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Other Apps or Mobile Websites?
- Thread starter max2
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Websites. You don't have to install anything, and they're limited in terms of how much they can spy on you.
This is so true. I did not think of it like that thanks!
Is there any reason to use a app at all ?
A lot of mobile websites limit functionality in order to steer you into their app (e.g. Reddit, YouTube)
Apps are pushed HARD for users to download because then they’ll be able to track the bejeezus out you.
And then you’re pestered with the perpetual upgrade nonsense.
If at all possible — always use the web version that’s accessible from the internet via a browser whenever possible.
And then you’re pestered with the perpetual upgrade nonsense.
If at all possible — always use the web version that’s accessible from the internet via a browser whenever possible.
On Eye Phones, I think it just depends on the app. Some apps work better than their browser experience (for me, bank apps, PayPal, some others) and with others the opposite is true.
But, on the iPad, the browser experience is almost always better. Google Chrome on the iPad gives a user the full desktop experience.
But, on the iPad, the browser experience is almost always better. Google Chrome on the iPad gives a user the full desktop experience.
The desktop website - using a computer and a web browser.
Definitely websites (web apps). I have like four (third party) apps on my iPhone: Signal and 1Password and two health related apps: HeartWatch and AutoSleep. Everything else goes through Safari! There are so many advantages to this.
1. The iPhone moves and behaves like a fighter jet without crappy apps hogging resources and storage.
2. I can reduce my time lost online because: I have to open Safari, open the website, login into a service, do stuff there. So it really needs to be something that requires my time. Otherwise, I won't do it.
3. Most apps are just web apps, displayed on an web view and put on the App Store. So why hogging the phone resources with it since I can fire up Safari anyway and access it from there?
4. From my experience, banking apps are just (really, really) crappy versions of their web apps. I do my banking from the desktop web version. 12 years now of doing this. Literally no issues whatsoever.
5. Like many said above, this will limit the ability of these services to track everything you do. Usually I read carefully the Privacy Policy of an app before installing. Usually I don't install it afterwards. Haha.
6. I can stay with older hardware for longer. For example, I've only switched to a newer iPhone (13 Pro) this year. After rocking an iPhone 5S for 8 years!! 8 years. That little thing still has like 83% battery health in it. And I'm still using it, but not as a daily driver (phone) anymore.
7. Also, I can stay with older hardware for longer because I don't have apps that suddenly drops the support for my operating system, because they migrated to newer SDKs that breaks compatibility.
Soo, yeah, lots of advantages there.
1. The iPhone moves and behaves like a fighter jet without crappy apps hogging resources and storage.
2. I can reduce my time lost online because: I have to open Safari, open the website, login into a service, do stuff there. So it really needs to be something that requires my time. Otherwise, I won't do it.
3. Most apps are just web apps, displayed on an web view and put on the App Store. So why hogging the phone resources with it since I can fire up Safari anyway and access it from there?
4. From my experience, banking apps are just (really, really) crappy versions of their web apps. I do my banking from the desktop web version. 12 years now of doing this. Literally no issues whatsoever.
5. Like many said above, this will limit the ability of these services to track everything you do. Usually I read carefully the Privacy Policy of an app before installing. Usually I don't install it afterwards. Haha.
6. I can stay with older hardware for longer. For example, I've only switched to a newer iPhone (13 Pro) this year. After rocking an iPhone 5S for 8 years!! 8 years. That little thing still has like 83% battery health in it. And I'm still using it, but not as a daily driver (phone) anymore.
7. Also, I can stay with older hardware for longer because I don't have apps that suddenly drops the support for my operating system, because they migrated to newer SDKs that breaks compatibility.
Soo, yeah, lots of advantages there.
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Personally, I prefer websites. I'd rather not have a million different apps for services that I can access via Safari...unless the functionality in the app is better than the website version.
The websites with lousy mobile experience probably will also have a terrible app too or no app to begin!
I go out of my way to not use the App Store and avoid services that require me to use an app, but I'm not religious about it. For example, my bank's app works quite well and I appreciate using FaceID to log-in, so I use the app even though the website also works OK.