Building the Next Generation of Mobile Web Apps

Re:Building the Next Generation of Mobile Web Apps by jtaby on Wednesday July 06, 2011 @12:41PM (#2734681)

I agree with most of what you're saying. Add To Homescreen is a great feature for regular users of a mobile web app. Your application needs to support both modes however (browser-mode, and app-mode). The easy answer is to say: "Use back button in browser, and use navigation bar in app-mode" - Which is certainly possible from a technical perspective, but jarring from a UX perspective. You have to essentially re-learn how to use the application when you click that button. Not only that, but if you add a navigation bar in app-mode, then your navigation is on the top (where it would've been on the bottom in browser mode), and that has other fallout in relation to other elements that you may have placed on the top of the page in browser-mode.

I hope that made sense.

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Re:Building the Next Generation of Mobile Web Apps by devongovett on Wednesday July 06, 2011 @12:47PM (#2734724)

I don't think the app needs to support both modes. When you go in a browser, it should just say, click here to install the app to your home screen. That's the easy answer, IMO.

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Re:Building the Next Generation of Mobile Web Apps by jtaby on Wednesday July 06, 2011 @01:04PM (#2734819)

But then you're increasing the barrier to entry to users. You're assuming the user cares enough about your app that they will sacrifice a spot on their home screen and will want to tap three buttons to get to it...

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Re:Building the Next Generation of Mobile Web Apps by devongovett on Wednesday July 06, 2011 @01:08PM (#2734838)

Users already go through even more steps when getting native apps through the App Store, so I don't think that'll be an issue.

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