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by millstone 1918 days ago
I don't understand why Apple is holding anyone back. Just build an app that doesn't work on iOS. There's lots of apps exclusive to iOS and Mac - why not exclusive Android?

If the app really is a game changer, if it's that compelling, Apple will absolutely change its tune.
1 comments
Leherenn 1918 days ago
Because any app that is social in nature (where interactions between users is required really) that can only reach 50% of users does not have 50% of the potential value, it's closer to 0.

As an example, my girlfriend's a nurse, and they have a really bad paging system. Basically, the doctor calls the hospital reception who calls one person who is on call, who calls the second person on call. Of course, this breaks up regularly: the wrong person is called, or they call their boss because they don't know who is on call, and so on.

I thought I would do a PWA to help them out and learn some new things, but it's pretty much impossible on iOS. Now, if 50% of her team cannot use the app, it has no value. You would have to know who has the app or not and call the other ones. It's easier to just keep on calling directly.

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oarsinsync 1918 days ago
> Because any app that is social in nature (where interactions between users is required really) that can only reach 50% of users does not have 50% of the potential value, it's closer to 0.

This wasn’t true 10 years ago when Instagram launched, and was iPhone only for a considerable time.

Clubhouse seems to think it’s not true today either, also iPhone only.

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JumpCrisscross 1918 days ago
> 10 years ago when Instagram launched, and was iPhone only for a considerable time

iPhone users are, on average, higher earners than the median American [1]. Being iOS only means you get the vast majority of high-income Americans.

[1] https://www.statista.com/statistics/195006/percentage-of-us-...

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wruza 1918 days ago
The issue is not very clear to me, but usually people create a group chat for that and simply turn notifications off when not “on call”. Whatsapp, telegram, signal, discord, mailing list, whatever fits more. For automation chat/email bots may be used. Chances are it’s already solved, if you take wider than “PWA or nothing”.
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