Smartphones and app stores are the current crack for geeks alike. Back in 2007 however, Apple tried to set a very different precedent by abandoning the traditional native app model and focusing on web apps. That attempt ultimately failed as end users wanted the features native apps provided and weren’t too fond of web apps’ meager functionality. As the mobile web and mobile browser constantly evolve, would a web app/browser combo once again have a chance at unseating native apps?
“Yes” says Mozilla. Speaking on behalf of excitement for their upcoming Fennec (Mobile Firefox) browser, Jay Sullivan, vice president of mobile at Mozilla stated that the improvements to the mobile web in the coming years will completely redefine the lines previously drawn between native and web apps. With Fennec, claims Jay Sullivan, we’ll see improvements in javascript performance that will supposedly be so great that it will reinvigorate the web app scene.
The idea of native apps dying off isn’t really that far fetched and in fact going to happen at some point or another. Just as many other products and services have moved into a digital/online format, so will apps. Just think, instead of spending time and money developing 1, 2, 3, or more different apps for different platforms, now a software developer can create one, maybe two different versions for any number of platforms.
The scalability and possibilities are really endless. Again, it’s just a matter of time before native apps and app stores become a thing of the past. How long do you think it will take?
The App Store is for mobile devices what iTunes was for mp3 players. Apple’s 180 on native applications after first announcing web apps were the way to do back in 2007 was a shock to many and welcomed by most. Since the App Store’s launch however, numerous complaints have been made and even websites created to highlight Apple’s draconian and sometimes senseless decisions concerning the App Store and polices within. It is that negative image and bad press that has re-energized the view of many iPhone devs into the world of web apps.
Wait a second. Weren’t web apps poo-pooed because they were inferior to native apps back in ’07? Why yes, yes they were. Don’t forget however that the mobile market has undergone some vast changes over the last year and a half. Not only has the mobile app world changed in regard to the limits mobile apps could obtain but also in the technologies used for said apps. Like their native cousins, web apps and the supporting technology have equally improved.
We are now at a point where tools such as “PastryKit” allow web developers to code and create webapps that feature some of the most desktop/native-like style and features yet, blurring the line between what is native and what is web. Right about now you’re probably asking yourself what the heck PastryKit is. Allow me to indulge…
PastryKit
PastryKit is an innovative and constantly improving set of tools allowing web apps. A blend of multiple technologies and languages including JavaScript, CSS, and some supporting graphics resources ensures the new generation of web apps is more robust, functional, and visually appealing. Need an example? If you own an iPhone, simply navigate to support.apple.com/manuals/iphone/ and notice the iPhone optimized manual that loads. Said manual relies on — you guessed it — PastryKit.
For now, consumers will have to wait it out or figure out the workings of PastryKit themselves as Apple hasn’t released the necessary information and source material to include PastryKit in any non-Apple/3rd party solutions. Such an approach has to at least have to do in some part with preventing App Store devs an easy out from App Store restrictions by way of open and free web apps powered by PastryKit. Still, those with the know-how will figure it out soon enough and spread the knowledge to others.
I’m not a developer so I couldn’t begin to explain the pros and cons to each method being used, but if any developer — native or web — want’s to speak up and give some insight into this hotly debated topic, feel free to jump in.
Online storage and “cloud” services are all the rage these days. With business looking to cut costs and move data storage offsite as well as consumers looking for easier and more convenient ways to share/store their information for easy accessibility may have found iCloud’s basic package at 3GB total storage a bit anemic. But the great thing about iCloud was that it wasn’t just about storage. Web apps covering multiple spheres including work and play allow consumers to get their work done and their time passed all via the convenience that a cloud based service can offer.
While the web apps and desktop in the cloud experience are certainly talking points, the real excitement for today’s announcement is the launch of iCloud Premium. Said service now offers customers a full 100GB of online storage so that users can store pretty much anything they want via the cloud. While HD movie buffs and music aficionados still won’t find ample storage for their digital collections, I’d wager a guess and say 80-90% of the general population will find the 100GB limit more than ample enough.
For those mobile warriors in the truest sense of the word, mobile devices are also supported in varying degrees depending on the mobile platform — specifically the iPhone, Android, and Windows Mobile. I haven’t personally used iCloud yet on a mobile device so if anyone is willing to chip in a few words it would be more than welcome.
The 100GB iCloud Premium will cost $39.99 per year over the Basic 3GB plan’s price free entrance point. But for those honestly needing the extra space tied together with a robust allotment of web apps will find a winning solution with iCloud.
Even though Apple’s App Store continually gets knocked for god awful delays in getting apps approved, updates issued, etc., Apple will never close down the actual approval process. Sad as it is, it’s just something we’ll have to live with. But devs who don’t want to deal with App Store woes have a new tool in their arsenal — HTML5.
The iPhone’s Safari browser supports HTML5. What’s the big deal? HTML5 allows web pages and web apps to act and display extremely close to what an actual native app would appear. The benefits of course are instant updates, not approval wait process, and no nanny deciding what is/isn’t acceptable. It’s no secret the approvers behind the whole shindig aren’t exactly the most consistent or bright so any chance to get away from the hot mess (this time hot mess is not good) that is the approval process will be gladly taken.
It’s rather funny actually. If web apps and HTML 5 continue growing in popularity, it will make a complete circle in the iPhone platform and mobile platform as a whole. When the iPhone first launched, Apple made a big deal about web apps and how native apps were dead. The web apps of 2007 were just so-so which didn’t please end users whom demanded a more desktop-like experience that native apps still hold over web apps. Then 2008 came as did the app store which as we have witnessed, has taken the mobile market by storm. Finally, we arrive here at the end of 2009 with developers once again eying web apps as a replacement for native applications.
One such company that is pushing the App Store model out of the way is Nextstop. Their self-titled app is purely web based and allows users to share cool things to do around your current location. The reasons Nextstop gave Scobleizer for ditching on-device apps were pretty much the same thing I’ve mentioned above:
Quick, uninhibited updates
easy “copy&paste” route to make actual app later down the road
Easier to develop and debug
Better fits larger number of users across multiple platforms
All are noteworthy reasons to go it alone with an HTML 5 powered web app. Though one problem that I don’t see with an immediate fix is how do you make money? Mobile ads are of course a given but I’m talking more in lines with the typical “app entrance fee” to purchase the app. Maybe I’m overlooking something incredibly easy here…? Nextop isn’t alone. With continuous advancements in HTML technology, it’s only a matter of time before native apps lose dominance to web apps as more developers make the switch, moving to an ultimately cheaper “platform” to develop for.
Check out Nextstop explaining their thoughts and development path below:
Love Twitter but wish it had some spiffy features you could turn on and off with the click of a mouse? You wishes will soon come true as according to the User Experience and Front End Engineering Lead for Twitter, Britt Selvitelle Twitter is planning on rolling out their very own “Labs” service. Announced at the Future of Web Apps conference in London, this new service will allow developers to create new and exciting features much like Firefox’s plugins and Google Labs features. Unfortunately, Britt was mum on anything else interesting regarding Twitters’ new Labs features and upcoming products. However, everyone who attended the conference was told that they would be given early access to the new Labs features. Anyone care to share? Guess us normal folk will have to play the waiting game yet again.
Googlers and heavy web users must be enjoying themselves. In a time where high speed broadband is constantly being talked about combined with the big hype surrounding “the cloud” as of late, online products and services must be experiencing some much appreciated attention and usage. Google, as just one example of many, has quite the assortment of various online tools from Office programs to email to website statistics. They have a lot going for them. But some of those web apps are getting a bit long in the tooth. Could it be time for a refresh? Speaking of refresh, Google is rumored to be holding an event today that will highlight certain features such as a more “professional” or business oriented Premier Edition of their online app catalog. As the Premier Edition moniker suggests, these updates are rumored to be more business and corporate centric giving Google a chance to take some market share in a place that they are the minority. While the updates are said to focus more on business users, the new features will be available to all users, corporate and consumers alike. Can they do it? We may be getting ahead of ourselves. Will they even announce anything today? Tomorrow? This month? I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
Google has a reach in the tech world that is growing daily. For some, they fear privacy concerns, for others, they can’t get enough of Google and their products and services. For those of you addicted to Gmail and its labels feature, I am proud to announce that you can now take that on the road. Google has revealed that they are now supporting “labels” (by way of many different colors) for iPhone and Android users who use gmail through the web app. So if you are a Gmail junky, now organizing your email just got a little better and colorful.
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The App Store is for mobile devices what iTunes was for mp3 players. Apple’s 180 on native applications after first announcing web apps were the way to do back in 2007 was a shock to many and welcomed by most. Since the App Store’s launch however, numerous complaints have been made and even websites created to highlight Apple’s draconian and sometimes senseless decisions concerning the App Store and polices within. It is that negative image and bad press that has re-energized the view of many iPhone devs into the world of web apps.
Even though Apple’s App Store continually gets knocked for god awful delays in getting apps approved, updates issued, etc., Apple will never close down the actual approval process. Sad as it is, it’s just something we’ll have to live with. But devs who don’t want to deal with App Store woes have a new tool in their arsenal — 
Love Twitter but wish it had some spiffy features you could turn on and off with the click of a mouse? You wishes will soon come true as according to the User Experience and Front End Engineering Lead for Twitter, Britt Selvitelle Twitter is planning on rolling out their very own “Labs” service. Announced at the Future of Web Apps conference in London, this new service will allow developers to create new and exciting features much like Firefox’s plugins and Google Labs features. Unfortunately, Britt was mum on anything else interesting regarding Twitters’ new Labs features and upcoming products. However, everyone who attended the conference was told that they would be given early access to the new Labs features. Anyone care to share? Guess us normal folk will have to play the waiting game yet again. 
