I know there are a ton of iOS apps for Lemmy. But what are they missing? What experiences would you like? It could be quality of life or big and ambitious features Many of you often have really good ideas and feedback, I’m looking forward to responses.

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (5 children)

The perfect Lemmy App is Firefox (and a close second is Safari).

Apps break the promise of the world wide web of an open platform where you are in control of how data enters and leaves your machine. This was the promise of Netscape all the way up to Firefox.

Google and Apple want to close down the open web and replace it with apps, because you cannot control your app experience beyond what they want you to be able to control. To stop data leaving your device, instead of being able to rely on your browser settings, you instead are required to become a Network Technician to be able to block the data at the Network level. Most people do not have this skill set and thus are left unable to be in control of their own data.

The only "apps" that can be trusted are Free Open Source Software and even those you're better off with something that needs no access to the internet if you're worried about your data.

Google wants to add "Web attestation" so that they can block you from using websites if your browser isn't set up the way Google likes it. There's a reason that proposal was shitcanned and rightly called out for what it was.

Change your web browser to Firefox (Mozilla isn't the best, but Firefox is the only independent browser with its own renderer) and if you want Lemmy to look different, you're totally able to set up Firefox to show it how you want it. It's time to take the web back people and to stop using the tools that giant corporations want you to use because it allows them to more easily exfiltrate your data and serve you ads. (If you're on macOS or iOS just keep using Safari, they're the only other independent browser. iOS enforces Firefox to use WebKit instead of Gecko to render, so it's a moot point)

Please, for the love of all that is Holy people, this is a big deal, and we will lose the last vestiges of an open internet if the entire fucking planet says goodbye to the worldwide web with "apps" as a replacement.

EDIT: I'm still gonna upvote everyone else in the thread because y'alls opinions are valid, too.

[–] snekerpimp 21 points 6 months ago (2 children)

Although you are right, apps, in my opinion, smooth over the rough edges of a website, and do so in a way that easy for the average plebeian to access. Sure, I could figure out how to make lemmy.world look and act how I want, I just don’t have the time, knowledge or patience to do so. So I use Memmy.

But you are completely correct.

[–] ramenshaman 4 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I have an app for my fucking toothbrush. Not everything needs an app.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 months ago (1 children)

A toothbrush and a decentralized social platform may have different needs

[–] ramenshaman 4 points 6 months ago

I don't understand, they're almost the same thing.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago

Sure, I could figure out how to make lemmy.world look and act how I want, I just don’t have the time, knowledge or patience to do so. So I use Memmy.

Which is also valid, most people don't really have the time for it and they've already spent time finding something independent like Lemmy to begin with.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 6 months ago (1 children)

You're quite right. If the website works well on a mobile, you don't need an app. However a lot of the fediverse is built in such a way that it really sucks in a mobile browser.

Here are the stats: which fediverse platform works best in a mobile web browser.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Piefed looks really promising!

[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 months ago

piefed has quickly become my main threadiverse driver. its really nice

[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 months ago

Lemmy is great in Firefox mobile. It's how I use the site. The only reason I keep a Lemmy app installed is for quick shares.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago

I agree with you on this much of the time. Especially on sites today that have ads. The fediverse doesn't have that problem.

But the mobile web interface isn't that great yet for Lemmy. Pixelfed's web interface is so good I debate whether or not to use an app but Lemmy isn't there yet.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

safari is just konqueror with more steps and a bit worse though

and apps are a much better experience on mobile than web clients, and I don't see much reason to not use then when most of them are free software.

also web apps are bloated af and actively create ewaste. Lemmy's one's not too bad but Reddit, Microsoft, Google's sites make me want to do a skydive without a parachute