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This is an interesting feature: https://developers.google.com/+/features/play-installs https://developers.google.com/+/features/play-installs

shawn-butler 14y ago
Isn't this a recurring complaint of HN users? They go to a website in a browser and it tells them to download their app. The complaint usually goes if I wanted to use your #@#%@# app I would be using it, I'm using your web site. Seems spammy to me and also android only. Really getting skeptical of the "gadgetification fanboism" of the web.
- cbhl 14y ago
  This is subtly different -- it sends the app to your phone when you're logged in on the desktop.
  - marcamillion 14y ago
    But isn't that worse? You are browsing an app that you logged into with Google+ and now all of a sudden it's installed on your phone?
    - cbhl 14y ago
      I dunno, Simple locks you out until you download and install the app so you can use the app once to create a signature for their agreements. In such a flow, I'd rather that the intent be spawned from a click on my computer than from me having to go to Google Play online/on the phone and search for it, etc. (Google can install anything on your phone at any time, in theory, because of the way Play works. So if you're worried about "all of a sudden it's installed on your phone" you probably don't want an Android device.)
    - Shooti 14y ago
      You have to reach some Google-controlled threshold of app quality before you can use it, according to this: https://developers.google.com/+/features/play-installs https://developers.google.com/+/features/play-installs
    - dannyr 14y ago
      It's not all of a sudden. You have to click "Install" for it to be downloaded on your phone. It's not automatic.
      - marcamillion 14y ago
        Ahh...ok. Now that makes sense. I was under the impression that it detects that you have an Android phone - based on your Google profile - and it automatically does that. Well that's cool.

shawn-butler 14y ago

Isn't this a recurring complaint of HN users? They go to a website in a browser and it tells them to download their app. The complaint usually goes if I wanted to use your #@#%@# app I would be using it, I'm using your web site. Seems spammy to me and also android only. Really getting skeptical of the "gadgetification fanboism" of the web.

cbhl 14y ago
This is subtly different -- it sends the app to your phone when you're logged in on the desktop.
- marcamillion 14y ago
  But isn't that worse? You are browsing an app that you logged into with Google+ and now all of a sudden it's installed on your phone?
  - cbhl 14y ago
    I dunno, Simple locks you out until you download and install the app so you can use the app once to create a signature for their agreements. In such a flow, I'd rather that the intent be spawned from a click on my computer than from me having to go to Google Play online/on the phone and search for it, etc. (Google can install anything on your phone at any time, in theory, because of the way Play works. So if you're worried about "all of a sudden it's installed on your phone" you probably don't want an Android device.)
  - Shooti 14y ago
    You have to reach some Google-controlled threshold of app quality before you can use it, according to this: https://developers.google.com/+/features/play-installs https://developers.google.com/+/features/play-installs
  - dannyr 14y ago
    It's not all of a sudden. You have to click "Install" for it to be downloaded on your phone. It's not automatic.
    - marcamillion 14y ago
      Ahh...ok. Now that makes sense. I was under the impression that it detects that you have an Android phone - based on your Google profile - and it automatically does that. Well that's cool.