Gmail Sidesteps the App Store

#1

Post by zen53 » Wed, Apr 15, 2009, 11:18 AM UTC

Gmail Sidesteps the App Store
technologyreview.com

Re: Gmail Sidesteps the App Store

#2

Post by tewks » Wed, Apr 15, 2009, 12:00 PM UTC

Isn't this, rich web apps, what Steve Jobs originally said should happen when asked why an SDK/third party native apps weren't going to be made available?

Re: Gmail Sidesteps the App Store

#3

Post by jodrellblank » Wed, Apr 15, 2009, 12:04 PM UTC

tewks wrote: post #2

Isn't this, rich web apps, what Steve Jobs originally said should happen when asked why an SDK/third party native apps weren't going to be made available?

I'd say Google have come up with 'a really sweet solution' here.

Re: Gmail Sidesteps the App Store

#4

Post by stephencelis » Wed, Apr 15, 2009, 12:05 PM UTC

The fact that Google is utilizing HTML5 client-side storage is cool.

The emphasis this article places on a nonexistent battle between the App Store and web apps is misleading.

Google didn't "sidestep" the App Store. Google took advantage of the web platform Apple provides because that platform makes more sense.

Web apps do miss a few things, though:

  * Speed-ups from stepping outside of a UIWebView
  * Instant Springboard real estate
  * Instant monetization via Apple "one-click"
  * All the APIs wep apps don't have access to

I don't mean to imply it makes sense to port every web app over, but the platforms are quite different, and those differences should probably not be understated.

Re: Gmail Sidesteps the App Store

#5

Post by nirmal » Wed, Apr 15, 2009, 12:08 PM UTC

While HTML5 storage is good, I think the main advantage of native apps is access to hardware. Projects like Phonegap ( http://phonegap.com/ ) help you write a native app that is a website with special JS-based access to the hardware. However, if Phonegap were to release a free browser like BigFive Apps http://www.big5apps.com/ then I think they could build a more powerful web platform for the iphone and ipod that could be a great place to advertise a "web" version of your app.

Re: Gmail Sidesteps the App Store

#6

Post by hlidotbe » Wed, Apr 15, 2009, 12:34 PM UTC

tewks wrote: post #2

Isn't this, rich web apps, what Steve Jobs originally said should happen when asked why an SDK/third party native apps weren't going to be made available?

That's what I thought too. When he annouced that everybody was up in arms and now, mobile development is the way to go. I find that a bit ironic.

Re: Gmail Sidesteps the App Store

#7

Post by ZeroGravitas » Wed, Apr 15, 2009, 12:53 PM UTC

stephencelis wrote: post #4

The fact that Google is utilizing HTML5 client-side storage is cool. The emphasis this article places on a nonexistent battle between the App Store and web apps is misleading. Google didn't "sidestep" the App Store. Google took advantage of the web platform Apple provides because that platform makes more sense. Web apps do miss a few things, though: * Speed-ups from stepping outside of a UIWebView * Instant Springboa…

"Instant Springboard real estate"

You can easily add web apps or pages to the iPhones home screen, it's the button right below "bookmark". You even get a nice icon if it specified correctly using the appropriate HTML5

Re: Gmail Sidesteps the App Store

#8

Post by ErrantX » Wed, Apr 15, 2009, 12:58 PM UTC

nirmal wrote: post #5

While HTML5 storage is good, I think the main advantage of native apps is access to hardware. Projects like Phonegap ( http://phonegap.com/ ) help you write a native app that is a website with special JS-based access to the hardware. However, if Phonegap were to release a free browser like BigFive Apps http://www.big5apps.com/ then I think they could build a more powerful web platform for the iphone and ipod that cou…

and the security implications of that would be insane...

Re: Gmail Sidesteps the App Store

#9

Post by stephencelis » Wed, Apr 15, 2009, 1:14 PM UTC

ZeroGravitas wrote: post #7

stephencelis wrote: post #4

The fact that Google is utilizing HTML5 client-side storage is cool. The emphasis this article places on a nonexistent battle between the App Store and web apps is misleading. Google didn't "sidestep" the App Store. Google took advantage of the web platform Apple provides because that platform makes more sense. Web apps do miss a few things, though: * Speed-ups from stepping outside of a UIWebView * Instant Springboa…

"Instant Springboard real estate" You can easily add web apps or pages to the iPhones home screen, it's the button right below "bookmark". You even get a nice icon if it specified correctly using the appropriate HTML5

"Easily", but not "instantly".

If you download an app, it goes to your Springboard till you remove it. If you visit a web page, it doesn't go to your Springboard till you take action and bookmark it. But yes, the "apple-touch-icon" is a nice touch.

Re: Gmail Sidesteps the App Store

#10

Post by nirmal » Wed, Apr 15, 2009, 1:45 PM UTC

ErrantX wrote: post #8

nirmal wrote: post #5

While HTML5 storage is good, I think the main advantage of native apps is access to hardware. Projects like Phonegap ( http://phonegap.com/ ) help you write a native app that is a website with special JS-based access to the hardware. However, if Phonegap were to release a free browser like BigFive Apps http://www.big5apps.com/ then I think they could build a more powerful web platform for the iphone and ipod that cou…

and the security implications of that would be insane...

The main browser would be subject to the same security as any native app, so I'm not sure how the security issues would be any different than a native application.