But people still download and run apps every day. Some even prefer it. I doubt that the cause of this migration was due to security concerns -- since when are app developers particularly concerned about the quality of the security controls imposed on them? I suspect the shift was more due to ease of access, both by the user and for the developer, helped along by easier compatibility.
App developers care about the barrier to getting users to use their app. The barrier to getting a user to click on a weblink is much, much lower than the barrier to getting them to install an app.
This is one of the largest failings of the App Store providers. They should recognize this installation barrier and work towards fast and ephemeral app installs.
Right, but users can only use an app once it has been developed, and ultimately if the user needs an app, they will go with whatever format it's being distributed in. Then there's also the convenience factor — Gmail is a good example of this — where a web app is more convenient than a downloadable app that does the same thing, because it requires no installation or updates.
I would also suspect that most users haven't any clue of the security implications of using something in a browser versus using an app.
Well, my wife is an exception to that. She installs all kinds of crap apps on her phone.
And we got our phones through our daughter who works at Verizon, so when my wife moved from an Android to an iPhone they called me up and asked for my iCloud password which I, like a dumbass, gave them.
I just checked and I've got four more bullshit apps on my phone I need to delete :D
