Wednesday 16 March 2011

Is Apple sabotaging web apps on its mobile devices?

Apple may be sabotaging the performance of web apps on iOS, by deliberately making them run slower when run in full screen mode (i.e. when you launch them from the home screen). When web apps are run using the Safari browser, however, performance is reportedly normal. So the exact same app runs differently depending on how it is launched? You got it. And it may be an intentional move by the company.

Apple's iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad all have the ability to run two types of apps. The first is the native type of app, written in the Objective-C language, which is specifically written for Apple's iOS. The second type are the so-called web apps, which can be written in HTML, CSS, and Javascript. The benefit of the latter type of app is that it can be run on any mobile device, as opposed to native apps, which are specific to Apple's platform. Web apps can be accessed through the device's browser but can also be offered for download, in which case the software runs directly on the phone.

One mobile web app developer even went as far as to say that "Apple is basically using subtle defects to make web apps appear to be low quality – even when they claim HTML5 is a fully supported platform". A test performed by The Register confirms the slower performance of locally-run web apps. What's worse, Apple reportedly know about the "bug", but have let it be known they have no intention of fixing it.

So what do you think? Is this a way for Apple to make web apps look bad in favor of App Store-sold software (of which they take a 30% cut)?

Source

16 comments:

Noock said...

I don't like way apple is manipulating people with things like this. But hopefully rational people sees trough it all...

D4 said...

It's enough to make the haters hate more. It's way too dirty, I'm not happy about it.

Angry China Man said...

that's why i'm a proud owner of an android phone when I could have easily afforded an iphone. I hate everything about apple :>

CandleintheDark said...

I feel like Apple does want a stranglehold on developers. We all talk about their 1984 commercial but they have lost all values that they once claimed.

ed said...

i knew apple was evil

Unknown said...

That's so Apple...

Unknown said...

interesting
but my webapps running quite fast on iphone
windowed and as fullscreen app (homescreen link)
much faster then on windows mobile 6.5 or windows phone 7 for example
so i think i can live with it :)

Freek said...

You really have to see it from a business point of view, guys. Google's strategy happens to be one that involves a lot of free stuff, but that's because they get their money showing us ads. It's in Google's best interest to get as many users and developers involved, but had they been in Apple's shoes they may just have done the exact same thing. It's all about leveraging your strengths, which in Apple's case is its brand and market power.

Anonymous said...

Apple is one of the biggest business ever so I bet they had plans behind this.

Jay said...

it could just be careless programming.

Innovations said...

Apple is a boss of the future of hardware.

A Beer for the Shower said...

I once worked for a software company that deliberately slowed down performance on a particular function unless the customer bought the 'turbo' version, which was a key that just basically made it run normally.

That's business for you.

Chris said...

Interesting..

Justsayin' said...

What D4 said.

Me said...

This changes everything?

TheHarvester said...

even though i use apple stuff for years, i would totally trust them to do that

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