Mobile Application Development

With the number of smartphone users increasing daily, there is much  debate in the developer community over whether Apple’s iOS or Google’s Android is the better operating system for mobile app development. As tech titans like Apple and Google fight over the hearts and minds of app developers worldwide, new technologies are emerging that may change everything.

There are actually three types of mobile applications: native apps, web apps, and hybrid solutions².

1. Native Mobile Apps are programmed using Objective C on the iPhone, or Java on Android devices. Native apps do not need to be connected to the internet to be used because they are specific to the mobile device they run on (hence the term “native”). Native apps are distributed within popular marketplaces like Apple’s App Store)
2. Web Mobile Apps are developed using technologies such as HTML5, JavaScript, and CSS3, and run on the mobile device’s Internet browser. This means the app works across all devices, and can be compatible across multiple operating systems.
3. Hybrid Mobile Apps are a mix between the two. They are native apps with embedded HTML technology producing cross-platform apps that access a mobile device’s native features. The Facebook app is an example of a hybrid app; it is downloaded from the app store and has all the features of a native app, but requires updates from the web to function.

NATIVE APPS

Pros of Native Apps:

• Connectivity- Many native apps (but not all) can function and interact with the features of a mobile device without an internet connection.
• Visibility/Monetization- Native apps get better visibility with consumers because they are distributed through the phone manufacturer’s app store. This gives developers a built-in revenue model, since consumers may have to pay to download the app.

MOBILE WEB APPS

• Cross-Platform Compatibility- The main advantage of a web app is that it is compatible across all platforms and devices. As the application runs in an Internet browser, it is not dependent on a specific operating system to run. This means that the web app has effectively more reach, and only one version of an app needs to be created.
• Easy Access- Businesses and developers alike can use Internet search to allow their consumers to find their app. Native apps need to be downloaded in advance to be used, whereas web apps can be found and used simply through a search on the browser.
• Less Red Tape- Because the app is not distributed through the phone’s store, no third-party approval is required before release. The site can be updated in real-time and changed without requiring sign-off by the mobile provider.²

A FUTURE UNCERTAIN

As of right now, there is not a clear-cut trend in the mobile app development marketplace. Mobile targeting platform Jumptap’s MobileSTAT report for January 2012 shows that mobile web and native app market share is split evenly.

Given this split in the marketplace, businesses and developers may want to produce both native and mobile web apps for the time being, or opt for a less-expensive hybrid app development strategy.

However, as the HTML5 platform gains broader acceptance with developers and support from big technology companies (check out Google-supported website HTML5 Rocks), the future of mobile app development may skew to the web.

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by chris horton, via mobile app development go native embrace the web or do both

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.