So that people have the opportunity to unknowingly donate their personal information leaked via unnecessary app permissions. It'd be a huge hassle for people to leak all that information without an app. I don't understand how people managed before smart phones.

It’s a great way to make money off companies.

I’ve told lots of companies to not make apps because responsive webpages are way easier and more bang for your development dollar.

Some apps though wouldn’t work in a web page.

Porting existing sites to be mobile friendly is a cost and complexity concern so there is always that.

Most apps are not necessary, but there are certain times they are more justifiable or necessary and this usually is related to the desired integration with the phone sensors and hardware (think of a jogging/running app that calculates route and elevation then displays using maps).

I control a home stereo receiver via the manufactures app for example.

When I hear that an app is necessary I use amazon.com as an example of a website that is so mobile friendly that you think it's an app when using it (even though amazon also has apps). You can do a lot with a mobile website these days.

What isn't ever justifiable is the basic monopoly on distributing apps. You buy the hardware, but then you are restricted from installing only approved apps. This closed environment is criminal.

Because apps can get device data that javascript cannot.

Some apps add actual value to the site. For example, let's take a theoretical voat app. The app might provide popups to perform certain actions, provide "neverending voat", notifications when you get a response/message and allow response right from the notification. It could have an option to use lower res versions of images unless you click the HD button. Any of these might provide value. Problem is most sites do not have a good API for apps to use and the apps wind up being little more than a container for the mobile site.

'cause using a web browser is haaaaard, uuuuggghhhh... What are you, a geek?

Navigation is often shitty, typing a fucking url is often a pain in the ass, you have a lack of addons such as adblockers for chrome for instance, maybe firefox I don't remember, maybe this has changed since but I believe it's still shit, so you take ads full in your face, then you have the perfs issues, the browser layer eats like 50% of the computing power, sometimes it's not a problem, sometimes it is, full screen is managed like total garbage, often completely absent except if the said site propose a fullscreen button, while often absolutely necessary due to screen sizes not leaving much rooms to display anything

It "just works", a tad too just, in many instances

I solved that problem long ago. I stuck with Nokia and I don't go on the internet when I'm on the move. One battery charge last 2-3 weeks!

I still don't know what an "app" is....

'course I don't have a cell phone.

THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT.

People have been retarded lately about the Apple store. Like it’s THE only way to get things to Apple users.

Obviously none of them are developers...

Also keeps me wondering.

One explanation probably is that you do not have to remember links or keep bookmarks. You just open the app and there it is! Even if it is just a mobile Web page displayed to you by PhoneGap.

Because some people can't wipe their ass without an app.

Sometimes apps provide additional value, like the ability to show notifications when the app is not running in foreground. Think of an app like ebay being able to tell you when an auction is about to end. Also, a third-party app might be able to supplement the user experience by injecting additional scripts into a page, something that is easier to do than trying to convince your typical user to install greasemonkey and a bunch of scripts.

Recent "innovations" to the web although are starting to bridge the gap between native apps and simple web pages. Some browsers like Chrome support features such as running in background or sending you "push" notifications while the browser is "closed". Such web features depend a lot on browser support, so most phones still don't support said features.

websites are getting extremely slow and shitty, but that's to cater to phones

no, every website wants you to install their app so their app can vacuum up your personal information and sell it. It was never about need. It was never a service to the user. Sites sometimes actively try and prevent you from seeing the website on a phone to force app use

But don't you want to download the double plus good reddit app.

Because they're untermensch.

Zoomers use apps.

I use browser....on my fucking Google phone....

I also hate the "mobile version" of every site. I leave my browser set to "request desktop site".

Retards who need to be spoonfed.

People are retarded.

Fact: Bandwidth over the network.

It takes far less bandwidth to pull up the app and navigate through that than it does to run the full website on a mobile device. Granted, there are exceptions to the rule but, for the most part, that's it.

The thing about mobile devices is that you can still get "banned" apps. Hack. Your. Phone. You can hack an iPhone to put any version of Android on it.

I actually have the InfoWars app on my current phone. I got it before it was banned from the app store. Do I tune in? Not really. Again, I didn't like when Alex Jones decided he was going to be a gatekeeper but I am a subscriber to Caravan To Midnight, another app that I have and I do listen to that regularly. If you like InfoWars even just a little bit, you'll love CTM. John B. Wells, in my opinion, is a far more suitable personality to convey information. Even at his most intense he's still not as unhinged as Jones. I'd recommend him before I recommend Jones.

Still, want those banned apps? Hack your phone and seek them out. Do so at your own risk though.

So they can install spyware on your phone

Some web sites load much faster through an app than with a mobile browser.

its just kickbacks on cash made from cell phone sales

It's a matter of statistics. A certain percentage will prefer to use the app and a smaller percentage will only use the app. It's all about marginalization. If the deep state marginalizes enough outlets then it maintains a better chance of staying in control.

Because apple.

Fuck apps they are gay.