This is a topic that intrigues me a
lot because of how often I use both of these features. Let’s start off with
stand-alone mobile apps. In my own words, these apps would be defined as a
specific application that a company or organization develops for their
consumers to download and use, instead of searching for their internet site on
a mobile web browser. A good example for me would be the Netflix app. Instead
of having to go into Safari and type in netflix.com on my phone or iPad, there
is an app that makes it accessible to me with one little touch of my finger. It
lets me be even LAZIER. Aside from that fact, there are many reasons why I
prefer the Netflix app over finding Netflix in a web browser. It is much more
user-friendly. Often times the app is much faster than the web…. And according
to this website it states that “Apps are fast, easy to use, and provide at
least partial functionality even when there is no network connection.” That’s a
major plus side of using the app vs. using a web browser. Apps still function
for the most part without a great internet connection, and I find a lot fewer
glitches while using the app. Writing this paragraph makes me realize how lazy I
truly am…holy cow. Anyways, there are many upsides to using a company’s app over
finding their site on the web. Can companies profit from their apps? Not
easily. According to this article “App monetization with native apps can be tricky,
since certain mobile device manufacturers may lay restrictions on integrating
services with certain mobile ad platforms and networks.” This however doesn’t
stop them from being able to put their brand in your face and make it familiar
to you.
And then there are the web browsing
apps like Safari, Google, and Yahoo. These are the apps that let you search the
internet from your mobile phone without being constricted to one single site. I
probably use Safari more than I use any other stand-alone mobile app. Why? Because
it offers a much wider variety of options to switch from one site to the next.
One thing I’ve noticed the past couple of weeks is the awful mobile website
that Yelp has. It’s just so dang confusing to me. Did they do that on purpose?
Probably. And it’s because they want you to download their Yelp app from the
app store. I have proof of this. I tried finding reviews of restaurants in
Brigham City the other day on Yelp from my mobile phone, and the first and only
screen I saw is one persuading me to download their app to read ‘all’ the
reviews and see ‘all’ the different companies. Like I can’t do that from their
internet site alone? Rude. Come to find out that I CAN see everything on their
mobile site… it just takes a bit to swerve around all of the stupid app
advertising. I like to have the option of being able to use either choice, stand-alone
mobile apps or web browsing apps, just in case one isn’t working correctly.
I realize that this post is mainly
me just complaining about Yelp and praising Netflix. That’s OK. It just goes to
show how relevant this topic is to everyday life. Also, don’t take away my mobile apps and don’t
you dare take away my mobile web browsing opportunities. Bye.
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