Are mobile apps still relevant?

[desura]

While there will always be games, if you're say a newspaper or a publication, does it still make sense to provide a standalone app? Compared to a good mobile website, a mobile app tends to have this jarring transition from browser or whatever else you're doing to the app. Also, most people bounce from website to website, so having to use an app for one kind of interrupts this flow. So do mobile apps still make sense?

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Yes for some things, no for most things.

React Native is the future.

 

[Red Storm]

Yeah to me it doesn't make sense for a news company to have an app. For example if I read Engadget daily, I might have them in my news curating app of choice, but there's no way I'm going to install a dedicated Engadget app. I'd rather just go to their site.

However, some mobile websites are downright awful.

 

[KB]

For the sites, mobile apps means more control over content and advertising. For example, if you load content in an app, people can't use an adblocker to stop it.

For the users, mobile apps means better integration with devices and services like cameras and facebook.

So yes mobile apps will stick around.

 

[Anubis]

if you load content in an app, people can't use an adblocker to stop it.

.

if you have root access you can

 

[openwheel]

Most apps are the water down version of their official website. Both iOS and Android.

That's why I install the bare minimum # of apps and use browser to most function.

Heck, even mobile webpages are garbage most of the time.

 

[Commodus]

While there will always be games, if you're say a newspaper or a publication, does it still make sense to provide a standalone app? Compared to a good mobile website, a mobile app tends to have this jarring transition from browser or whatever else you're doing to the app. Also, most people bounce from website to website, so having to use an app for one kind of interrupts this flow. So do mobile apps still make sense?

More than ever. Mobile websites are more powerful than they've been, to be sure, but native apps are outgrowing them in terms of capabilities. An app is still faster, more touch-oriented and overall capable than something on the web.

Plus, as someone recently put it, the battle for attention isn't on your home screen these days... it's in your notifications. Yes, you can deliver web-based notifications, but apps give you a lot more control over how those notifications work. A news outlet would rather you read breaking stories in its native app than risk losing you because a web alert didn't show up on time.

 

[poofyhairguy]

if you're say a newspaper or a publication, does it still make sense to provide a standalone app?

Yes because iOS now has content blockers and they are pretty popular. So unless you have a paywall you aren't getting paid on a huge chunk of mobile.