Mike,
I see your point, to a degree. It's not that HTML5-CSS3 based apps can't offer
a comparable user experience as a native app. Let me qualify that; maybe the
browser address bar could get in the way. You might need a browser that runs in
full-screen mode to offer a comparable user experience. But as far as I know,
the browser app would still be restricted from accessing a local database or
local content or something like the local camera. I don't see a browser app
accessing a local contact list. There are trade offs. But I was also
influenced by a blog post on the MRC-productivity site which lists several good
reasons for developing browser-based apps:
http://mrc-productivity.blogspot.com/2010/11/mobile-apps-their-time-is-now.html#more
-Nathan
----- Original Message ----
From: Mike Wills <mike@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Web Enabling the AS400 / iSeries <web400@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wed, November 3, 2010 2:14:44 PM
Subject: Re: [WEB400] Mobile Web
Here is what I am seeing and your target market is largely on where you need
to go. If your a store similar to an Amazon with returning customers, you
need an app for iOS and Android for sure with a serious look at Windows 7
(maybe) and Backberry (PITA). Your customers are more likely to browse and
comparison shop with an app.
Actually, let me refocus this. If you want repeat visits through a mobile
interface, your better hit will be an app. If it is internal type app you
can get by with a web-based application. However if you have a bunch of
sales people, it would be easier on them to have an app that is already
signed in. Just click on the app and make it easy to browse/place the order.
The best thing you can do to in order to make good recommendations is to
have one of these phones (or an iPod Touch) and buy a few different types of
apps and actually use them. Use the mobile browser and try to fill out forms
in the browser. Find sites "optimized for mobile" and use those on the
mobile browser. Only then can you really envision what would make sense for
what you want to do.
I gotta say, the Amazon app is a good shopping experience. My bank now
allows me to quickly look at my balance in an app (locked only by a pin #).
I have a better experience with Facebook in the iPhone app over the website,
same with Twitter.
While you can do a lot with a web-based HTML5 app (and is usually a good
place to start), you may find some limitations or a user experience that you
can make better with an actual application.
Just a few thoughts for my experiences and research,
--
Mike Wills
http://mikewills.me
midrange.com
