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Which do You Prefer: Mobile Web Apps or Mobile Websites? (Video)

Posted by Roblimo on from the using-mobile-apps-to-suck-up-bandwidth-and-your-device's-memory dept.

On December 28, 2015, Larry Seltzer wrote an article for Ars Technica provocatively titled (by Ars editors), The App-ocalypse: Can Web standards make mobile apps obsolete? A link to this article was posted on Slashdot, where it provoked a spirited discussion. In this video conversation, we talked to Larry about mobile aps vs. Web standards. Not surprisingly, he had some interesting things to say.

8 of 90 comments (clear)

  1. Huh? by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · · Score: 4, Informative

    Hate apps for the most part because they don't let you finger zoom and other things you can do in browsers.

    But from TFA:

    Historically, the problem with using Web applications on mobile devices is that webpages have not been able to do the things we expect of apps: features like pinch and zoom

    Wuuuut? That is the opposite of what is my observation.

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  2. Neither by Culture20 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Give me a real website. My screen resolution on my phone is crazy big, and it can zoom with a flick of two fingers if I need to. Reduced functionality/UI mobile sites are grandfathered crap intended for web-enabled Moto Razr phones from pre-smartphone days.

  3. Re:Why is everyone wearing headphones? by Roblimo · · Score: 4, Informative

    Some people watch videos, some don't. We mark all videos as videos to keep you from watching them by mistake, and provide transcripts if you want the information in them but would rather read than view.

    We *could* transmit videos directly to your brain using our subdural trans-pyschic information refabulizer, but we have decided not to do this. For now.

  4. Wrong by Kludge · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Why should I have to install software on my device just to do the job that an image, an html table, a couple of text fields, and a couple of buttons can do?
    Screw that. I don't need to give some corporation access to my location and personal data just to find me a damn restaurant.

  5. Re:My problem is with poorly made mobile web sites by Ichijo · · Score: 4, Insightful

    And worse, when "Request desktop site" doesn't work. I'm looking at you, Slashdot.

    Even worse still, when the mobile site doesn't do everything the desktop site does. Slashdot, do you feel my gaze?

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  6. Data harvesting is the downfall of mobile apps by QuietLagoon · · Score: 3, Insightful
    When an app I installed went off and emailed all my contacts to tell them that I just installed it, and told them that they should install it also --- well, that was the last straw that really turned me off to mobile apps. There is just too much data harvesting going on with web apps.

    .
    From now on, for me it is mobile websites only.

  7. I don't want to download your stupid app by Ionized · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I don't want to download your stupid app. Just make your website not suck on mobile devices. End of story.

    If your app really truly has enough complexity that a mobile site is too slow, and a native app is the only way to get decent performance, your app is probably too complicated. Keep it simple stupid.

    Maybe 1% of apps actually honestly need to be a standalone app.

  8. Honestly? They BOTH suck equally. by Chas · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Seriously. They both suck. So it's like asking which I'd prefer to eat. A bucket of solid shit or a bucket of diarrhea.

    So I avoid "mobile" options like the inferior plague they are.

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    THANK GOD!!!