4 ms·

> Apps that provide core features and functionality dynamically with web technology like HTML5 are best delivered to everyone in Safari, rather than through the

by js2 7y ago

> Apps that provide core features and functionality dynamically with web technology like HTML5 are best delivered to everyone in Safari, rather than through the curated App Store The various financial/banking/utility apps I use at best provide maybe half their functionality directly. Some really egregious examples of apps that are mostly HTML5 are myAT&T and the Discover card apps. The Discover card app is 100% useless w/o a network. Ditto the AmEx app. Actually, all eight finance/banking apps I have on my phone are useless w/o a network.

eco 7y ago
I don't use those apps so I'm curious what functionality would you expect out of them if they didn't have network access? When I use any banking apps I'm looking at transactions or making transfers both of which require internet access by their nature (queuing up transfers for later or showing stale transactions seems like a bad idea).
- js2 7y ago
  Without network access, I can still see recent messages I sent in Messages, recent email in the Mail app, and so forth. I would expect to see the most recent data the app had available to it. In addition, I expect these apps to work over a low-bandwidth connection. The Discover card app is useless without an LTE connection. But that isn't even my main complaint, it's that these apps are mostly paper-thin wrappers around a web site and bounce you into a web view for much of their functionality.
- toast0 7y ago
  There's no reason you couldn't have the branch locator work offline. Maybe the ATM locator too. It might be useful to have the most recent transactions, like a check register/quicken; sync when you can. Setting up a queued transfer doesn't seem that unreasonable -- as long as it makes sanity checks when it's actually processed.
seanalltogether 7y ago
I had a lot of financial clients during the early days of ios and android. All the ones that dipped their toes into native apps back then have migrated back to html wrappers. Some I remember had concerns about unencrypted storage of user data, others had concerns about increased platforms for vulnerability testing. I think ultimately these guys try to reduce risk and cost related to tech, even if it would improve their customer experience.

by js2 7y ago

eco 7y ago

I don't use those apps so I'm curious what functionality would you expect out of them if they didn't have network access? When I use any banking apps I'm looking at transactions or making transfers both of which require internet access by their nature (queuing up transfers for later or showing stale transactions seems like a bad idea).

js2 7y ago
Without network access, I can still see recent messages I sent in Messages, recent email in the Mail app, and so forth. I would expect to see the most recent data the app had available to it. In addition, I expect these apps to work over a low-bandwidth connection. The Discover card app is useless without an LTE connection. But that isn't even my main complaint, it's that these apps are mostly paper-thin wrappers around a web site and bounce you into a web view for much of their functionality.
toast0 7y ago
There's no reason you couldn't have the branch locator work offline. Maybe the ATM locator too. It might be useful to have the most recent transactions, like a check register/quicken; sync when you can. Setting up a queued transfer doesn't seem that unreasonable -- as long as it makes sanity checks when it's actually processed.

seanalltogether 7y ago

I had a lot of financial clients during the early days of ios and android. All the ones that dipped their toes into native apps back then have migrated back to html wrappers. Some I remember had concerns about unencrypted storage of user data, others had concerns about increased platforms for vulnerability testing. I think ultimately these guys try to reduce risk and cost related to tech, even if it would improve their customer experience.