Ask HN: Launch iOS/Android/Both?

Posted by sushidev on Sunday September 25, 2011 @07:59AM
from the ask-hn dept.

Hi Everybody

I think this question applies to really almost any app/startup. What do you think should we launch: one version on one of the platforms or both? If one then which one?

EDIT: More specifically - I'm talking about tablets (iPad/Android tablet of choice).

Yours, sushidev

( 8 comments | 3 points | on HN )

Re:Ask HN: Launch iOS/Android/Both? by nextparadigms on Sunday September 25, 2011 @08:48AM (#3035714)

Well you decide if you can afford financially to make both in the same time, but if your app gets hyped a lot on blogs and such and it's a good app, too, I can tell you potential users will get angry with you for not launching for their platform as well.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Launch iOS/Android/Both? by sushidev on Sunday September 25, 2011 @08:53AM (#3035720)

Eventually we intend to launch for both platforms, but the question is whether it's worth the effort to do it at the initial launch.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Launch iOS/Android/Both? by jbrkr on Sunday September 25, 2011 @09:21AM (#3035756)

What functionality do you require that only a native mobile application can provide?

One option is a mobile-optimized web application, with simple native apps wrapping your URL, one for each supported mobile platform.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Launch iOS/Android/Both? by sushidev on Sunday September 25, 2011 @10:19AM (#3035824)

Well, I can't tell more about the application but one of the requirements is for it to work offline. Doesn't it cut out the web app option? Otherwise maybe I can set up a local http server on the device?

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Re:Ask HN: Launch iOS/Android/Both? by jbrkr on Sunday September 25, 2011 @10:38AM (#3035853)

There is offline local storage in HTML5 [1]. It is supported by recent versions of iOS and Android. A local HTTP server should not be necessary.

[1] http://diveintohtml5.org/storage.html

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Launch iOS/Android/Both? by sushidev on Sunday September 25, 2011 @11:06AM (#3035899)

Actually 5mb is not enough for our needs but if we put that aside, still there is a problem of where to load the Web App itself from when the device is not online?

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Re:Ask HN: Launch iOS/Android/Both? by sushidev on Sunday September 25, 2011 @11:12AM (#3035907)

Or this is where the native wrapper comes in?

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Re:Ask HN: Launch iOS/Android/Both? by alexbosworth on Sunday September 25, 2011 @09:19AM (#3035753)

iPad only if tablet only: Android tablet market is still immature by comparison

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