Google: The Web, Not App Stores, is the Future Of Mobile Development

MacRumors · Jul 17, 2009, 04:49 PM

Speaking to attendees of the MobileBeat 2009 conference in San Francisco yesterday, Google Engineering vice president Vic Gundotra predicted that the Web would prevail as the dominant mobile application development platform despite the huge success of Apple's App Store (via Financial Times). According to Gundotra the harsh economics of maintaining multiple platform-specific copies of applications is pushing development to the Web.

Quote:

"We believe the web has won and over the next several years, the browser, for economic reasons almost, will become the platform that matters and certainly that’s where Google is investing."

At least partially supporting Gundotra's viewpoint were fellow panelists from Palm and Nokia.

Readers will remember that Apple initially only officially allowed developers to create web-based applications for the iPhone and iPod touch, but extended access to native applications a year later with iPhone OS 2.0 and the launch of the App Store.

For technical support of his claims, Mr. Gundotra points to HTML5, which is allowing for CSS animations as well as the use of geolocation and accelerometers. Of course, such technologies currently do not address the needs of more complex games that require access to mobile-based 3D services such as OpenGL ES.

Interestingly, both Google (Chrome OS) and Palm (WebOS), and previously even Nokia, have taken advantage of Apple-backed WebKit as the basis of their latest Web-centric operating systems.

Article Link: Google: The Web, Not App Stores, is the Future Of Mobile Development

thehellobob · Jul 17, 2009, 04:52 PM

Hmmm. Buying trends would suggest otherwise.

Macminiintel · 05:00 PM

I dont believe that one bit LOL. How is he going to know whats going to work out best. No one thought accept Apple desktop graphics would catch on, no one thought accept Apple that the iPod would catch on, the Apple-App store is really popular, how can someone say web based apps will do a better job LOL. I use to like Google, but I think they are becoming too greedy and invading unnecessary markets, Stick to being a search engine.

I'll make my own prediction 20 years from now Google will be making toasters and sofas LOL.

Everything critics have said about Apple they have become the most successful in LOL

Eddyisgreat · Jul 17, 2009, 04:55 PM

It may be the future, but its going to be a while. With Apple and Google trying to pimp javascript, Adobe With Flash and its open screen project, Microsoft with Silverlight.

Everything just cannot sit on a cloud. Our infrastructure is too fragile for something like this at the present time. Tell ATT and other carriers to actually give us unlimited Data instead of five gigs and maybe a real pipe (HDSPA) and development will follow. Not before.

fowler. · Jul 17, 2009, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thehellobob

Hmmm. Buying trends would suggest otherwise.

I'd think that's because there hasn't been anything that really rivals the App Store as it stands now. With HTML 5 around the corner, that could change, right?

zombitronic · Jul 17, 2009, 04:56 PM

Because those iPhone web apps really took off...

No offense to the guy, but I don't know how someone in such a high position can make such claims basing his position on HTML5. Seems like an unintelligent statement merely said to favor his own agenda. Google is great, but does the whole company really stand behind this position? I'm no programmer and I acknowledge that HTML has come a long way, but from personal experience, I don't think web apps compare to apps written with a true SDK.

Electrolytic · Jul 17, 2009, 04:57 PM

I kind of agree, cloud computing is the future...

Macminiintel · Jul 17, 2009, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Electrolytic

I kind of agree, cloud computing is the future...

I hope not lol, i actually like to have the software stored on my Macs, I couldn't care less if it takes more time to load from a hard disk lol

SFStateStudent · Jul 17, 2009, 04:59 PM

What's totally weird is that Google believes their own propoganda.....

Shasterball · Jul 17, 2009, 04:59 PM

Ummm, what about playing games offline?

longofest · Jul 17, 2009, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SFStateStudent

What's totally weird is that Google believes their own propoganda.....

Yeah, they're drinking the koolaide.

You definitely have to take these kind of speeches with a grain of salt, as the web is Google's home. But even Google has it's own App store...

tamarco · Jul 17, 2009, 05:02 PM

The iPhone has no rivals in the app store and a full fledge internet so... what??

TheSlush · Jul 17, 2009, 05:05 PM

This is just Google's optimism that a more competitive, equal mobile device landscape will emerge. For that to come about, Apple will have to lose its gigantic marketshare in mobile computing. The "harsh economics of maintaining multiple platform-specific copies of applications" only applies if a majority of developers want to bother with the other platforms!

At this point in time, the disadvantage of the web's instability outweighs the advantage of its platform-independence.

esquire360 · Jul 17, 2009, 05:06 PM

use them from cache and not need the web then it could be cool, but always having internet connect is an issue.

inkswamp · Jul 17, 2009, 05:07 PM

This may be true, but it's the distant future. Applications, I think, are a little like music in this regard. People generally want to buy/download and keep, not rent or subscribe.

benwillis0612 · Jul 17, 2009, 05:08 PM

This would mean for everyone to have super fast internet connections wherever they are, can't see that happening to be honest.

hexor · Jul 17, 2009, 05:10 PM

He is saying this because Google doesn't make their own phones and therefore can't control the hardware Android runs on.

zedsdead · Jul 17, 2009, 05:10 PM

Native apps will always run better than web apps. I DO NOT want Apple going in that direction (not that they are), not to mention there are plenty of areas where 3g/EDGE access is either poor or not around at all.

Web apps have their uses, like MobileMe and iWork.com (which will hopefully expand like Office 2010 is), but Native apps are here to stay.

NP3 · Jul 17, 2009, 05:10 PM

Not to mention how in the world would you properly sandbox your OS? Everybody saw how well ActiveX did in IE, and how much of a headache that was to properly contain.

chelsel · Jul 17, 2009, 05:11 PM

There is no way JavaScript can compare to compiled Objective-C. JavaScript is terrible as a "real" language. Sure, you can do cool things with it, but ultimately it's a giant hack. Objective-C on the other hand is a thing of beauty, as far as languages go.

Further, big companies and even small developers will want to protect their intellectual property rather than release it as pure JavaScript source for the world to inspect and copy.

Cliff
10 years Java, 8 years JavaScript, 2 years Objective-C.

LethalWolfe · Jul 17, 2009, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheSlush

This is just Google's optimism that a more competitive, equal mobile device landscape will emerge. For that to come about, Apple will have to lose its gigantic marketshare in mobile computing. The "harsh economics of maintaining multiple platform-specific copies of applications" only applies if a majority of developers want to bother with the other platforms!

The iPhone does not have a lion's share of the smartphone market and the smartphone market, at least in the US, is just a drop in the bucket compared to the overall cell phone market. There is still a big, wide world out there for mobile devices to grow into.

Lethal

manhattanboy · Jul 17, 2009, 05:14 PM

I miss the old webapps.
The new ones just seem to take up space and provide little in return.

iguanarama · Jul 17, 2009, 05:16 PM

Wow, concept fail by Google there.

It's not web vs app store, it's the ability to purchase appropriate tools and services no matter what the medium. Whether you access them as web apps, or whether they are downloadable, is just detail.

And so the model, not the implementation, of Apple's store is where it's at. "The web has won"? Geez Google, think bigger.

jimsowden · Jul 17, 2009, 05:18 PM

It's definitely going to be a mix of stronger, web based technologies and still native applications. Apple though the web-apps would catch on with the iPhone, but they were of course too limited.

The alternative then was to write a whole API environment for native software. Imagine if those APIs could be invoked off the web? Like the camera and location services off mobile facebook? It's the two bridged.

I'll always want something I can use without the internet, because it will never be 100% pervasive, and sometimes it's nice to not be connected to everything everywhere and just play a game, or work on a photo album. I don't want connectivity forced on me, I just want it as a great option.

rockosmodurnlif · Jul 17, 2009, 05:18 PM

Hmm, didn't Sun try this whole the network is the computer business already?

View Poll Results: Which do you believe will dominate mobile development?
Native applications	349	72.71%
Web applications	89	18.54%
Not sure	42	8.75%
Voters: 480. You may not vote on this poll

Jul 17, 2009, 04:52 PM	#2
thehellobob macrumors regular Join Date: Nov 2007	Hmmm. Buying trends would suggest otherwise. __________________ MacBook 2.16 GHz 2GB RAM MacBook Pro 2.4 GHz 4GB RAM iPod Touch 16GB

Jul 17, 2009, 04:54 PM	#3
Macminiintel macrumors regular Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: United kingdom	I dont believe that one bit LOL. How is he going to know whats going to work out best. No one thought accept Apple desktop graphics would catch on, no one thought accept Apple that the iPod would catch on, the Apple-App store is really popular, how can someone say web based apps will do a better job LOL. I use to like Google, but I think they are becoming too greedy and invading unnecessary markets, Stick to being a search engine. I'll make my own prediction 20 years from now Google will be making toasters and sofas LOL. Everything critics have said about Apple they have become the most successful in LOL __________________ MB 13" 2.4ghz C2D / eMac 1.42Ghz / Power Mac G4 / 22'' Samsung 226BW / 15'' HP V50 monitor / 3x Mac minis C2D / iPhone 3G 16GB / iPod nano x3 / Last edited by Macminiintel : Jul 17, 2009 at 05:00 PM.

Jul 17, 2009, 04:55 PM	#4
Eddyisgreat macrumors 65816 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Seattle, Wa	It may be the future, but its going to be a while. With Apple and Google trying to pimp javascript, Adobe With Flash and its open screen project, Microsoft with Silverlight. Everything just cannot sit on a cloud. Our infrastructure is too fragile for something like this at the present time. Tell ATT and other carriers to actually give us unlimited Data instead of five gigs and maybe a real pipe (HDSPA) and development will follow. Not before. __________________ 2.5 Penryn MBP (4GB, 80 GB x25-m) + ACD 20", 32Gb Black iPhone 3G S⃣ Tuned by Jobs™ , G-Drive Q , G-Drive G-Raid Mini I live within walking distance of an Apple Store.

Jul 17, 2009, 04:57 PM	#7
Electrolytic macrumors regular Join Date: Mar 2008	I kind of agree, cloud computing is the future... __________________ The smallest minority on earth is the individual. Those who deny individual rights cannot claim to be defenders of minorities. -Ayn Rand

Jul 17, 2009, 04:56 PM	#6
zombitronic macrumors 6502a Join Date: Feb 2007	Because those iPhone web apps really took off... No offense to the guy, but I don't know how someone in such a high position can make such claims basing his position on HTML5. Seems like an unintelligent statement merely said to favor his own agenda. Google is great, but does the whole company really stand behind this position? I'm no programmer and I acknowledge that HTML has come a long way, but from personal experience, I don't think web apps compare to apps written with a true SDK.

Jul 17, 2009, 04:59 PM	#9
SFStateStudent macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: San Francisco California, USA	What's totally weird is that Google believes their own propoganda..... __________________ MBP 2.5GHz 250GB Mac Pro 3G S⃣ iPhone 32GB Black

Jul 17, 2009, 04:59 PM	#10
Shasterball macrumors 6502a Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: NYC	Ummm, what about playing games offline?

Jul 17, 2009, 05:02 PM	#12
tamarco macrumors newbie Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Oklahoma	Haha Ok?? The iPhone has no rivals in the app store and a full fledge internet so... what??

Jul 17, 2009, 05:05 PM	#13
TheSlush macrumors 6502 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: New York, NY	Well, Google HOPES so, at least. This is just Google's optimism that a more competitive, equal mobile device landscape will emerge. For that to come about, Apple will have to lose its gigantic marketshare in mobile computing. The "harsh economics of maintaining multiple platform-specific copies of applications" only applies if a majority of developers want to bother with the other platforms! At this point in time, the disadvantage of the web's instability outweighs the advantage of its platform-independence. __________________ "There are three kinds of people: those who can count and those who can't."

Jul 17, 2009, 05:06 PM	#14
esquire360 macrumors member Join Date: Sep 2007	if u can use them from cache and not need the web then it could be cool, but always having internet connect is an issue.

Jul 17, 2009, 05:07 PM	#15
inkswamp macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jan 2003	This may be true, but it's the distant future. Applications, I think, are a little like music in this regard. People generally want to buy/download and keep, not rent or subscribe. __________________ • • Setting the virus record straight: the market share myth debunked • •

Jul 17, 2009, 05:08 PM	#16
benwillis0612 macrumors newbie Join Date: Apr 2009	This would mean for everyone to have super fast internet connections wherever they are, can't see that happening to be honest.

Jul 17, 2009, 05:10 PM	#17
hexor macrumors member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Minnesota	Self supporting He is saying this because Google doesn't make their own phones and therefore can't control the hardware Android runs on.

Jul 17, 2009, 05:10 PM	#18
zedsdead macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jun 2007	Native apps will always run better than web apps. I DO NOT want Apple going in that direction (not that they are), not to mention there are plenty of areas where 3g/EDGE access is either poor or not around at all. Web apps have their uses, like MobileMe and iWork.com (which will hopefully expand like Office 2010 is), but Native apps are here to stay. __________________ iMac 27: 2.8 Core i7 Quad, 2TB, 8 gigs of RAM, ATI 4850 Macbook Pro: 2.4 Core2Duo, 128 SSD, 4 gigs of RAM, NVIDIA 9400/9600 iPhone 3G S⃣ ; Apple TV; Final Cut Studio 2.5, Logic, Drobo, EyeTV

Jul 17, 2009, 05:10 PM	#19
NP3 macrumors regular Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Los Angeles	Not to mention how in the world would you properly sandbox your OS? Everybody saw how well ActiveX did in IE, and how much of a headache that was to properly contain. __________________ 15" 2.4 C2D Penryn, 16GB iPhone 3GS. Old stuff: 8GB iPhone, 15" 1.33 G4 Powerbook, 400mhz G4 Sawtooth, 4G 20GB iPod, 1G 5GB iPod (still works great!)

Jul 17, 2009, 05:11 PM	#20
chelsel macrumors 6502 Join Date: May 2007	There is no way JavaScript can compare to compiled Objective-C. JavaScript is terrible as a "real" language. Sure, you can do cool things with it, but ultimately it's a giant hack. Objective-C on the other hand is a thing of beauty, as far as languages go. Further, big companies and even small developers will want to protect their intellectual property rather than release it as pure JavaScript source for the world to inspect and copy. Cliff 10 years Java, 8 years JavaScript, 2 years Objective-C.

Jul 17, 2009, 05:14 PM	#22
manhattanboy macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jan 2007	I miss the old webapps. The new ones just seem to take up space and provide little in return. __________________ Experimental iPhone ver. 2.1 with fully functional flash Next year's iMac 16-core 50gb ram MacBook Air Pro a thin laptop with actual power

Jul 17, 2009, 05:16 PM	#23
iguanarama macrumors newbie Join Date: Oct 2007	Wow, concept fail by Google there. It's not web vs app store, it's the ability to purchase appropriate tools and services no matter what the medium. Whether you access them as web apps, or whether they are downloadable, is just detail. And so the model, not the implementation, of Apple's store is where it's at. "The web has won"? Geez Google, think bigger.

Jul 17, 2009, 05:18 PM	#24
jimsowden macrumors 68000 Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Boston, MA	It's definitely going to be a mix of stronger, web based technologies and still native applications. Apple though the web-apps would catch on with the iPhone, but they were of course too limited. The alternative then was to write a whole API environment for native software. Imagine if those APIs could be invoked off the web? Like the camera and location services off mobile facebook? It's the two bridged. I'll always want something I can use without the internet, because it will never be 100% pervasive, and sometimes it's nice to not be connected to everything everywhere and just play a game, or work on a photo album. I don't want connectivity forced on me, I just want it as a great option. __________________ King Donko of Punchstania

Jul 17, 2009, 05:18 PM	#25
rockosmodurnlif macrumors 6502a Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: New York, NY	Hmm, didn't Sun try this whole the network is the computer business already? __________________ ...saving up for next iPhone. Flash on iPhone.

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