Time to Talk Tech: Native Apps vs Web Apps for Gamers
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As an avid gamer, you’ve probably wondered about native apps versus web apps. An app is an app, is an app, right? Not quite. A native app is expressly designed for a particular type of device. These include iOS, Android, Windows Phone, and BlackBerry devices, et al. For the most part, gamers will download these native apps directly from the Google Play Store, or the App Store.
Now let’s quickly shift our attention to the concept of a web app. As its namesake suggests, a web app can be accessed directly from your browser on your mobile phone. You don’t need to download these apps – you simply play directly from Safari, Firefox, or Chrome.
These rudimentary differences say precious little about the type of gaming experience you will enjoy with either a native app or a web app. To better understand the functionality of these options, it’s important to point out the differences between them. On the surface, you’ll be hard pressed to tell the difference between a native app and a web app by simply looking at the user interface.
Technical Differences Between Web Apps and Native Apps
From a technical perspective (the functional components), the apps are different. One adopts a user-centric approach and the other is an app-centric approach. Native apps are designed for specific mobile platforms with unique development systems. Web apps don’t always work well on all devices, given their unique characteristics.
If we delve a little deeper, it’s evident that different mobile platforms have their own programming language. For starters, Android utilizes Java, iOS uses Objective-C, Windows uses C++ and so on. Mobile platforms provide developers with all sorts of tools and resources, features and functions.
With native apps, you can rest assured that the game you are playing will be tailored to your device. It offers guaranteed compatibility, optimal functionality, and seamless gameplay. You may want to consider a web app on your iOS device, to find that it’s only able to access a fraction of your device’s features. From an accessibility perspective, it’s a no-brainer – native apps are best for gaming.
Let’s talk efficiency for a moment. Game developers typically spend lots of time and money crafting native apps for iOS and Android devices. This means that they are expensive to create and maintain. On the plus side, native apps are certainly far more efficient than web apps since they work with your device’s features and functions for maximum gameplay. These native apps are available through the Google Play Store and the App Store.
Benefits of the App Platforms
There are much tighter security controls in place to validate the authenticity of the app creator, and users can verify the quality of the app through platform reviews before downloading and installing. Web apps tend to suffer from all manner of problems including maintenance costs. The main issue with web apps is that they are designed to fit any platform – irrespective of iOS or Android – and they are not required to maintain any type of standard as in the case of the App Store or the Google Play Store.
With a web app, you are going to need a Wi-Fi connection or a cellular signal to play. Why? Because you’re connecting directly through your browser which necessitates as much. With a native app, no such requirement exists because once you’ve downloaded that app, it is installed on your device and you can play your favorite games any time you want. Remember though, multiplayer games require you to be connected online, so the Internet component is a nonstarter in this instance.
Web apps should ideally be created with multi-browser compatibility to perform best on your device. If they are designed primarily for Google Chrome, or Mozilla Firefox, they may not work well on Safari. The only way to assess the quality of the web app for gaming is to play it on your preferred browser. Apps typically allow players to enjoy maximum screen real estate with feature-rich audio visuals.
Play the Game to Appreciate The Difference
The type of app you choose is especially important in games where you need to see everything going on, such as how much other poker players at your table are raising and betting. By optimizing your gameplay with either a native app or a web app, you are assured of the best possible gaming experience. It is worth pointing out that connectivity issues can affect web apps too. For example, if you find yourself in a dead spot (limited connectivity), your game may stall or disconnect. Game developers often stress functionality over ease of porting.
By offering a blanket solution with a web app, your game provider may be shortchanging you with a better option in the form of a native app for your specific device. Many of the world’s leading online gaming platforms such as 888poker offer players the option of a full download on the App Store, the Google Play Store, and a web app version online. The instant play mode direct from your browser does not require any download whatsoever, and is ideal for quick and easy gameplay whenever you want. It’s always best to have more options, that way you’re assured of the best possible gaming experience.
