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Apple is developing a feature for using apps without requiring full downloads

9to5mac.com

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Re: Apple is developing a feature for using apps without requiring full downloads

#41

Post by holoduke »

adwww wrote: post #3
riyadparvez wrote: post #2

It seems very similar to Android feature called Google Play instant: https://developer.android.com/topic/google-play-instant .

This (or something like it?) has been available for ages, but the only time I've ever actually encountered it in the wild is with links to a JIRA project.

We have this instant app feature in our roadmap for more than 2 years. Every time we start with it, we run into the endless list of difficulties to get it to work. Max size, different modules, shares resources etc. It's hell on earth for most devs. That's why you see almost no apps having it. The idea is nice from a Google perspective. I would rather just add a link to each app in the playstore which goes to the app website. Up to the developer to create a web version of it. But of course this gives zero control to goole

Re: Apple is developing a feature for using apps without requiring full downloads

#42

Post by selectodude »

chipperyman573 wrote: post #30
sillyconvalley wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Vendor lock-in and ridiculous pricing sounds like just about every SaaS startup in the world. But it's Apple, so it's not okay.

My monthly subscription is for a mobile plan, not a phone. I paid for that up front. Why would it be like SAAS?

I think OP means on the developers' end. The only monthly fee my iPhone seemingly requires is $.99/mo because their cloud storage tiers kind of suck.

Re: Apple is developing a feature for using apps without requiring full downloads

#43

Post by selectodude »

diggan wrote: post #25
snarf21 wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, it does have a difference. You have full access to all native capabilities on the platform. That isn't true from a webapp. I'm not casting judgment on which is better but it is different. Actually, I wish this feature was a combination of install and run with parameter in a single step, controlled by the OS.

True, but that's only true because of Apple wants it to be like that, not because there is some physical impossibility to integrate native platform APIs in the browsers.

You can already code "native" iOS apps in React Native if you're so inclined. I can't really see a difference between devs coding against native iOS APIs in the browser that I end up having to download in order to use offline vs downloading apps coded against iOS API's downloaded natively from the app store.

Re: Apple is developing a feature for using apps without requiring full downloads

#45

Post by galuggus »

This looks similar to wechat mini programs. They are instants apps availible from within the chat app. They are very easy to share. They are a real game changer. E. G you go to a restaurant scan a qr code and order and pay through the mini program.

Re: Apple is developing a feature for using apps without requiring full downloads

#46

Post by Kuinox »

anfilt wrote: post #44

Sounds like a horrible idea. Why on earth would I want the act of scanning a QR code to start downloading & executing random code. Heck native code too since they say it's an app.

Well that what you are doing when you scan a QR code a put the URL in your browser. You download random code that the server send to you, and execute it.

Re: Apple is developing a feature for using apps without requiring full downloads

#47

Post by beatrobot »

adwww wrote: post #3
riyadparvez wrote: post #2

It seems very similar to Android feature called Google Play instant: https://developer.android.com/topic/google-play-instant .

This (or something like it?) has been available for ages, but the only time I've ever actually encountered it in the wild is with links to a JIRA project.

Vimeo has one

Re: Apple is developing a feature for using apps without requiring full downloads

#48

Post by netsharc »

I wonder if a phone OS will move to Google Stadia-esque offer: your device is just a remote viewer, everything including rendering the UI happens on their backend (Marketing has a field day touting Cloud-features), and is streamed to your device.

Of course it'll be limited to places with high speed cellular Internet, but hey 15 years ago no one thought we'd be able to stream 3D games over the Internet..

Re: Apple is developing a feature for using apps without requiring full downloads

#49

Post by tootie »

sillyconvalley wrote: post #26
diggan wrote: post #6

> this new API, we can say that it allows developers to offer interactive and dynamic content from their apps even if you haven’t installed them Also formerly known as Web Applications but now made by Apple with the added features of less control from the developers, a 30% mandatory fee if you accept any payments of any kind and locked to just one platform.

Vendor lock-in and ridiculous pricing sounds like just about every SaaS startup in the world. But it's Apple, so it's not okay.

Apple apps can only be developed on Apple computers and if you pay a fee to Apple for the privilege. And they own the app store. There's lock in and then there's complete vertical integration.

Re: Apple is developing a feature for using apps without requiring full downloads

#50

Post by briandear »

tootie wrote: post #49
sillyconvalley wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Vendor lock-in and ridiculous pricing sounds like just about every SaaS startup in the world. But it's Apple, so it's not okay.

Apple apps can only be developed on Apple computers and if you pay a fee to Apple for the privilege. And they own the app store. There's lock in and then there's complete vertical integration.

So don’t participate in that market. You have that choice.
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