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Are web apps relevant?

boyo1991

boyo1991

Android Enthusiast
Idk maybe im a futurist, maybe a pessimist.

But i remember everyone talking about web apps being the big thing. But thanks to apps, are they no more a thing than netbooks?

Web apps were a cool idea because you never had to download the application or worry about viruses (altho sometimes viruses were a problem). But now, apps being so light weight, and androids way of making sure viruses stay at bay, are web apps relevant?

I am a web programmer in my free time. Not a web designer or an artist, but legitimitely programming. Primarily with javascript. Yes theres html why wouldnt there be? But the main focus is on the javascript programming. So i fear this a little bit haha.

Im always looking at "the future of..." articles, maybe thats how i became pessimistic about the thing i love becoming nothing..
 
Our laptop is for rooting/unbricking android devices lol. I hate the thing. Windows is just so frustrating and unintuitive to me :)
 
For those whose memory goes back to 2007, the iPhone was originally only going to have web apps, with the only native apps being the ones which came with it.

That went down like the proverbial lead balloon, and was reversed within the year.
 
I wouldn't rule them out yet. I seem to recall reading they are getting to the point of providing the same performance and functionatity as native apps. Once that happens I think the developmental benefits (ie write one/run everywhere) takes over an you'll start to see them become the norm.

When will that happen - you got me.
 
Think main problem with web apps is that you have to be connected to the internet to use them. Fine if it's actually an internet type app. Think an example would be using Facebook's mobile site rather than installing their app. You can do very much the same things with either. On the other hand, I can't see the point of having to be online just to calculate a loan or something or to play Klondike solitaire.

The JopJoo tablet based its whole premise around web apps, and we know what a success that was...LOL. Even Chromebooks can be limited, try using one of them here you could be rather frustrated and disappointed. When the first iPhone came out, that was web apps. However at the time I believe it came with unlimited data. If you're on a limited or metered plan, web apps could actually cost you real $$$ to use them.
 
I'm pretty sure that one of the things about HTML 5 is that it will allow you to make web apps that are able to function in an offline mode seamlessly. As I recall that is why Google dropped the Google Gear development because it became redundant.
 
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