• frezik@midwest.social
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    4 months ago

    A huge number of apps these days are web sites compiled into an app, and it shows. For example, an app should be able to remember your address and payment information without signing into an account, yet so many don’t. Almost like they want to force you into signing up. Why might that be?

    Just give me a mobile web page if you’re going to do that shit.

    • Wogi@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      I have an app for my sprinkler system and it’s a fucking nightmare. Not only is it basically just a web API, it’s so transparently just a glorified browser with access to exactly one site that frequently my phone thinks that app will work for whatever else I’m trying to open.

      Document? Sprinkler app. Web Page? Sprinkler app. Installing from a source other than Google? Oh you better believe the sprinkler app can do that.

      Doing anything takes longer to load than it would take me to walk from anywhere on my property to the fucking box and hit whatever button I need to hit.

      It frequently forgets what I entered for preferences. I can tell it a week ahead what days I want it to skip but if I do that more than 24 hours on advance I might as well not have done it at all.

      Oh you want to make a payment online? Let your sprinklers do that for you. YouTube video? Sprinkler app. YouTube video about fixing your fucking sprinkler system? Sprinkler app.

      Apparently the one thing it can’t do is effectively manage my water usage. It’s ONE job

  • cmnybo@discuss.tchncs.de
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    4 months ago

    You can do almost anything with a website that you could do with an app. The only reason they are pushing the apps so hard is because they can collect a lot more data than a website can.

    • RecluseRamble@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      4 months ago

      I wish. Every fucking bank has their own shitty app for 2FA instead of just using standardized and proven TOTP, no way around that.

      Same about school apps the article mentioned since it’s connecting to their (one of many) proprietary system, no website for that.

      And recently got into the home automation rabbit hole. Lots of devices that require their fucking app, sometimes with mandatory cloud account, just to connect! And people in reviews even praise how easy it is, it’s infuriating! I don’t need light bulbs connecting to the internet, thank you very much.

      • RvTV95XBeo@sh.itjust.works
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        2 months ago

        All of the banks I’ve used in the past utilize email or SMS for 2FA, which isn’t the most secure, but doesn’t require an app.

  • madjo@feddit.nl
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    4 months ago

    I wish sites that do have PWAs would stop funneling people towards their app.
    Especially Patreon, where patronages started using their app would be 30% more expensive for their users than patronages started through their website because of the Apple (and probably Google) tax. Patreon is aware of this tax but keeps advertising their fucking stupid app! You have a Progressive Web App that’s works perfectly! Stop it! Get some help!

    • Kallioapina@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      4 months ago

      I have never encounteted a PWA that works better than a website OR an app - this from users actual usability viewpoint. They are a cancer, that sits right in between the worst of both worlds.