sign a ToS once after installation without requiring accounts. For a website it's not as seamless. Huh? I don't think I've ever visited a purely informational website (like this one apparently is) that required me to sign a ToS just to view it. You just click the link, read whatever information you came for, and leave when you're done. That's far more "seamless" than having to install an app before you can do anything.

icebraining 10y ago
I think the point is that they want to get users to sign the TOS. Probably for liability reasons due to the legal & sensitive nature of the information.
- wjmclaugh 10y ago
  Exactly. Plus the constantly shifting landscape of immigration itself. Relevant info one day is stale the next.
  - inian 10y ago
    Exactly why a website makes more sense. You get the latest version by just reloading the page.
    - icebraining 10y ago
      You can do the same with an app, though.
      - inian 10y ago
        I meant without downloading a 40 MB binary upfront.

throwaway91111 10y ago

Sure, but not everyone wants to install an app for every site they visit; installation is about as non seamless as it gets! Plus, the TOS bullshit is no excuse. Just require registration to post.

wjmclaugh 10y ago
We don't want a database of undocumented immigrant emails, but agreed we will figure out a way to create a web portal as well.
- throwaway93058 10y ago
  By only offering the information in an app via the Play Store, you're creating a database of undocumented immigrant cellphones, and giving the feds a ready-made way to backdoor their phones. The security risk here is enormous if you're interested in protecting undocumented immigrants from being located by the US government. (A website without login doesn't have this problem.)

Avenger42 10y ago

> I'm a believer than an app always outdoes a "mobile-friendly" site. On the other hand, the website is available on all platforms. An app is typically only available on whatever platform(s) the creator thinks is/are most valuable.