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Why did the web take over desktop and not mobile?

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Re: Why did the web take over desktop and not mobile?

#171

Post by apozem »

yobbo wrote: post #74
lewantmontreal wrote: post #11

Two words: Application permissions. Any application I install on the desktop can potentially steal my data and ruin my life. And no, big names like Spotify or Valve don’t offer complete protection either due to supply chain attacks.

Yes, but normies don't really understand or care. The big difference is the "inviting" experience of installing apps on smartphones. Yes search the name and tap "install app".

I think normal users do have a fear of installing software on desktop. There's this fear of "viruses." They know they exist, they don't know how they work, but they know you shouldn't install anything or you'll let them in. They view third-party software like vampires - intruders trying to trick them into opening the door.

Which, given the history of adware toolbars and registry bloat on Windows, is maybe warranted.

https://www.pcworld.com/article/149951/registry-cleaner.html

Re: Why did the web take over desktop and not mobile?

#172

Post by cdata »

Fragoel2 wrote: post #71

I found the article really hard to read, the author took a long and convoluted path to expose his ideas. As for the question that the article raises, there are probably many co-occurring reasons, and a lot of comments make good points. However, one that I couldn't find listed is IMHO performance. I still find web apps (and web sites) to feel really sluggish and slow on everything that is not a top-tier phone. Again,…

I enjoyed the rhetorical journey the author took us on, personally.

I wonder if you read the whole article, since the author specifically calls out performance as one of the factors.

Re: Why did the web take over desktop and not mobile?

#173

Post by long_time_gone »

mumblemumble wrote: post #135
SiVal wrote: post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"I am sure everyone on HN moved [from computers to smartphones] quickly" I may be wrong, but I suspect you have that backwards. My guess is that at least older HNers were slower to shift from powerful but complex creation tools (computers) to easy consumption toys (smartphones) designed for consumers who found computers with files and folders just too darned complicated to use. Until good, portable mapping and good-e…

I suspect everyone is wrong, but we're all subject to an availability bias. We assume that things we actively notice other people doing in public are representative of what everyone (or everyone in some category to which we've assigned that person) is doing. We don't notice all the people not engaging in that behavior because they're not noteworthy.

==We assume that things we actively notice other people doing in public are representative of what everyone (or everyone in some category to which we've assigned that person) is doing. We don't notice all the people not engaging in that behavior because they're not noteworthy.==

Doesn’t this comment include it’s own set of biases?

Re: Why did the web take over desktop and not mobile?

#174

Post by madmaniak »

I can give some answer: because web pages were artificially throttled on devices (at least iPhone) and mobile applications were promoted with endless stream of money from central banks - if you took any kind of IT subsidy (at least EU) you needed to make mobile app obligatory. Mobile app is much better for malicious and hidden functionality of the app - that's why the transition was needed. Cheers!

Re: Why did the web take over desktop and not mobile?

#175

Post by simonh »

SiVal wrote: post #114
mattlondon wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The real question is how did the web remain relevant while being so far behind this tectonic platform shift? We didn't all shift to to smartphones the instant they became available. It took a while for people to transition to smartphones. Likewise getting an app up and running (in addition to their websites) took time for most businesses, and many probably waited before jumping on the band wagon I am sure everyone…

"I am sure everyone on HN moved [from computers to smartphones] quickly" I may be wrong, but I suspect you have that backwards. My guess is that at least older HNers were slower to shift from powerful but complex creation tools (computers) to easy consumption toys (smartphones) designed for consumers who found computers with files and folders just too darned complicated to use. Until good, portable mapping and good-e…

I really dislike the 'consumption device' label, to me it seems lazily dismissive and missing the point. Smartphones, like phones, are primarily communication devices and communication is an active process. Texting/chat, email, audio calls, Twitter, Slack, Teams, Reddit, facebook, Discord, snapchat, etc, etc are all interactive communications media people use to create content for as well as 'consume'. Yes of course they're also used to watch videos and memes, read web sites, listen to podcasts and audiobooks. Sure, but active engagement is the killer feature for these things.

Re: Why did the web take over desktop and not mobile?

#177

Post by dukeofdoom »

anonu wrote: post #82

Also, what we call "mobile" is actually just 2 nice walled gardens with doors called "App Store" and "Play Store". That's at least another reason why the web is not pervasive on mobile: Apple and Google are quite happy that it's not that way because they can monetize their platforms with far more control than through the browser. The article references app stores pointing out that they reduced user friction in paymen…

A good open successor to flash would have made the app stores much less appealing. But that never happened.

Re: Why did the web take over desktop and not mobile?

#179

Post by judge2020 »

cblconfederate wrote: post #93
lewantmontreal wrote: post #11

Two words: Application permissions. Any application I install on the desktop can potentially steal my data and ruin my life. And no, big names like Spotify or Valve don’t offer complete protection either due to supply chain attacks.

Your desktop does not have much private data (other than your files, which reputable programs don't scan without reason). Your phone has your location, your activity status, your phonebook, which 99.9% of people cannot spoof

'Files' includes %appdata%, which is often a bunch of secrets like browser cookies or authentication keys.

Re: Why did the web take over desktop and not mobile?

#180

Post by AndrewUnmuted »

simonh wrote: post #175
SiVal wrote: post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"I am sure everyone on HN moved [from computers to smartphones] quickly" I may be wrong, but I suspect you have that backwards. My guess is that at least older HNers were slower to shift from powerful but complex creation tools (computers) to easy consumption toys (smartphones) designed for consumers who found computers with files and folders just too darned complicated to use. Until good, portable mapping and good-e…

I really dislike the 'consumption device' label, to me it seems lazily dismissive and missing the point. Smartphones, like phones, are primarily communication devices and communication is an active process. Texting/chat, email, audio calls, Twitter, Slack, Teams, Reddit, facebook, Discord, snapchat, etc, etc are all interactive communications media people use to create content for as well as 'consume'. Yes of course…

Go to any commuter train on a Monday morning and look what every last one of those people seated in the car are doing.

They're consuming, not interacting. It is not lazy nor is it dismissive to suggest smartphones are largely devices that inspire consumption. It's just a proper observation.

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