Gmail Sidesteps the App Store • Hacker News Board

Re: Gmail Sidesteps the App Store

#11

Post by adamhowell » Wed, Apr 15, 2009, 1:49 PM UTC

The article didn't seem to say where in the app they were actually using Canvas -- anyone have any idea?

Re: Gmail Sidesteps the App Store

#12

Post by spolsky » Wed, Apr 15, 2009, 2:00 PM UTC

I'm totally confused. Doesn't this mean that Gmail only works when you're online? Which means... higher battery usage than a native email client, higher bandwidth usage, slower response time, doesn't work in airplanes, etc.?

Re: Gmail Sidesteps the App Store

#13

Post by ErrantX » Wed, Apr 15, 2009, 2:01 PM UTC

nirmal wrote: post #10

ErrantX wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

because native applications are usually installed by choice.

With a browser the implication (of the poster) is you could browse anywhere. Which obviously is a security risk because any page you visit has access to the Iphone API.

Would you visit a site that had that kind of access in your desktop browser?

Re: Gmail Sidesteps the App Store

#14

Post by tvon » Wed, Apr 15, 2009, 2:03 PM UTC

stephencelis wrote: post #9

ZeroGravitas wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"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.

You're adding weight to actions and ignoring weight on other actions. "Go to app sore, find app, click 'buy', enter password" isn't really any simpler than "Go to URL, click '+', click 'add to home screen'".

Neither is "instant", though the App store process is streamlined to a specific purpose.

Re: Gmail Sidesteps the App Store

#15

Post by tvon » Wed, Apr 15, 2009, 2:05 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...

It's not as bad as it sounds (though I gave you an upvote). You'd just have to limit the access to browser apps that have been "installed" to the home screen. I'm sure people would go nuts, but I think it could be done relatively safely.

Re: Gmail Sidesteps the App Store

#16

Post by tvon » Wed, Apr 15, 2009, 2:07 PM UTC

spolsky wrote: post #12

I'm totally confused. Doesn't this mean that Gmail only works when you're online? Which means... higher battery usage than a native email client, higher bandwidth usage, slower response time, doesn't work in airplanes, etc.?

With offline storage it can work much like offline gmail using Gears on the desktop. That's more or less the point.

Google around for HTML5 and offline storage.

Re: Gmail Sidesteps the App Store

#17

Post by TetOn » Wed, Apr 15, 2009, 2:11 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?

Also interesting to note that this sort of rich web app is the way Palm Pre development is (supposedly) going to work...

Re: Gmail Sidesteps the App Store

#18

Post by feverishaaron » Wed, Apr 15, 2009, 2:12 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?

The author seems to have a very poor understanding of the iPhone ecosystem. That, or he is trying to draw in more readers with a sneaky headline.

I think Google is being smart here. Many of the "apps" on the app store would be better served as web services anyways.

Re: Gmail Sidesteps the App Store

#19

Post by haxorize » Wed, Apr 15, 2009, 2:19 PM UTC

adamhowell wrote: post #11

The article didn't seem to say where in the app they were actually using Canvas -- anyone have any idea?

According to the official Gmail blog:

"The HTML5 canvas tag is used to render the progress spinner without the overhead of downloading animated GIFs to the device."

http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/2009/04/new-mobile-gmail-exper...

Re: Gmail Sidesteps the App Store

#20

Post by tjogin » Wed, Apr 15, 2009, 2:22 PM UTC

So this newfangled thing called web apps is going to offset the App Store, is that it?

The author of the article assumes that the App Store is a problem to iPhone developers. It is not, it's a solution — one mobile and other developers have been waiting for several years.