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Do not download the app, use the website

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Re: Do not download the app, use the website

#51

Post by wizzwizz4 »

Uvix wrote: post #36
creatonez wrote: post #20

The Discord web app is nearly identical to the desktop app. The main things you are missing are global push-to-talk and rich presence (i.e. dicord spies on your process list and tells other people what games you are playing). I'm always surprised more people don't use it.

I also lose the ability to keep my place in my browser when I switch to it. (Yes, in theory, I could open another browser window for it instead of another tab. In practice, Chromium will pick the wrong window to remember the tabs from when it’s restarted, so I try to stick to one window.)

It remembers all the tabs: it just doesn't open them all. Ctrl+Shift+T should bring the rest back.

Re: Do not download the app, use the website

#52

Post by hsbauauvhabzb »

shermantanktop wrote: post #35

What are good examples of apps that have managed to monetize the precise location of millions of users in a way that isn't obvious (e.g. location-based advertising, or location-based filtering of social media content)? Collecting that data sounds creepy and nefarious, but if i think about what Experian and everyone else already knows about me, I don't know what information my phone's location would actually add that…

‘Value’ and ‘how much and who would pay for the information’ are two different questions. It’s clear the answer to the latter is ‘alot’.

Re: Do not download the app, use the website

#53

Post by dylan604 »

montroser wrote: post #44
markbao wrote: post #7

Don’t agree, but to each their own. The native app experience for every app noted in the article is better and smoother than the mobile web version, in my opinion. Lots of people hate Electron apps, which suggests to me that my preference for native apps isn’t unique. Web apps can ask for your location or microphone the same way native apps can. Just reject it, there’s nothing that says you have to accept on either p…

The author is not contesting that the app experience is better. Yeah, the web experience is worse -- because the product people are treating the entire web presence as a _marketing surface_ for the app. So, the web version is basically an ad for the app. This is true of Reddit, Yelp, and others. How could it not be worse? It's too bad because it's not like the web is incapable of providing a beautiful ux for those pr…

> No, it's not for you...

This is key. Companies pushing apps is not for your benefit. It's so they can further monetize you right under your nose and with your full permission by accepting their EULA. This is just a furtherance of the if you don't pay for the product you are the product.

Re: Do not download the app, use the website

#54

Post by wizzwizz4 »

dsr_ wrote: post #23
simondotau wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One of those people might have googled about pottery, or did a casual Amazon search for indicative pricing, on their phone while on your Wi-Fi connection.

Sure, that's possible. But nobody in that ecosystem deserves the benefit of the doubt.

But knowing the truth gives you power.

Re: Do not download the app, use the website

#55

Post by vunderba »

creatonez wrote: post #20

The Discord web app is nearly identical to the desktop app. The main things you are missing are global push-to-talk and rich presence (i.e. dicord spies on your process list and tells other people what games you are playing). I'm always surprised more people don't use it.

Another advantage to using the Discord website is that it's easier to style/modify using extensions such as tampermonkey.

Re: Do not download the app, use the website

#56

Post by hsbauauvhabzb »

prmoustache wrote: post #37
huqedato wrote: post #11

Well good advice... in theory. Most of websites I use regularly are simply not "optimized" for mobile: broken features, display errors, inadequate UI, just unusable on the phone. And it's intentional: they're sabotaging the mobile experience just to push you into downloading their app. I have no option than using their f..g app.

Why would you use their app if they are bostile towards you. That doesn't make any sense.

Because they’re my bank, or some service essential to my life with no good alternative. Google maps, for instance.

Re: Do not download the app, use the website

#57

Post by josephcsible »

nomel wrote: post #47
josephcsible wrote: post #40

I wish Apple and Google would make rules to the effect of "if your app's entire functionality could be done in a regular website or PWA, then you can't put a native app on our stores".

> if your app's entire functionality could be done in a regular website or PWA, then you can't put a native app on our stores A very silly threshold, since this would knock out probably 95% of the app store, including games, since "websites" are extremely capable these days, with full 3d graphics, etc. Then, each time safari added a new modern browser feature, more would get knocked out.

Why is that a bad thing? Wouldn't we be better off with all of them being PWA's?

Re: Do not download the app, use the website

#58

Post by opan »

markbao wrote: post #7

Don’t agree, but to each their own. The native app experience for every app noted in the article is better and smoother than the mobile web version, in my opinion. Lots of people hate Electron apps, which suggests to me that my preference for native apps isn’t unique. Web apps can ask for your location or microphone the same way native apps can. Just reject it, there’s nothing that says you have to accept on either p…

>The native app experience for every app noted in the article is better and smoother than the mobile web version, in my opinion. Lots of people hate Electron apps, which suggests to me that my preference for native apps isn’t unique.

I want native programs on my PC, and fewer apps on my phone.

I get all my apps from F-Droid. If I need to use Steam chat or view the menu at Taco Bell, mobile website it is. I am not gonna put their proprietary software on my phone. This also brings up another interesting difference. There is no desktop program for Taco Bell, that would be super weird. I think other comments already addressed that, but a lot of mobile apps are basically just the website.

A game like Luanti or some sort of Tetris is something I'd want native in both places (desktop and mobile). Games in browsers are a mess.

Re: Do not download the app, use the website

#59

Post by wouldbecouldbe »

I understand but it’s not always with bad intentions.

In the Netherlands we have a system called DigiD to login into to most government websites like your taxes and city, etc.

When I contracted for the city of Amsterdam I learned they’ve been pushing hard for the DigiD app to two factor authenticate instead of text message, because of contracts Digid charges a lot per text message validation and none for app.

Re: Do not download the app, use the website

#60

Post by reflexe »

I think that while data is a major point here, in my opinion, these are the reasons apps are preferred by developers:

1. Persistence: while websites are very easy to close, deleting an app is much more difficult and usually requires pressing on some “red buttons” and scary dialogs. It also makes sure the user now has a button for your app on their Home Screen which makes it a lot more accessible.

2. Notifications: while they exist for websites too, they are much less popular and turned off by default. Notifications are maybe the best way to get the user to use your app.

And while I hate the dark patterns some companies use (Meta, AliExpress, etc), I do understand why installing the app worth so much to them.

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