Downloading web apps?

Question

Level 1

8 points

Downloading web apps?

Hi I am a new iphone owner and for some reason I cannot figure out how to download any web apps onto my iphone. They open up in safari but there is no clear way to download or sync. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Power Mac G4, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Feb 1, 2008 7:19 AM

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Answer 1

cdimino Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 1, 2008 7:27 AM in response to b_behringer

OK, so then why are apps like this:

http://www.apple.com/webapps/entertainment/showtimes.html

...shown on an iphone in the image? And when on the URL, it is obviously programmed for an iphone with its menu and button layout?

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Answer 2

Feb 1, 2008 7:30 AM in response to cdimino

Because they are made for the iPhone, they are "mobile versions" of websites to be blunt.

As you see there is a link and it automatically pulls the WebApp up. I use many of these such as Beejives JiveTalk for AIM.

http://www.beejive.com/iphone/

Also I use http://www.seeqpod.com for music.

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Answer 3

GMGuinn

Level 2

290 points

Feb 1, 2008 7:31 AM in response to cdimino

Because that's the bread 'n butter of web apps; they have the look and feel of a traditional application, but are nothing more than web pages. Check it out; you can view, and in many cases, use the web apps right on your computer...

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Answer 4

cdimino Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 1, 2008 12:36 PM in response to b_behringer

Well, not exactly, what I meant was that when you look at a web app URL such as this one:
http://showtimes.optimalconnection.net/ you notice that it does not look like a normal web page but that it has been programmed for iphone. and so the thought was that if the web apps page on apple.com looked more like it was programmed for the iphone screen, then maybe more people would put 2 and 2 together.

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Answer 5

Feb 1, 2008 12:41 PM in response to cdimino

Either way they are called Webapps for a reason. Other wise they would just be called applications and would have a download button instead of a link.

They are formatted for the iPhone to have the feel of a native app.

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Answer 6

Feb 1, 2008 1:15 PM in response to cdimino

On the other hand, Apple is supposed to be coming out with a SDK for the iPhone this month so actual 3rd party applications (not webApps) can be written directly for the iPhone.

so, right when everyone gets used to the fact that there is only safari, other companies will come out with non-safari applications, just to confuse everyone all over again.

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Answer 7

Feb 1, 2008 10:32 AM in response to SisterBlue

Something like this?

http://www.apple.com/webapps/whatarewebapps.html

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Answer 8

Feb 1, 2008 7:21 AM in response to cdimino

They are Safari only. Hince the name WEBapp. They do not download to your iPhone.

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Answer 9

cdimino Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 1, 2008 7:34 AM in response to GMGuinn

Now I get it... thanks for the help.

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Answer 10

GMGuinn

Level 2

290 points

Feb 1, 2008 7:39 AM in response to cdimino

You bet.

Web apps are great! Embrace them... and then 'mount'(for want of a better term) them to your Home Screen/Springboard/Whatev...

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Answer 11

Feb 1, 2008 7:57 AM in response to cdimino

I think many people have had this same confusion. Apple should make it clearer on the WebApps site that you have to navigate to the WebApp on your PHONE and not on your computer. 🙂

-SB

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Answer 12

cdimino Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 1, 2008 10:31 AM in response to SisterBlue

I agree. Maybe if the iphone apps page was designed in the iphone format much like their apps are, then people would get the idea of going on their phones to browse and bookmark these apps.

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Answer 13

Feb 1, 2008 11:43 AM in response to b_behringer

That text has definitely been re-written since the last time I looked at it, which was a while ago...

-SB

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Answer 14

Feb 1, 2008 1:17 PM in response to Brian Postow

But these will be available through iTunes to download and also select companies will even get the SDK so I doubt there will be 600 of them available.

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