I Won't Download Your App. The Web Version Is A-OK

Re:I Won't Download Your App. The Web Version Is A-OK by mint5 on Monday April 06, 2026 @12:02PM (#47662696)

Wrong. While I agree about younger people’s impression and experience with apps and the internet, that is not what companies are responding to - in fact it’s backward.

Companies have for ages pushed apps due to more control and data. That’s why younger folk grew up with apps.

The push to apps was absolutely not due to companies responding to consumer sentiment. Yes now it has been ingrained so now there are expectations, but those are due to companies pushing people to apps for years and years

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Re:I Won't Download Your App. The Web Version Is A-OK by ChrisMarshallNY on Monday April 06, 2026 @12:09PM (#47662775)

Apps generally have a lot more access to the user info than Web sites. I remember getting into an argument, here (one-sided, I didn't argue then, and I won't now), about how a Web site is just as intrusive and privacy-endangering as an app (I think they wrote PWAs, and didn't want to cede the point to native apps). I feel they were wrong. Apps can get more information than web sites; even with sandboxing.

In my experience, apps can figure out a lot more about the user, than a Web site.

I just reported a game to Apple, that, after the app has been resident for 24 hours, pops up an unescapable modal to sign into their Web site. I am sure the 24-hour delay, is so they don't get caught by the App Store folks. I suspect that what happens, during this "daily checkin," is that the app sends a bunch of encrypted data that it got from your device, to the servers in China.

Basically, they can learn more about you from the app, than from the Web site.

I generally avoid apps, where the Web site will do. I won't install banking apps, at all.

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Re:I Won't Download Your App. The Web Version Is A-OK by senordevnyc on Monday April 06, 2026 @03:38PM (#47665855)

I suspect that what happens, during this "daily checkin," is that the app sends a bunch of encrypted data that it got from your device, to the servers in China.

What information do you think they got from your device other than what you gave them permission to have? If you actually have any info on how apps can break Apple's sandbox to leak your personal info, you should share it.

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Re:I Won't Download Your App. The Web Version Is A-OK by ChrisMarshallNY on Monday April 06, 2026 @04:56PM (#47666969)

Yeah, it's OK. I said that I wouldn't argue, and I'm sticking to that.

Have a great day!

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Re:I Won't Download Your App. The Web Version Is A-OK by senordevnyc on Monday April 06, 2026 @08:21PM (#47669148)

Just thought I'd help you understand how this works so you don't spread misinformation, but you too!

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Re:I Won't Download Your App. The Web Version Is A-OK by The_President on Tuesday April 07, 2026 @05:36AM (#47672691)

This remark is overly condescending.

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Re:I Won't Download Your App. The Web Version Is A-OK by account42 on Wednesday April 08, 2026 @07:38AM (#47688791)

Maybe you should first make sure you fully understand it yourself.

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