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Ask HN: What do you hate the most in mobile apps?

Which user scenarios drive you mad?

For example, I have a 6.6" phablet, which I often use with a single hand when I walk. It's comfortable to look at the top part of the screen. However, it's much more comfortable to use the bottom part of the screen. That's why I love every app which considers this "single-hand" scenario and places inputs to the bottom.

Also, what do you like the most? Like small features, well-thought decisions, etc.

The last discovery for me was putting my favorite VPN in notification panel shortcuts to turn it on in seconds from anywhere.

( 19 comments | 8 points | on HN )
Re:Ask HN: What do you hate the most in mobile apps? by eucryphia on Friday December 11, 2020 @04:19AM (#25383830)
When there is a lag in response and you click a button or menu item, it changes to something else in the blink of an eye and you've clicked something completely different.
Re:Ask HN: What do you hate the most in mobile apps? by kedikedi on Saturday December 12, 2020 @04:05AM (#25396906)
+1 This is not just for apps, it also happens with websites. I am not a web guy, so I don't know the jargon but web pages keep changing even after they are done. I tap on something but it just adds another element there and I end up tapping on something else since everything shifts
Re:Ask HN: What do you hate the most in mobile apps? by dyingkneepad on Monday December 14, 2020 @12:46PM (#25420584)
I remember when the "tableless" concept first appeared a long long time ago and one of the main arguments in favor of implementing it was to prevent the page rearranging itself as it loaded. Look at where we are now...
Re:Ask HN: What do you hate the most in mobile apps? by koynoyno on Friday December 11, 2020 @05:27AM (#25384216)
+1. Any tap should be visible immediately, and any operation that takes more than 2-3 seconds should display a loader.
Re:Ask HN: What do you hate the most in mobile apps? by st1x7 on Friday December 11, 2020 @10:08AM (#25386566)
The following user flow:

- open a free app for the first time after download

- app asks me to fill in details or answer questions in order to create account

- after I've provided my details, the app asks for a subscription payment in order to actually create the account

Any app that does this get instantly deleted.

Re:Ask HN: What do you hate the most in mobile apps? by dyingkneepad on Friday December 11, 2020 @01:55PM (#25389257)
Privacy. Fuck apps: if it can work on a Browser I'll run it on a browser. It may not be perfect in terms of privacy, but at least it will have a lot less power in fingerprinting me.

I don't care if it's significantly slower or wastes resources: I'll probably keep your app open for like 3 minutes while I do the thing I want it to do. The only apps that stay open for a while are browsers and games. Everything else should be a web page.

Re:Ask HN: What do you hate the most in mobile apps? by jamil7 on Saturday December 12, 2020 @02:55AM (#25396567)
I build things for phones (natively) and also often for the web. It’s sad to see mobile apps perceived this way due to greedy and questionable tracking practices in the industry. To me a really well made Android or iOS app that takes full advantage of the platform is a satisfying thing to build.
Re:Ask HN: What do you hate the most in mobile apps? by dyingkneepad on Monday December 14, 2020 @12:42PM (#25420520)
Yet it provides no additional value to the user if the user is only going to spend 3 minutes per day on it. Only downsides.
Re:Ask HN: What do you hate the most in mobile apps? by fikama on Friday December 11, 2020 @03:51AM (#25383710)
I hate that I can't have two "windows" of the same app. Like on the computer where I can open word twice, then open two diffrent documents in them.
Re:Ask HN: What do you hate the most in mobile apps? by ohiovr on Friday December 11, 2020 @06:55AM (#25384738)
Safari has this trick on the iPad I know of.
Re:Ask HN: What do you hate the most in mobile apps? by highhedgehog on Friday December 11, 2020 @06:47AM (#25384677)
On a lot of phones this is possible
Re:Ask HN: What do you hate the most in mobile apps? by runjake on Saturday December 12, 2020 @01:39AM (#25396186)
Overuse of gestures. Apps that have both swipe left/right and swipe up/down gestures drive me mad.

It feels like walking on banana peels. I am always accidentally activating somewhere with errant swipes. In fact, I just did it while typing up this comment.

I'm either seriously uncoordinated, the touch sensors are too sensitive, or its just plain bad UX.

Re:Ask HN: What do you hate the most in mobile apps? by ohiovr on Friday December 11, 2020 @06:57AM (#25384757)
Copy and paste on the iPhone. I would really like to have a physical button at this point for that function. On my devices at least (yours might be ok..) the selection process is hard, the copy process is maddeningly intermittently working at times. Once in while it straight up refuses to copy.
Re:Ask HN: What do you hate the most in mobile apps? by koynoyno on Friday December 11, 2020 @08:03AM (#25385244)
What about the three-fingers gesture? It seems more convenient than a standard touch-and-hold.
Re:Ask HN: What do you hate the most in mobile apps? by the_only_law on Friday December 11, 2020 @10:09AM (#25386578)
I just switched from Android to iOS and this one thing has been bugging me
Re:Ask HN: What do you hate the most in mobile apps? by ohiovr on Sunday December 13, 2020 @09:16AM (#25406677)
It's been so long since I've used Android. How is it done on the latest of those machines?
Re:Ask HN: What do you hate the most in mobile apps? by _trampeltier on Saturday December 12, 2020 @08:53PM (#25403595)
It feels like all Apps exist just to spy on your phone and track you, thats why I have just several Browsers but almost no Apps.
Re:Ask HN: What do you hate the most in mobile apps? by patatino on Friday December 11, 2020 @02:10PM (#25389449)
Signup before I can do anything
Re:Ask HN: What do you hate the most in mobile apps? by dave_sid on Saturday December 12, 2020 @08:22AM (#25398084)
Tbh I hate hybrid apps where you’re clearly dealing with a html inside a container. You’re always getting a sub standard result with it.