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Updates are a major issue. Most web-spoilt users don't even understand why apps don't update themselves. Browser functions are useful in most apps, hence the 'b

Updates are a major issue. Most web-spoilt users don't even understand why apps don't update themselves. Browser functions are useful in most apps, hence the 'back' buttons in the top bar of most iOS apps. People are used to the web nowadays and expect similar functionality from the rest of the software they use. Discoverability is a big problem. The chrome web store is an example, it's interesting, but it's only built into chrome, and we had too many failed "Web directory" projects in the past anyway. There are other routes, like facebook viral apps, but these are also siloed.

canes123456 15y ago
The typical user doesn't care about updates. Most iPhones I see have 15+ uninstalled updates. The response to every Facebook update shows that that the typical user will resist change. Why would silent updates be critical to these kinds of people? I can about what version they are on as a developer but they don't care. The back button is useful to some apps, some of the time. Why should you show it all the time and confuse users? Native back buttons also allow you to show context; you can display information about where the back button takes you.