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Without apps, our smartphone wouldn't be so "smart". This is also why many scoffed at the first iPhone, and this is also why the App Store came with the iPhone 3G. However, Steve Jobs did not initially want such a deal, because he wanted to force developers to create more Web applications. These are still available today, but they differ from those from the App Store. 

What are web applications? 

If a web page has a web application, it contains a special file that defines the name, icon, and whether the application should display the browser's user interface, or whether it should take up the entire screen of the device as if it were downloaded from the store. Instead of being then loaded from the web page, it is usually cached on the device and thus can be used offline, although it is not a requirement. 

Easier to develop 

A clear advantage of a web application is that the developer only needs to spend a minimum of work, and for that matter money, to create/optimize such an application. So it's a much easier process than creating a full-fledged application that must meet the requirements of the App Store (or Google Play).

It does not need to be installed 

After all, a web application created in this way can look almost identical to one that would be distributed through the App Store. At the same time, Apple does not have to check and approve it in any way. All you have to do is visit the website and save the application as an icon on your desktop.  

Data Claims 

Web apps also have minimal storage requirements. But if you go to the App Store, you can see an unfortunate trend in that even simple applications tend to make considerable demands and free space on the device. The older ones will certainly appreciate this.

They are not tied to any platform 

The web app doesn't care whether you run it on Android or iOS. It's just a matter of running it in the appropriate browser, i.e. Safari, Chrome and others. This in turn saves developers work. In addition, such an application can be updated indefinitely. It is true, however, that since web titles are not distributed through the App Store or Google Play, they may not have such an impact.

Performance 

Web applications cannot use the full potential of the device's performance. After all, it is still an application of the Internet browser that you use and in which web applications are loaded.

Notification 

Web apps on iOS cannot yet send push notifications to users. We already saw signs of change in the iOS 15.4 beta, but so far there is silence in this regard. Maybe the situation will change with iOS 16. Of course, classic applications can send notifications, because their functionality is often based on that. 

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