Are phone Apps killing the web's original spirit of fresh discovery?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/20 ... reaten-web

No. Apps do things that the web can't and vice-versa. As for Facebook, meh, I've deleted my account, so it is irrelevant to me.

'Phones aren't really suitable for browsing the web, they can do it, but it isn't, generally, a pleasant experience. It is great for getting a piece of information whilst out and about, but for actual browsing, it is a pain.

Apps on the other hand are tailored to the experience, so provide a better interface than a website can. It also provides you with the information or entertainment, when there is no signal or only a slow signal.

The 'original spirit' of the web was for scientists to quickly communicate their ideas across the world. That spirit was lost long ago.

Far from it the apps are developed in the main by new businesses, and individuals creating whole new markets.

Massively interesting article for me as I've only just got an iPhone and I'm just realising how fundamentally different it is as a way of using the web.

Yes but Facebook is another slightly different way of using the web. They all are new ways of presenting data.

I hardly ever access the web with my iPhone. I've used less than 500MB of data traffic in the last 12 months...

I think after the initial novelty people will bore of it and use it like a phone. Though there will be some who use it for Facebook or Twitter so use up their data limit that way.

I use it for twitter every now and then, but about 98% of my tweets are from one of my desktop machines, it is just quicker and easier than trying to do it on the iPhone.

No.

Mark

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Says who???


My biggest issue with miPod touch is that I can't get online away from WiFi!

You need an iPhone (but you knew I was going to say that, didn't you?).

Mark

I need funds for an iPhone (8',()

Okay there will be a number of existing players like the BBC etc who have apps that promote their service, but there are new entrants providing completely new services. like Grindr, no don't tell me an established internet company thought of that use? Lots of individuals have launched new careers writing apps. IU see the app market as a microcosm of the web as a whole but one where small entrants have a chance of being the Facebook or whatever of the future.

There are undoubtedly apps for which there is no existing equivalent pre-iPhone/iTunes-store/whatever, but looking through most of the apps on miPod touch, there's web equivalents already. I'll demonstrate with a list this evening.