4 ms·

What really is the relevant difference between an app and an installed website using browser APIs? When apps were introduced it seemed like a big difference, bu

What really is the relevant difference between an app and an installed website using browser APIs? When apps were introduced it seemed like a big difference, but now I'm not sure it is.

rapind 4y ago
You should ask Reddit. They really really want you to use their app instead of your browser, so there’s obviously something (like tracking).
- alangibson 4y ago
  IMHO it comes down to push notifications. If you install the app then they can proactively annoy ... sorry ... engage you.
  - stevewatson301 4y ago
    Web browsers can do push notifications too, albeit they have to ask for consent first.
    - Shish2k 4y ago
      Not on iOS they can’t - iOS _requires_ developers to go through all the hassle, fees, and taxes of creating an App-Store App if they want to use what every other platform considers a “standard web browser feature"
      - tessela 4y ago
        This 'hassle' will change in 2023 - https://webkit.org/blog/13152/webkit-features-in-safari-16-0/ https://webkit.org/blog/13152/webkit-features-in-safari-16-0... https://webkit.org/blog/12945/meet-web-push/ https://webkit.org/blog/12945/meet-web-push/
      - AlexandrB 4y ago
        Meanwhile, in a previous thread: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33315308 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33315308 I think website notifications in Safari will be fine for techies and others who use HN. But it will make many "normal" people's phones look like notification hell.
  - luuuzeta 4y ago
    >If you install the app then they can proactively annoy ... sorry ... engage you. I remember how I had all notifications and jingle bells on when I got my first smartphone back in 2015/2016. Nowadays turning off notifications is the first thing I do, and then turning them on for selected apps (e.g., phone, Telegram, etc). It helps I don't have social media apps in my phone, and whatever I use I access it in the browser (e.g., Twitter and Reddit).
pjmlp 4y ago
3D APIs, the best you can get is a PlayStation 3 like hardware, while on native you will get whatever the last version of Metal/Vulkan/DX 12 will give you. Don't expect ray tracing or mesh shaders coming to 3D Web during the next decade.
- JoeyJoJoJr 4y ago
  I’d settle for PS3 quality experiences on mobile web. Most of my side projects are 2D games. It just want to deploy them to web and allow users on phones to easily play them full screen.

What really is the relevant difference between an app and an installed website using browser APIs? When apps were introduced it seemed like a big difference, but now I'm not sure it is.

rapind 4y ago

You should ask Reddit. They really really want you to use their app instead of your browser, so there’s obviously something (like tracking).

alangibson 4y ago
IMHO it comes down to push notifications. If you install the app then they can proactively annoy ... sorry ... engage you.
- stevewatson301 4y ago
  Web browsers can do push notifications too, albeit they have to ask for consent first.
  - Shish2k 4y ago
    Not on iOS they can’t - iOS _requires_ developers to go through all the hassle, fees, and taxes of creating an App-Store App if they want to use what every other platform considers a “standard web browser feature"
    - tessela 4y ago
      This 'hassle' will change in 2023 - https://webkit.org/blog/13152/webkit-features-in-safari-16-0/ https://webkit.org/blog/13152/webkit-features-in-safari-16-0... https://webkit.org/blog/12945/meet-web-push/ https://webkit.org/blog/12945/meet-web-push/
    - AlexandrB 4y ago
      Meanwhile, in a previous thread: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33315308 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33315308 I think website notifications in Safari will be fine for techies and others who use HN. But it will make many "normal" people's phones look like notification hell.
- luuuzeta 4y ago
  >If you install the app then they can proactively annoy ... sorry ... engage you. I remember how I had all notifications and jingle bells on when I got my first smartphone back in 2015/2016. Nowadays turning off notifications is the first thing I do, and then turning them on for selected apps (e.g., phone, Telegram, etc). It helps I don't have social media apps in my phone, and whatever I use I access it in the browser (e.g., Twitter and Reddit).

pjmlp 4y ago

3D APIs, the best you can get is a PlayStation 3 like hardware, while on native you will get whatever the last version of Metal/Vulkan/DX 12 will give you. Don't expect ray tracing or mesh shaders coming to 3D Web during the next decade.

JoeyJoJoJr 4y ago
I’d settle for PS3 quality experiences on mobile web. Most of my side projects are 2D games. It just want to deploy them to web and allow users on phones to easily play them full screen.