@dangillmor but they want YOUR DATA 😅😅😅😅

seriously, installing an app isn't just a hassle, it's a security risk too.

@dangillmor In fact it’s often EASIER and FASTER to build a web application. They don’t WANT that, because there’s less opportunity to dig their tendrils into your phone’s operating system through the browser.

@dangillmor it's why i haven't checked my email on fb in a long time. they have made it so that you have to download messenger to read messages on a mobile. no thanks. nothing anyone has to say to me on fb is worth that. not by any stretch of the imagination. if i can't use their mobile site then i just won't use their website on my phone. period. i'm with you.

@dangillmor use the Install App function on mostly any browser which creates a 'bookmark' that will open a dedicated browser for the application.

https://help.vivaldi.com/desktop/miscellaneous/progressive-web-apps/

this works for most Android browsers.

Note: I avoid installing 'native' applications when it does not offer any additional functionality; such as offline support. Eg. mastodon needs an active connection to be useful.

@dangillmor Yes! I have often wondered why folks can’t make their website easier to access via phone.

@dangillmor Sometimes they'll give you a compromise by shipping an app which just pulls up the company's website or something. Still not what we're looking for, though.

@dangillmor 💯 agree. Unless it needs to do things with GPS, cameras, etc, it should be a webpage. There are some bandwidth reasons an app can have a better experience, but it is rarely the reason they have an app.

@dangillmor Peeve: "app" that's just an ugly, kludgy, awkward wrapper for a website ☹️ and no additional functionality ☹️

@dangillmor can't wait for a website that asks for permission to view your texts instead of ads

@dangillmor @adriano As someone who has made an app or two, I can definitely say for every 1 person who would prefer a web app, there’s like 5 more other folks who would prefer an app.

It’s frustrating too, because a web app is cheaper to develop for and faster to update, not to mention has far less permissions than an app. Also, iOS has made this really difficult for PWA in the past as they compete with their own IAP model (and if a PWA is successful, can cut out Apple)

@dangillmor for people who don't want to use a browser, postd.io and notd.io use progressive web apps, which are basically a dedicated instance of the browser you choose. There is no data collection and no ads. When tech/media writers eventually write about those networks, they will no doubt complain about the lack of "real" apps, without realizing it's better for users.

@dangillmor imagine being a dev on the mobile web site team and some product person makes you add an "our stuff is way better in the app, the mobile site is bad, actually" banner to the very mobile site you've been working on for 40 hours a week