4 ms·

Depends on the user, I might be an outlier but my "ingrained behavior" is to not download an app unless I absolutely have to.

deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
girvo 8y ago
Same. We are not normal users. For a native app and PWA for childcare centre management I worked on: the PWA flow just confused parents. I’m really hoping that’ll change in the future
tjoff 8y ago
So the solution is to automatically download and execute anything and everything? The 90s called and want ActiveX back.
- jasonkostempski 8y ago
  As long as I can use a browser with uBlock Origin and API access (location, file system, camera, etc.) remains sane, I would very much prefer a web app. I don't want to: waste time installing; use up limited storage space; allow who knows what kind of access to other stuff on my device (e.g. LinkedIn and Facebook style abuse of native APIs); and have no way to combat ads. Especially for something I'm going to use maybe just once a month or less.
  - zwieback 8y ago
    Add "10 apps need your approval to update" to the list
- vbezhenar 8y ago
  The world already downloads and executes everything. In browser sandbox, that is. And using native app truly means executing anything, but now within bounds of much weaker mobile sandbox.
Yetanfou 8y ago
Indeed, the assumption being that those who do their utmost best to steer users towards an app when a simple site would suffice for the purpose have ulterior motives, most likely related to data collection on said users. This growing aversion to device-specific apps is actually a good thing in itself. Remember when web sites used to state that they were 'best viewed with browser X at resolution Y'? The rise of Firefox and the related demise of Internet Explorer (I wrote 'Internet Exploder' initially, a habit very much ingrained after years of suffering at the hands of Github's new overlord) did away with that nonsense, the web was slowly starting to live up to its promise of universal access no matter the OS or browser vendor. Then apps showed up, and with them the balkanisation returned with vengeance: to access this service you need to use iOS, Android app under construction, no plans for other devices, sorry 'bout that. There is a space for apps: games and other performance/timing-critical applications which are hard to implement using web technologies. Applications which by nature are device-specific, e.g. Android Xposed, firewall apps, etc. Things like checking the bus times or booking a train ticket should never require an app.

deleted 8y ago

[deleted]

girvo 8y ago

Same. We are not normal users. For a native app and PWA for childcare centre management I worked on: the PWA flow just confused parents. I’m really hoping that’ll change in the future

tjoff 8y ago

So the solution is to automatically download and execute anything and everything? The 90s called and want ActiveX back.

jasonkostempski 8y ago
As long as I can use a browser with uBlock Origin and API access (location, file system, camera, etc.) remains sane, I would very much prefer a web app. I don't want to: waste time installing; use up limited storage space; allow who knows what kind of access to other stuff on my device (e.g. LinkedIn and Facebook style abuse of native APIs); and have no way to combat ads. Especially for something I'm going to use maybe just once a month or less.
- zwieback 8y ago
  Add "10 apps need your approval to update" to the list
vbezhenar 8y ago
The world already downloads and executes everything. In browser sandbox, that is. And using native app truly means executing anything, but now within bounds of much weaker mobile sandbox.

Yetanfou 8y ago

Indeed, the assumption being that those who do their utmost best to steer users towards an app when a simple site would suffice for the purpose have ulterior motives, most likely related to data collection on said users. This growing aversion to device-specific apps is actually a good thing in itself. Remember when web sites used to state that they were 'best viewed with browser X at resolution Y'? The rise of Firefox and the related demise of Internet Explorer (I wrote 'Internet Exploder' initially, a habit very much ingrained after years of suffering at the hands of Github's new overlord) did away with that nonsense, the web was slowly starting to live up to its promise of universal access no matter the OS or browser vendor. Then apps showed up, and with them the balkanisation returned with vengeance: to access this service you need to use iOS, Android app under construction, no plans for other devices, sorry 'bout that. There is a space for apps: games and other performance/timing-critical applications which are hard to implement using web technologies. Applications which by nature are device-specific, e.g. Android Xposed, firewall apps, etc. Things like checking the bus times or booking a train ticket should never require an app.