The future of mobile apps is definitely an area in which I have a lot to say. Specifically, my views around HTML5-based mobile web apps and native apps. Here’s my personal overview of the world as it is right now.
Overview
Chris and I often talk about how there’s a strong correlation between what’s happening right now in mobile apps and what was happening to the web around ‘96-‘99 or so. That is, it’s exploding, discoverability is hard, people want to be on board but aren’t sure why/how yet, etc. Many, many similarities.
But there are also correlations to even earlier than that, such as the OS wars of Windows and Mac. Right now there are many platforms (Apple, Android, BlackBerry, Symbian, Windows Mobile, etc) all gunning for the apps, while developers are trying to increase distribution. To do so, developers have to rewrite their app — mostly from scratch — for each new platform. Back when the web came around, people hopped on thanks in part to its much nicer write-once-run-anywhere feature (disregard browser incompatibilities here). We’ll see the a similar transition with mobile apps (though not necessarily to the same extent).
There’s plenty of reasons for apps to be native, especially over the short term: access to the camera, better/faster/easier graphics (read: games!), multi-touch. But there’s also plenty of reasons for apps to be web-based: ease of maintenance, write-once-run-anywhere, freedom from approval restrictions.
HTML5 and open source libraries like PhoneGap really start to blur the lines between what is necessary to be done natively and what can be done from the web. As developers begin to learn these new tools, we’ll see some really impressive new apps come to the web (Google Voice), but there will remain the need for native apps, too.
MobileHTML5.com
On that note, because mobile web apps are ready for prime time, I’ve decided to start a new tumblog, MobileHTML5.com. The goal is to provide links, videos, quotes, and hopefully some articles on how to get started and keep up on writing great mobile web apps. Check it out, subscribe, follow, etc. And let me know what you think.
AppStoreHQ
Similarly, if mobile web apps are going to explode, discoverability will be a problem. Luckily, I know of just the site to help with that sort of thing. ;) Today we announced that we now include mobile web apps in AppStoreHQ’s database. We’re starting with just one example, the recently launched Google Voice for iPhone. You can now search for web apps, browse web apps, learn about each web app, and get connected immediately to the app with a click of the mouse (touch of the finger, as it were).
If you have an app you’d like us to include, we’re starting with a manual inclusion process, so just email me and we’ll try to get you set up as soon as possible. In the near future we’ll make this much easier for developers. :)
