Why apps?

For years, interaction with the internet worked through a
universal browser. Lately, every service, gadget or whatnot
wants you to download their special-purpose app. Why??
What's the deal? It seems like a huge step backwards to me.

Jeroen Belleman

Jeroen Belleman <jeroen@nospam.please> wrote:

> For years, interaction with the internet worked through a
> universal browser. Lately, every service, gadget or whatnot
> wants you to download their special-purpose app. Why??
> What's the deal? It seems like a huge step backwards to me.
> 
> Jeroen Belleman

Desktop browsers don't count anymore. There are billions of phones to attract 
marketing messages, and very few desktops.

I view this arrangment in our favor. We are not bothered much by ad campaigns 
and can go about our business of collecting information relatively 
unhampered. There may be a few useful aps on cellphones, but we can usually 
find similar or the equivalent for desktops.

So rejoice that marketers are passing us by.

(Opinions lightly held by a private citizen)

On 1/8/2022 15:18, Jeroen Belleman wrote:
> For years, interaction with the internet worked through a
> universal browser. Lately, every service, gadget or whatnot
> wants you to download their special-purpose app. Why??
> What's the deal? It seems like a huge step backwards to me.
> 
> Jeroen Belleman

I have been wondering that myself, and I also see it as a step back.

Not sure if working outside the browser gives them more control over
the device, perhaps some - I remember facebook constantly suggesting
I use their app, "better than the browser" (I don't use it, never
tried it really, I am not much of a facebooker although I have a profile
etc.).
May be there are many people capable of writing apps - this must have
been made really easy - and they need to be kept busy, who knows.

On Saturday, January 8, 2022 at 5:49:17 AM UTC-8, Dimiter Popoff wrote:
> On 1/8/2022 15:18, Jeroen Belleman wrote: 
> > For years, interaction with the internet worked through a 
> > universal browser. Lately, every service, gadget or whatnot 
> > wants you to download their special-purpose app. Why?? 
> > What's the deal? It seems like a huge step backwards to me. 
> > 
> > Jeroen Belleman
> I have been wondering that myself, and I also see it as a step back. 
> 
> Not sure if working outside the browser gives them more control over 
> the device, perhaps some - I remember facebook constantly suggesting 
> I use their app, "better than the browser" (I don't use it, never 
> tried it really, I am not much of a facebooker although I have a profile 
> etc.). 
> May be there are many people capable of writing apps - this must have 
> been made really easy - and they need to be kept busy, who knows.

Apps are supposed to be more secure and more convenient.  Many apps can store accounts and passwords directly, since you are supposed to have the phone under control all the time.  That is until you lose the phone.

On Sat, 08 Jan 2022 14:18:24 +0100, Jeroen Belleman
<jeroen@nospam.please> wrote:

>For years, interaction with the internet worked through a
>universal browser. Lately, every service, gadget or whatnot
>wants you to download their special-purpose app. Why??
>What's the deal? It seems like a huge step backwards to me.
>
>Jeroen Belleman

Have been trying to get an Android OS running on a PC, 
just in order to communicate with hardware using a 
bluetooth link - which is what mfr app provides.

Android cannot recognize, access or use most of 
PC hardware, to do this. Complete flop.

Android not ready for anything other than use as toy.

RL

In article <lfbjtg9upd99ifgfqkeetttdbe5gtqjulb@4ax.com>, 
legg@nospam.magma.ca says...
> 
> Have been trying to get an Android OS running on a PC, 
> just in order to communicate with hardware using a 
> bluetooth link - which is what mfr app provides.
> 
> Android cannot recognize, access or use most of 
> PC hardware, to do this. Complete flop.
> 
> Android not ready for anything other than use as toy.
> 
> RL
> 
> 

Have you tried this ?

https://www.bluestacks.com/android-emulator.html

lørdag den 8. januar 2022 kl. 16.33.18 UTC+1 skrev legg:
> On Sat, 08 Jan 2022 14:18:24 +0100, Jeroen Belleman 
> <jer...@nospam.please> wrote: 
> 
> >For years, interaction with the internet worked through a 
> >universal browser. Lately, every service, gadget or whatnot 
> >wants you to download their special-purpose app. Why?? 
> >What's the deal? It seems like a huge step backwards to me. 
> > 
> >Jeroen Belleman
> Have been trying to get an Android OS running on a PC, 
> just in order to communicate with hardware using a 
> bluetooth link - which is what mfr app provides. 
> 
> Android cannot recognize, access or use most of 
> PC hardware, to do this. Complete flop. 
> 
> Android not ready for anything other than use as toy. 

there are 3 billion active Android devices ...

Jeroen Belleman wrote:
> For years, interaction with the internet worked through a
> universal browser. Lately, every service, gadget or whatnot
> wants you to download their special-purpose app. Why??
> What's the deal? It seems like a huge step backwards to me.
> 
> Jeroen Belleman

The way they ask for ridiculously broad permissions should be a clue.

"Why does Walmart need access to my camera, phone, and messages?"

One guess.

Cheers

Phil Hobbs

-- 
Dr Philip C D Hobbs
Principal Consultant
ElectroOptical Innovations LLC / Hobbs ElectroOptics
Optics, Electro-optics, Photonics, Analog Electronics
Briarcliff Manor NY 10510

http://electrooptical.net
http://hobbs-eo.com

On 2022/01/08 5:49 a.m., Dimiter_Popoff wrote:
> On 1/8/2022 15:18, Jeroen Belleman wrote:
>> For years, interaction with the internet worked through a
>> universal browser. Lately, every service, gadget or whatnot
>> wants you to download their special-purpose app. Why??
>> What's the deal? It seems like a huge step backwards to me.
>>
>> Jeroen Belleman
> 
> I have been wondering that myself, and I also see it as a step back.
> 
> Not sure if working outside the browser gives them more control over
> the device, perhaps some - I remember facebook constantly suggesting
> I use their app, "better than the browser" (I don't use it, never
> tried it really, I am not much of a facebooker although I have a profile
> etc.).
> May be there are many people capable of writing apps - this must have
> been made really easy - and they need to be kept busy, who knows.
> 

I use FaceBook for business and hate it. It is very clumsy and difficult 
to search for past conversations. Flagging stuff like you can do with 
most email readers appears to be lost. Unfortunately most of the 
customer base I need is on FB so I struggle with their lousy interface 
and miss the days when a post I made offering technical advice was 
viewed (possibly) by more than a dozen or two people who subscribe to 
that FB Group.

FaceBook is a fool's wasteland and shows no sign of improving as it 
appears to only care about the present, not the past, nor can you plan 
for the future. It is only following the money of advertisers...I trust 
that people will get bored with it at some point - I consider it a fad.

John :-#(#

lørdag den 8. januar 2022 kl. 18.37.19 UTC+1 skrev Phil Hobbs:
> Jeroen Belleman wrote: 
> > For years, interaction with the internet worked through a 
> > universal browser. Lately, every service, gadget or whatnot 
> > wants you to download their special-purpose app. Why?? 
> > What's the deal? It seems like a huge step backwards to me. 
> > 
> > Jeroen Belleman
> The way they ask for ridiculously broad permissions should be a clue. 

I think sometimes it is just lazy developers that doesn't bother picking what they actually need  
 
> "Why does Walmart need access to my camera, phone, and messages?" 
> 
> One guess. 

if it scans barcodes it need access to the camera, it might need access to messages 
to read a message with something like a discount coupon