Skip to main content

Which do you prefer: browser or app?

Image result for windows store
IMAGE: Softpedia


Admittedly, when I first thought about this post, I was operating under the assumption that the majority of people owned a windows PC so it would be just that operating system I would be referring to, but with Chromebooks now utilizing Android apps, this same question can be asked: Browser or App?
Image result for facebook windows store
IMAGE: ExtremeTech








For starters, let me clarify. Many of our most commonly used programs started on the web; Facebook, Twitter, Netflix, and many others have fully-functioning and well-operating websites that are perfectly suited for personal computer web-browsing. Meanwhile, on our phones and tablets, we use native applications that are custom-built for the best possible experience on those devices; we would never think to use Netflix in the browser on a phone.

With the introduction of Windows 10 and the Microsoft store, as well as the incorporation of Android apps on Chromebooks, the lines in the sand are washing away. Big names such as Facebook and Twitter now have apps that can be used on a PC natively; they can even utilize the notification center for "push" notifications much like a mobile app. However, most people use computers for web browsing only, particularly Chromebooks, which leads to the question:

Browser or App?

Obviously, on a mobile device, applications rule. When it comes to personal computing, the answer is not so clear. Many people utilize computers exclusively for web browsing so the first action someone would take is open the browser; why would someone bother opening an app when they are already in the browser? Additionally, the idea of an app on a computer is still an oddity for anyone that grew up with any operating system prior to Windows 10.

Image result for multiple tabs open
IMAGE: Techverse
However, as someone that uses the native apps, the experience is quite excellent. Much like I have done with win32 apps since I have started using computers, I pin the apps to the task-bar for easy access which I can open at any time. As mentioned, I also get all of my notifications as I would a mobile device; it is as convenient as a phone. As bare as the app store can appear, many of the big names are there with some very adequately built apps.

Unfortunately, the experience currently can be a bit inconvenient if you like to multitask. At times, I like to have several tabs open for ease of use so that I can jump around my tasks. With independent apps, it can be a tad more difficult to jump from app to app. With the upcoming tabs feature built into Windows, the experience will only get better.

There are certainly pros and cons to using browsers versus native apps, but the main experience comes down preference. Do you enjoy the experience of applications on a PC, or do you prefer to live in the browser? Which would you rather use: browser or app?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Phubbing Problem

In today’s world, cell phones have essentially become extensions of our physical bodies; I truly mean that some people (maybe most) cannot actually survive without them. Don’t get me wrong: I utilize my phone extensively. I use it for communication, shopping lists, calendars, camera, news, weather, gaming, et cetera. But at the same time, I recognize that this is just a device; nothing more than a convenient tool for my everyday life (much like shoes). The problem is how many times do we let this actually interfere with our life and our interactions. This leads us to the phenomenon known as “phubbing.” It was actually my stepmom that introduced me to the term and the concept: using a phone to intentionally or unintentionally snub someone. When she used the term to describe me one day, I began to really look at how much this actually occurs. We may not even be aware that we are indeed snubbing people we are with by shielding our faces and words behind a small (debatable given today...
Post a Comment
Read more

Google Assistant owns the show at I/O 2018

Google Assistant dominated the day at I/O with the most exciting changes to the Assistant ever; this is very exciting for those of us who love using the Assistant. For starters, the Assistant is getting some new voices (6 to be precise) including wait for it...John Legend himself. These new voices will be available in the next few months, but honestly, who isn’t excited about the possibility of John Legend being their assistant. In addition, the Assistant is about to get much more natural with Continued Conversation; basically, you will not need to say “Hey Google” every time after the first time. Also, a feature called Multiple Actions will allow you to ask follow-up actions in threaded conversation rather than ask individual requests every time with a new hot word prompt. If you wondered, yes these features are nearly identical to what Amazon introduced with Alexa not long ago. Along with some big changes under the hood, Assistant is about to find some new home styles with the introd...
Post a Comment
Read more

Build Day one = A Budding Friendship and Mirroring we have Always Wanted

Day one of Build = done. While I loved many things that Satya talked about in his keynote including the joining of Kinect and Azure to take advantage of the amazing technology that is in the Kinect, there are two things that I found particularly exciting for consumers. First, we have the first friendship of digital assistants. As demonstrated at Build today, Alexa and Cortana are about to join forces. Now, I do not mean to say that they will be joined with some mega-merger between Amazon and Microsoft. Instead, the two assistants will be able to summon each other to take advantage of each other's strengths. To utilize this ability, simply ask for one another. For instance, on a Windows PC, you can simply ask Cortana to speak with Alexa. From there, you can ask to do tasks that Alexa can handle but Cortana cannot such as order online; she even tells a pretty good joke about Cortana. On the other hand, you can ask Alexa on an Echo to have Cortana send an email which is something ...
Post a Comment
Read more