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Start with a Website, Not a Mobile App

atrium.co

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Re: Start with a Website, Not a Mobile App

#31

Post by mcny »

sjroot wrote: post #23

The real answer to this question? (Surprise!) It depends. I have worked on a side project for the last year or so that will have a website and a mobile application. It has social elements, so ultimately I decided to prioritize the mobile application, because that is where users have access to their contacts, and do most of their communication with their friends and family. There are, of course, other business ideas t…

> If you are an Apple engineer and can help get that shipped, I will buy you a nice dinner. If you're an Apple recruiter, hire me so I can help ship it! :)

Not that I know anything not known publicly but I suspect the reason Apple iOS Safari does not have Web Push API is not because they lack developer resources to write the code to get it done. Apple is under tremendous pressure to increase revenue from its "services" right now so it seems a bad time to strengthen PWAs.

Re: Start with a Website, Not a Mobile App

#33

Post by wvenable »

verbify wrote: post #29

That's my feelings, although I've seen so many successful app-only startups that I feel I'm missing something that these startups grasp. E.g. in the UK Monzo, an app-only bank, won't allow you to access your statements, do transfers, or pretty much do anything to manage your account on the web, and is one of the most popular challenger banks.

Most of the points in the article are for the benefit of the developer (easier updating, lower dev cost, fewer platforms) and not for the benefit of the end user. If the goal is to make a product better for yourself then make a web application. If your goal is to make a product users will like then make mobile applications.

The article talks about how users don't install apps but signing up for a website (enter email, invent new password, wait for password vertification email, click link) is a far larger barrier to entry than just finding the app in the store and installing it.

Re: Start with a Website, Not a Mobile App

#34

Post by endorphone »

shams93 wrote: post #2

Given the fact that most people are already maxed out on apps on their device with just things like facebook and youtube, you're going to be hard pressed to get people to install your app just to try it out. With a progressive web app if they like your app they can add it to their device home screen without installing via the app store and without using up space on their device. Also don't need to pay Apple $100 a ye…

We've been hearing the same pitch for literally years. Heck, I've made some of them myself: "This is it, people! Native apps have been rendered unnecessary!"

No PWA competes with a native experience. Not performance wise, not usability wise, and ultimately for the developer not even development wise. It may still make a lot of sense, and there are a lot of arguments for web apps, but the enthusiasm in this discussion seems disconnected from reality.

Indeed, right now we're seeing a big uptick in Instant Apps on Android -- go to a webpage and it actually loads a native app -- and I fully expect the same to appear on iOS.

There is a bit of app exhaustion, though I'd say it's much more significant on Android where users have been taught that it's user beware. It certainly isn't a technical limit, though.

Re: Start with a Website, Not a Mobile App

#35

Post by ryancodes »

jklinger410 wrote: post #25
shams93 wrote: post #2

Given the fact that most people are already maxed out on apps on their device with just things like facebook and youtube, you're going to be hard pressed to get people to install your app just to try it out. With a progressive web app if they like your app they can add it to their device home screen without installing via the app store and without using up space on their device. Also don't need to pay Apple $100 a ye…

>if they like your app they can add it to their device home screen without installing via the app store and without using up space on their device As far as I'm concerned, until evidence to the contrary is provided, most people either don't do this or know how. Relying on a pinned app for smart phones is a good way to kill your startup. >you're going to be hard pressed to get people to install your app just to try it…

> Most users will delete your app shortly after installing it.

Which is why it is so crucial to focus on the core utility of the app. If the app is fun to use, great. But the apps that stick around provide services that are essential to the user.

Re: Start with a Website, Not a Mobile App

#37

Post by username223 »

orev wrote: post #18
onion2k wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On iOS you won’t get notifications or be able to run anything in the background. Ok, but what are the downsides?

As a user notifications are a problem, but as an app developer they absolutely work to drive engagement, which is why so many apps use them. So if you’re trying to run a business that’s a pretty important thing.

> As a user notifications are a problem, but as an app developer...

So do you develop apps but not use them? I can't think of a way the hypocrisy isn't shocking here. "Do unto others" and all that.

Re: Start with a Website, Not a Mobile App

#38

Post by have_faith »

shams93 wrote: post #2

Given the fact that most people are already maxed out on apps on their device with just things like facebook and youtube, you're going to be hard pressed to get people to install your app just to try it out. With a progressive web app if they like your app they can add it to their device home screen without installing via the app store and without using up space on their device. Also don't need to pay Apple $100 a ye…

> With a progressive web app if they like your app they can add it to their device home screen

Does anyone even know they can do that? I've never seen anyone do it "in the wild". Would love to see any stats around usage of pwa's added to home screen.

Re: Start with a Website, Not a Mobile App

#40

Post by reificator »

jklinger410 wrote: post #25
shams93 wrote: post #2

Given the fact that most people are already maxed out on apps on their device with just things like facebook and youtube, you're going to be hard pressed to get people to install your app just to try it out. With a progressive web app if they like your app they can add it to their device home screen without installing via the app store and without using up space on their device. Also don't need to pay Apple $100 a ye…

>if they like your app they can add it to their device home screen without installing via the app store and without using up space on their device As far as I'm concerned, until evidence to the contrary is provided, most people either don't do this or know how. Relying on a pinned app for smart phones is a good way to kill your startup. >you're going to be hard pressed to get people to install your app just to try it…

> >you're going to be hard pressed to get people to install your app just to try it out

> In fact, the statistics prove[1] that this is false. Most app installs are to try it out, and promptly delete it. Most users will delete your app shortly after installing it.

I'm really not following how this disproves what was being said. They were saying it's difficult to get people to even install for a test run, and you're saying most installs are test runs. There's nothing mutually exclusive about those two statements.

> Informed opinions are nice to share, uninformed ones not so much.

What a pompous response to make when you're not actually falsifying anything in their post.

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