this post was submitted on 26 Dec 2024
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Not just as in Lemmy, but as in general.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 20 hours ago

Sites, but it's just fedia and reddit for the most part. Exceptions are YouTube, mail, and calendar.

[–] HurlingDurling 2 points 20 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago)

Most companies aren't allocating nearly enough funds to their website teams for responsive web pages that using their apps is a better experience, and that's by design.

But to clearly summarize your question, apps unless they are just a web app in a app container (looking at you Farmer's insurance)

[–] JigglySackles 8 points 5 days ago

Websites. I hate apps. I hate them trying to glean data from me, I hate then trying to shove ads down my throat while I'm already buying shit from them. I hate how I have to open a new app for everything instead of just another tab. I hate that many are tied solely to apps on my phone and refuse to use those platforms. I want to use my computer instead sometimes. Sometimes I don't want to tippy tap on a small screen. I hate apps with a passion, they are a fucking blight more often than not.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 6 days ago

If its open source and privacy respecting then I'll use the app. If its not and I have to use the service then website

[–] drmoose 14 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (1 children)

I've recently cleaned up my Android phone and switched from apps to websites where possible and it's a surprisingly good experience!

Most apps these days seem to be web browser wrappers ether way. Firefox on Android allows to turn any page into a self contained instance (like an app) which is very convenient. I can also install Ublock Origin to block ads and other firefox addons which is amazing. In particular I use addon called Stylus to adjust styling of some pages.

It definitely feels like we're going full circle now: early desktop apps -> web browser -> smartphones launch native apps -> back to web browser The only thing holding back web browsers is Apple purposefully breaking the web to protect their 30% appstore cut.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Just note that Firefox for android tabs are not isolated from each other, but they're sharing the same process, thus technically can access all of the other objects in Firefox′s memory. You should consider using mulch for these web-native apps style usage.

Can't wait for fission to come to mobile to solve all this mess...

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Using the Internet without an adblocker sucks. This is many times worse than a theoretical attack on the browser.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago

Yeah that's true, I don't use this method for all sites, but only these that are usable without adblocker (mostly alternative frontends). Instead, I'm opening it with mull within a work profile that has an always-on VPN.

[–] elephantium 9 points 6 days ago

I have too many fucking apps on my phone already. I'd much rather use websites.

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

I usually just use the website in a mobile browser as I generally avoid websites that require an app. It's an unnecessary waste of space when the website could just work in a mobile browser but some developers, whether it's because of incompetence or it's actually intentional, either limit what features are available in mobile browsers or just make the website not work at all.

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

Uhaul wanted me to download their app to return a truck after hours. I will at most use uhaul once a year, but I'm not moving more frequently than that. In cases like that I'll use websites. Same goes for restaurants and other stores

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago

Most of the time it's the same thing.
I typically use apps if it's something I'll want to open on my own, and website for things I only ever open if I'm sent a link to it

[–] Smokeydope 3 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

I try to use mobile web versions saved as an app shortcut. When you install a real app it usually comes with a bunch of permissions needed and trackers collecting your info in the background. Bad for privacy and battery life. Classyshark helps scan the trackers and a firewall can disable wifi access on app by app basis but thats a lot more trouble than just not installing a bunch if junk apps.The exception is that I trust open source software from fdroid with a public github repo.

[–] RBWells 3 points 6 days ago

Mostly mobile web for everything, apps for a couple of restaurants/groceries and for tickets to concerts because that is unavoidable at this time.

For Lemmy, website.

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

Mix of both. Messengers, Mastodon and YouTube, mostly apps (except when I want to listen to YT in the background). Maps and games, also apps. But for Lemmy I use the web frontend because I haven't yet found a convincing app and the web frontend is good enough.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 days ago

I use a lot of web apps on my iPhone. Like for memos the moememos app adds nothing…

[–] [email protected] 0 points 5 days ago

I still need to use Reddit for one particular subreddit and more I'm annoyed the mobile web version has been taken away.

[–] FlashMobOfOne 66 points 1 week ago

I use the mobile versions instead of apps, largely because it's easier to block ads and better for one's privacy.

[–] [email protected] 44 points 1 week ago

I hate using apps for things that could be websites, to the point that I don't use certain kinds of services that are app-only (e.g. e-scooter rentals).

[–] [email protected] 24 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Desktop websites. Mobile sites are just garbage.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (8 children)

Hmm, a smartphone screen is quite small to use a desktop site comfortably.

[–] Stovetop 20 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Sometimes you just have to, though. A lot of mobile sites are incredibly watered down and try to tell you that you need to use the app to do any basic function, but then the desktop site lets you do it without issue.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 6 days ago

Yep, so much "Download our app to use this feature" I don't even bother anymore. Then their "app" just loads a web app.

[–] Passerby6497 6 points 1 week ago (1 children)

But the phone version of the site is so stripped down and babby friendly to the point of unusability. My favorite are the sites that don't give you the function you need on the mobile site, but don't let you switch to the desktop view.

[–] iamdefinitelyoverthirteen 1 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Like what? I've never seen a page outright refuse to load a desktop version.

[–] Passerby6497 1 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Really? I've seen plenty that force the m. in the URL (which then redirects back to the mobile site), and if you take m. out, it redirects you back to the m. site again. I've given up on a handful of sites that do that, because it makes them unusable.

[–] iamdefinitelyoverthirteen 1 points 4 days ago (1 children)

In Firefox for Android, tap the 3 dots menu and toggle desktop site. I think chrome has a similar feature, but I have no idea about Safari.

[–] Passerby6497 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Tried that too, redirects back to the mobile site because you've still got the m in the URL. It's fucking stupid.

[–] iamdefinitelyoverthirteen 1 points 3 days ago

Enable desktop site then reload without the m.site. Or open a tab, go to Google ot something, enable desktip site, then KBB beasts YouTubers want.

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I did that... In 2011 or something, when not every website had a mobile UI... I personally don't recommend it, in fact I'd dare to say this played a big role in the web forums to die... To not adapt properly for the tiny screens at the required time.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 days ago

Sup, but compare a 2011 smartphone to 2024 one. The average smartphone nowdays would have been a tablet. I had a 7" tablet too.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 week ago

Websites wherever possible.

I will fight the dark patterns trying to manipulate me into using the app also.

If I cannot do anything without the app I will not use said service.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 week ago

Something I use infrequently: website 10/10 times

It’s only if I use something almost daily that I’ll install an app for it.

[–] IndiBrony 15 points 1 week ago

I might use an app, but when the app is just a browser with no additional effort, that enrages me

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 week ago

I mostly use websites in order to use ad blockers and many apps use far more storage than necessary. I mostly use apps when they have functionality that I want that the website is missing or when the app just offers a significantly better experience than the website.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 week ago

Apps for things I use frequently. Websites are just inefficient in general.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 week ago

I usually use apps but I still block the creepy tracking and stuff with DNS and disable location permissions.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 week ago

Apps I can't handle websites on my phone

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 week ago

The website, I prefer to switch on the desktop site than using an app. Only exceptions? FOSS apps that are on F-droid

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 week ago

I hate apps with a passion, desktop version is almost always better unless it's a shit website like tiktok or "x".

YouTube desktop has always been better than mobile for instance.

[–] andrewta 5 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Website.

The only exceptions are imdb

YouTube when on mobile

Gmail app when on mobile

Other then that use the website. If the company is too stupid to fix their website and make it use standards so it supports normal browsers and not just one specific browser, then I just don’t go there

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 week ago (2 children)

I'm legitimately interested in why IMBD? Of all websites I think that ones one of the ones I can least imagine needing an app?

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

I use an app (Hermit) that allows me to appify and sandbox websites.

It's not perfect, but better than relying on Chrome or Firefox PWA mecanisms.

[–] tdawg 4 points 1 week ago

A dedicated service that I use on the daily? App Otherwise website

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 week ago

Apps if I use the website enough to justify it. I have apps for all my favorite fast food places so I can order ahead.

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