[wtvanhest]

That was written almost 2 years ago when it was thought to have mattered. I have about 7 apps installed on my phone, 2 of which are angry birds and angry birds space. I have the kindle app, facebook, and a weather app which sucks.

Any really strong selling app for iPhone, will make it to Andriod which will make it to Windows.

The number of apps in your market is not really important when you have the web.

[ADDED] This may not be as true for Apple users because of the smaller screen size and slower web. For me, I have the LTE Galaxy so I just go right to the web. It is almost as good as my laptop due to the larger screen and LTE. I would guess when the new iPhone comes out, apps will probably become even less important.

[willyt]

I hate it when people say 'just use the web'. Just because you have a great data connection, doesn't mean everyone does. I have a terrible[1] data connection where I live. I have quite a few apps which I need to work with only intermittent connectivity to fulfil their main purpose: Mail, Theodolite (Photos with telemetry), Outdoors GB(Offline maps), Numbers(Spreadsheets), Sketches, Collins French<->English, Billings (Time charge app), Dropbox (Files favourited for offline access), Fill That Hole... and more I can't be bothered to list. If these required a data connection to launch them they would be useless to me and therefore it would be pointless to own a smartphone. I know there are probably web equivalents with offline storage for one or two of these (although how do you know if a web app is really offline capable?) but its unrealistic at this point in time to say that the web can replace native apps feature for feature for most users especially with the current local database size limits for web apps.

The whole assumption of a constant connection thing really gets on my nerves and there are plenty of native apps which are hobbled by it. There's nothing more frustrating than launching a native app which logically should be self contained only to have it sit there with the UI blocking for ages while it tries to access something on a crap data connection. For example, I truly hate the CalMac ferry app because it should just cache the timetable data in a CoreData (or a web app with offline database would work well too), its probably <100k of timetable data and it yet it tries to redownload a PDF for my ferry seemingly every time I try to access it......Grrrrrrr (timetable stashed in dropbox instead).

[1]About 1-3 bars of 2G signal. No 3G signal within 100 miles in every direction from where I'm sitting.

[wtvanhest]

Note, I didn't say just use the web.

I told you what I do which is what everyone else will do. I don't need to tell them, it will happen on its on.

The vast majority of people who can afford smart phones live in areas where there is consistent internet.

In heavily populated areas the trend toward improving internet connectivity will continue. Eventually the productivity gains from creating apps will only be useful in specific situations.

Areas now that are still hard to use internet are improving in most cities. Places like metros, basements, etc will all have internet some day.

If you are stuck somewhere very rural, you will be increasingly fustrated.