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“It works better in the app”

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Re: “It works better in the app”

#271

Post by Henchman21 »

goosejuice wrote: post #23
brk wrote: post #9

At this point the barrier for me to install an app is pretty high. If you're going to needlessly gate certain functions behind an app that work on a desktop browser (or could work in-browser), then I just won't use those functions. If by extension that degrades the value I get from your site, then I just won't use the site, and I won't be contributing to ADU stats you promote to advertisers. Every single company has…

I wish everyone thought like this. Unfortunately the average user demands an app and thinks they have nothing to hide.

Please provide your proof of this statement

Re: “It works better in the app”

#272

Post by thewebguyd »

chrisjj wrote: post #214
thewebguyd wrote: post #196

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even Apple, before caving in, didn't want apps. On the original iPhone there was no SDK, Jobs' "sweet solution" to expanding functionality was web apps pinned to the home screen. Everyone complained, loudly, and they caved in and launched the app store.

What complaint?

People complained there was no SDK or way to install software on the iPhone outside of web apps.

Re: “It works better in the app”

#273

Post by cosmic_cheese »

On the other hand, the existence of alternative implementations in the form of mobile apps can on occasion be a saving grace when web apps are halfassed the other way. It's so frustrating when a poorly made web app that e.g. eats way too much memory, keeps cores spinning for no reason, chokes its tab process, doesn't handle history correctly, etc is the only option available and you have no choice but to live with it.

It makes me wish it didn't become the norm to lock down site/service APIs are reserve them for private use only so crappy web apps would have to compete with superior third party alternatives.

Re: “It works better in the app”

#274

Post by eru »

LPisGood wrote: post #79
brk wrote: post #9

At this point the barrier for me to install an app is pretty high. If you're going to needlessly gate certain functions behind an app that work on a desktop browser (or could work in-browser), then I just won't use those functions. If by extension that degrades the value I get from your site, then I just won't use the site, and I won't be contributing to ADU stats you promote to advertisers. Every single company has…

What really grinds my gears is when the app is a _broken_ version of the website. I find the app really expects you to be on the happy path in a way the website does not. Uhaul is a great example of this. The app looks a little better on mobile, but if you don’t make an account and search by reservation ID, all features related to things like extending a reservation time are nonfunctional. I have to go to the mobile…

> What really grinds my gears is when the app is a _broken_ version of the website. I find the app really expects you to be on the happy path in a way the website does not.

That's what the linked article is all about.

Re: “It works better in the app”

#275

Post by Spooky23 »

Whatarethese wrote: post #224
m463 wrote: post #184

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can't buy a tesla without the app. Worse, to sell a tesla, you are the person saying "ok, install the app, then I can transfer ownership to you, conveniently!" and this is getting normalized with other car manufacturers. (and it ALL goes back to apple... who started the whole app nonsense, and promoted a look-and-feel that gave tesla a terrible tap and swipe iphone/ipad type ui in a moving car)

You can absolutely buy a Tesla and operate it for the life of the vehicle without an app or even a smartphone. They have key fobs and keycards for this purpose. Go into the store or order online. Everything can be handled by the Tesla store if you are selling the car and need to transfer it to another person.

The nearest Tesla store is 150 miles away. No.

There’s an easier solution: don’t buy Tesla.

Re: “It works better in the app”

#276

Post by rovr138 »

LPisGood wrote: post #90
ninjahawk1 wrote: post #66

What’s even worse is intentionally degrading performance for sign-in’s. This is still circumstantial but I’ve been looking into that over the past few weeks. When switching between google accounts on a random app or game, no issue. Quick code, you’re in. When I switch between accounts on Claude on mobile, I have to sign in, enter the code, screen freezes, I sign in again, can’t verify it’s me, I sign again, wait 30 s…

It is possible that Anthropic (and OpenAI for that matter) actually put out some pretty low quality software. If you’ve used Claude Code for any length of time you’re familiar with all of the strange rendering bugs, freezes, etc. OpenAI is even worse, their horrific software makes it difficult to _pay_ them, which should be top priority for a company.

Anthropic finally added the ability to sort by spend.

I have thousands of people on an org. I had to go through every page to extract the top spenders.

Openai... you captured the sentiment.

Re: “It works better in the app”

#277

Post by Boxxed »

Yes, the AllTrails app does this. You can't send a route to your Garmin watch or whatever in the app, you must do it in the browser version.

And since having the app installed at all sort of hijacks AllTrails links, you really don't even want it installed at all. Yet you constantly are told to install the app...drives me up the wall.

Re: “It works better in the app”

#278

Post by dublin »

sroussey wrote: post #132
mapontosevenths wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If your app is just a webpage that forces me to use an app just so you can spy on me I just won't use your product. I've switched brokers over it, I swapped banks, I stopped shopping at certain stores. I'm done. The only say I have is in how I spend my money. Those companies won't get any of mine if I can help it. I am the customer, not the product dammit.

Twitter is the worst. You go to a page and scroll down and it banners a beater in the app thing and you can’t dismiss it. You either get the app or close the tab. Close the tab.

The web browser experience in the browser is dramatically superior to that in the app, which doesn't even let you copy and paste media, for instance to text to others. X wants to force you to do that through a link back to them. Nope.

Most Apps are just emasculated and spyware-infested WebApps version of the website, anyway. Why not just use the Browser and get the real experience?

I do not want you app of crap.

Re: “It works better in the app”

#280

Post by rovr138 »

thewebguyd wrote: post #217
LPisGood wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is possible that Anthropic (and OpenAI for that matter) actually put out some pretty low quality software. If you’ve used Claude Code for any length of time you’re familiar with all of the strange rendering bugs, freezes, etc. OpenAI is even worse, their horrific software makes it difficult to _pay_ them, which should be top priority for a company.

It's weird to me how so many people just put up with crappy, low quality software. If you buy a physical good and its defective, you return it, stop buying that brand, maybe even leave a negative review or contact consumer reports, etc. If it does not live up to what was advertised, you go to the FTC. But when it comes to software, we all just kind of accept that shitty software is the norm and totally fine? Let's st…

What's your alternative to these examples?

In my case, I use both, for different reasons, and continuously test other.

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