3 ms·

Probably because a browser is far superior in application distribution: * Don't have to download or install anything - something that is evidently hard for a l

Probably because a browser is far superior in application distribution: * Don't have to download or install anything - something that is evidently hard for a large amount of people * Old versions aren't as much of a problem; updates can be just a refresh away * A browser is a consistent/familiar interface - people generally know how to interact with them * Runs on your iPhone, Android, PC, Wii, PS3... There's many, many advantages and disadvantages - use your imagination!

pdelgallego 16y ago
Good points, but I disagree with this one. > Old versions aren't as much of a problem; updates can be just a refresh away. We are pushing the distribution problem one layer down, We still need to deal with 10 years old browsers.
- bdr 16y ago
  Browsers are the platform, not the app, equivalent to OS backwards compatibility.
  - ThomPete 16y ago
    Browsers are as much the app as they are the platform.
ThomPete 16y ago
Well perhaps the imagination could be used on thinking about how to make the OS more browser like. surely HTML5 is not even close to delivering application like experiences that match the desktop. On the other hand, desktop apps haven't moved anywhere the last 20 years or so. Seems like a classical Innovators Dilemma
dkersten 16y ago
Don't have to download or install anything - something that is evidently hard for a large amount of peple Sure you have to download stuff - its just done in the background for you. Install? Thats a silly legacy concept anyway. Browsers DO sandbox code though, which is a good thing, but an OS could do that to "native" apps too. Old versions aren't as much of a problem; updates can be just a refresh away Desktop apps could be developed in ways that solves this too. Though the browsers "refresh" button is certianly a lot more convenient than anything we ever see used on desktop apps. A browser is a consistent/familiar interface - people generally know how to interact with them Hah, hardly. The browser, sure - but honestly, how much of the web really uses the browser interface? We have some basic navigation (switching apps, essentially - the address bar, bookmarks, back, forward) and a selection of currently executing apps (tabs, windows). The rest is done inside the browser as HTML - and this is HIGHLY inconsistent between websites/webapps. There is absolutely nothing consistent or familiar about them. Runs on your iPhone, Android, PC, Wii, PS3... Maybe one day the "standards wars" will settle and this will be completely true. Regardless, you could, conceptually, do this with traditional apps too. It would be a lot more dificult though - browser definitely shines here.

pdelgallego 16y ago

Good points, but I disagree with this one. > Old versions aren't as much of a problem; updates can be just a refresh away. We are pushing the distribution problem one layer down, We still need to deal with 10 years old browsers.

bdr 16y ago
Browsers are the platform, not the app, equivalent to OS backwards compatibility.
- ThomPete 16y ago
  Browsers are as much the app as they are the platform.

ThomPete 16y ago

Well perhaps the imagination could be used on thinking about how to make the OS more browser like. surely HTML5 is not even close to delivering application like experiences that match the desktop. On the other hand, desktop apps haven't moved anywhere the last 20 years or so. Seems like a classical Innovators Dilemma

dkersten 16y ago

Don't have to download or install anything - something that is evidently hard for a large amount of peple Sure you have to download stuff - its just done in the background for you. Install? Thats a silly legacy concept anyway. Browsers DO sandbox code though, which is a good thing, but an OS could do that to "native" apps too. Old versions aren't as much of a problem; updates can be just a refresh away Desktop apps could be developed in ways that solves this too. Though the browsers "refresh" button is certianly a lot more convenient than anything we ever see used on desktop apps. A browser is a consistent/familiar interface - people generally know how to interact with them Hah, hardly. The browser, sure - but honestly, how much of the web really uses the browser interface? We have some basic navigation (switching apps, essentially - the address bar, bookmarks, back, forward) and a selection of currently executing apps (tabs, windows). The rest is done inside the browser as HTML - and this is HIGHLY inconsistent between websites/webapps. There is absolutely nothing consistent or familiar about them. Runs on your iPhone, Android, PC, Wii, PS3... Maybe one day the "standards wars" will settle and this will be completely true. Regardless, you could, conceptually, do this with traditional apps too. It would be a lot more dificult though - browser definitely shines here.