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submitted 3 months ago by jeffw@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world
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[-] RegalPotoo@lemmy.world 135 points 3 months ago

Why does patreon even need to be an app? What value does the app bring that the website can't deliver?

[-] astanix@lemmy.world 81 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

There are a lot of people out there that will not use a website and only use an app for things. I'm willing to bet there's some users of patreon on ios that don't even know there is a website.

[-] 100@fedia.io 73 points 3 months ago

lots of people caught mobile brain rot

[-] zorrothefox2001@lemmy.world 15 points 3 months ago
[-] LainTrain@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 3 months ago

Is it? A native mobile application (not a web view/PWA) will always be massively better as a user experience than anything a website can provide.

People who use apps do so because they've learned from experience that an app is far better UX than the website version, and they're not always right, but they're not wrong most of the time.

If anything, web apps are the real modernity brainrot.

[-] Fribbtastic@lemmy.world -1 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

It goes even beyond that.

With a dedicated app, you go into the store and install it and then you have it in your apps that you then can place everywhere.

With a website, you need to have the browser, navigate to that website each time. And yes, you could put a link to that website on your home screen as well but not many user are probably aware of that being an option.

I know that but I still would prefer a dedicated app because it is easier to manage and use more features of my phone. For example, I just tried it on my android phone and the link to a website always opened a new tab in my Firefox.

Then I can manage the notifications of that app depending on what I want it to notify me about.

I can't do that specifically for a single app or website in a browser.

On the other hand, I also wouldn't want to miss a website because I am not always on my phone and, in some cases, it is way more annoying to do something over the phone because I am just not used to it (like writing this comment). Doing that over a website version that I can access on my PC is much easier and convenient.

[-] Scrollone@feddit.it 29 points 3 months ago

OnlyFans doesn't have an app but they're still in business. We must educate people about not relying on apps for everything.

[-] LainTrain@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 3 months ago

It doesn't have an app because it can't, not because it wouldn't benefit from it.

[-] nadram@lemmy.world 4 points 3 months ago

I would argue Patreon cannot have an app on the App Store as it would cause them to mess up their (and the users') business models... 30% is huge !!! I am baffled by why they would bend to Apple instead of upgrading their website.

[-] yoshisaur@lemm.ee 26 points 3 months ago

definitely. i know so many people from my school who’s iphone home screen is just… pages full of apps. we’re talking 40+ apps on average. they always say it’s weird how i use a website for almost everything, and then they complain about their storage space :/

[-] Pilferjinx@lemmy.world 20 points 3 months ago

I tend to use whatever has the best user experience. I don't use a browser for lemmy as an example.

[-] Voltage@sh.itjust.works 0 points 3 months ago

I use lemmy on browser because lemmy apps seem too confusing to me lol

[-] Mbourgon@lemmy.world 12 points 3 months ago

Notifications of new content are nice.

[-] exu@feditown.com 14 points 3 months ago

There's this ancient standard called email

[-] Ghoelian@lemmy.dbzer0.com 18 points 3 months ago

There's also web push. You can send push notifications straight to someone's browser, no need for a dedicated app anymore. Not sure if patreon has implemented this, but they could if they wanted to.

[-] SomethingBurger@jlai.lu 7 points 3 months ago

RSS is better suited for this.

[-] kirk781@discuss.tchncs.de 8 points 3 months ago

Does this mean Patreon too will have two tiers of billing system: standard billing via the Web and slightly higher prices if done in app. I think if one purchases a YouTube Premium membership in app on iOS, it costs more than when done via the site.

[-] faercol@lemmy.blahaj.zone 10 points 3 months ago

Yes, that's exactly what they're doing. If you have a Patreon, you must choose between increasing patreon price on Apple specifically compared to Android and Web, or you can keep the price the same, in which case you will earn less from users using iOS in-app purchase

[-] minyaen@lemm.ee -5 points 3 months ago

Unfortunately, I think you hit the nail on the head. Apple knows this too. Also, unfortunate for those Apple-sheep 🙄

[-] Tilgare@lemmy.world 17 points 3 months ago

Background play of exclusive podcasts for one thing. I suppose that might be possible in a browser but playing media from a media player app instead of a browser is certainly going to be a better experience.

[-] drmoose@lemmy.world 17 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Just offer file downloads. I swear the society is regressing technologically speaking (not aiming at you OP)

[-] TheRealKuni@lemmy.world 15 points 3 months ago

Every podcast I support on Patreon provides a link that you can plug into your podcatcher to subscribe. I don’t need the Patreon app to listen to the podcast then, just Pocket Casts or whatever I’m using for all my podcasts.

Even the video links are YouTube links.

I don’t doubt that the app makes life easier in some ways, but the website works just fine.

[-] Tilgare@lemmy.world 6 points 3 months ago

The main shows definitely that is the case for me as well - but there are also Patreon exclusive audio releases that don't go out on the rss feed for Morning, Somewhere for instance. I also follow shows with exclusive video releases on Patreon that don't ever go to YouTube and I still get the benefit of a dedicated media app with background play.

[-] WolfLink@sh.itjust.works 3 points 3 months ago

They should just take the route BandCamp takes and tell you to go to the website to make purchases

[-] Tilgare@lemmy.world 1 points 3 months ago

For some reason, some developers get away with it... But that practice is specifically prohibited by Apple. Maybe the exception is for app developers that had a pre-existing deal before the rule went into effect or something, but directing users out of the app and into a web browser will get your app update denied. If Patreon were in a position to make that deal, they probably wouldn't be catching hell like this from Apple in the first place.

[-] spiderman@ani.social 7 points 3 months ago

PWA should be the way. As long as the website is mobile responsive, PWA should be preferred in cases like this.

[-] LainTrain@lemmy.dbzer0.com -2 points 3 months ago

A functional user experience?

this post was submitted on 13 Aug 2024
331 points (99.4% liked)

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