iOS App Development - Native vs Web?

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MisterBigglesworth

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Hey,

So I need to create an App for iPhone and iPad for work. We might move to Android later...but first phase is for iOS. It will be nothing resource intensive, some articles etc...mostly content updates. Someone said we should look at using the web framework instead of the native dev option. As it was explained, Apple will charge a huge fee to register the App on iTunes for download, should I go the native route.

Using the Web framework...I can create it in HTML5 and via an API it will seamlessly run as an App on the iPhone and iPad. So how does this work...as I assume I still need to get it listed for download on iTunes?

I was told the web HTML5 route is better because if we decide to accommodate other OS's, we dont have to code a version for all different OS's. The HTML5 route is better because all we need to do is make sure it caters for most screen sizes as its OS independent...

The last option is to go the Mobi route....but that means users would have to remember the URL and to me thats not great user experience.

Anyone been in the same boat and can offer advice etc? :confused:
 
CrazyFig said:
Hey,

So I need to create an App for iPhone and iPad for work. We might move to Android later...but first phase is for iOS. It will be nothing resource intensive, some articles etc...mostly content updates. Someone said we should look at using the web framework instead of the native dev option. As it was explained, Apple will charge a huge fee to register the App on iTunes for download, should I go the native route.
Click to expand...
I'm no developer but it was my understanding that apart from the annual $99 developer registration fee there is no charge for actually submitting apps.
 
bwana said:
I'm no developer but it was my understanding that apart from the annual $99 developer registration fee there is no charge for actually submitting apps.
Click to expand...

$99? Ok...I heard it was closer to R100k! Come to think of it....that makes no sense. If it did cost that much...no garage developer would be able to make any Apps! Duh...maybe they were talking about the cost of developing an App, I dunno. I just checked and you are right, it is $99 so it must be the cost of a 3rd party dev house doing it...think they got their wires crossed. Anyhow...we have decided to do the dev inhouse, so that reg fee is no problem at all.

So registration aside, Web seems better than native...no compiles needed, no dev needed for each OS. Only limitation I see from reading up on this is for games...native is better here (which doesnt affect me then, so thats fine)

But still looking for some personal insight here...hope someone has been in the same boat RE the native vs web choice?
 
If its just content, then look at solutions like PhoneGap. PhoneGap is an HTML5 based framework that you develop apps on.

In either case, you will need to pay Apple the $99 to get your apps onto the App Store. Plus I think its the only way to get them onto other iDevices.

Remember you wont be able to do any develop for iOS at all without a Mac. So if you dont already own a Mac, you need to buy one.

I think there is also something called Titanium AppStudio or something, which is something in between web and native. I remember trying it last year, it worked but I wasnt blown away.
 
I have personal experience with web-apps. Let me know if you need more info. Web-apps is a great feature and I really enjoy coding them.

It doesn't cost you a cent to create a web-app and there is no need to have it approved by Apple.

Depending on the complexity you can make it in less than a day with iWebkit or HHML5 and CSS3. My vote is to go the webapp route unless you plan on selling the app.
 
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If you're familiar with the web-based technologies, I'd stick with that instead of having to learn C to do native apps. This can then directly translate into an Android app down the line.

To see what I mean, open up your iPhone browser to "sortedfood.com" and then click on the little icon you'll usually use to add a bookmark and click on "Add to Home Screen"

This will create an "App" icon on your iOS and will do away with the normal browser stuff, acts just like an app and is easily maintainable and usually part of your website
 
Ancalagon said:
If its just content, then look at solutions like PhoneGap. PhoneGap is an HTML5 based framework that you develop apps on.

In either case, you will need to pay Apple the $99 to get your apps onto the App Store. Plus I think its the only way to get them onto other iDevices.

Remember you wont be able to do any develop for iOS at all without a Mac. So if you dont already own a Mac, you need to buy one.

I think there is also something called Titanium AppStudio or something, which is something in between web and native. I remember trying it last year, it worked but I wasnt blown away.
Click to expand...

So if I go the native route....there is no way to develop an iOS App without a Mac? Well thats a kark one...its R16k for a decent Mac to dev on....sheesh! I think the web option is now pretty much the only option...

MeercatMilker said:
I have personal experience with web-apps. Let me know if you need more info. Web-apps is a great feature and I really enjoy coding them.

It doesn't cost you a cent to create a web-app and there is no need to have it approved by Apple.

Depending on the complexity you can make it in less than a day with iWebkit or HHML5 and CSS3. My vote is to go the webapp route unless you plan on selling the app.
Click to expand...

Will read up on this and might just pop you a PM soon! :D

AcidRaZor said:
If you're familiar with the web-based technologies, I'd stick with that instead of having to learn C to do native apps. This can then directly translate into an Android app down the line.

To see what I mean, open up your iPhone browser to "sortedfood.com" and then click on the little icon you'll usually use to add a bookmark and click on "Add to Home Screen"

This will create an "App" icon on your iOS and will do away with the normal browser stuff, acts just like an app and is easily maintainable and usually part of your website
Click to expand...

Will keep this option in mind, yeah more comfy with web tech

Thanks for the replies guys ;)
 
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I really like the web-apps, because you can start right away and do not have to bother with xcode and simulators ect.
 
Always do native. Web Apps fare much worse in comparison.
And to get into the App Store, it needs to be native (at least partially).

And this is speaking from personal experience
 
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If you aren't monetizing and you won't be publishing any content that will require processing by the device in question,webapp it
 
CrazyFig said:
So if I go the native route....there is no way to develop an iOS App without a Mac? Well thats a kark one...its R16k for a decent Mac to dev on....sheesh! I think the web option is now pretty much the only option...
Click to expand...

If your company blinks at R16000 for a dev machine, your company will struggle to produce a decent app.
The developers salary will be over R40k a month per developer, and depending on the app, you will need quite a few developers (If you want to have it published within a few months).
R16k is nothing
 
CrazyFig said:
So if I go the native route....there is no way to develop an iOS App without a Mac? Well thats a kark one...its R16k for a decent Mac to dev on....sheesh! I think the web option is now pretty much the only option...
Click to expand...

Neither PhoneGap nor Titanium Studio would let me publish to an iDevice without a Mac. In other words, even if you use an HTML5 framework, if it counts as an app, you need a Mac.

The thing that AcidRazor mentioned about a website being able to create an "app" shortcut on your phone would probably work fine though.
 
MeercatMilker said:
False
Click to expand...

Huh?

In my experience, in order to compile an ipa, you need XCode, and therefore a Mac. If it is at all possible, you're venturing into some serious hacking about to get it to work.

From experience, I prefer native, but I only dev for iOS, not Android. (Less fragmentation = win :D)

If you're very (very) comfortable with CSS, then you can probably leverage PhoneGap to make a cool app that will work across Android, Blackberry, WinMo and iOS from a single web codebase.
You will (as mentioned above) need a Mac and an Apple dev license in order to submit to the App Store.

Edit: One other note:
The one major reason I'd ever consider a web app (as in, a www.app.com thing) over a native app would be turnaround time.
App Store submissions take at least 7 days for review, so if you have a bug, you've got it for a week. WWW bugs are a simple ftp/deploy and you're all good.
 
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Thanks for the replies everyone, have a clear picture now. I was told too that the Web App option will allow the app to be submitted to the Apple Store online...even though its not native app. Seems this info Im being fed is half baked. Been reading up a bit and I see the only way to get an App in the App Store for iPhone / iPad is the native route. Sure the workaround bookmark option is a good idea...but will relay the info and make an informed decision.

Company is really pushing for this, have a feeling a Mac will be purchased and the native route explored...

Appreciate the help!! ;)
 
WTF? You have very decent FREE compilers/test enviroments you can use that doesn't require a Mac. Sure, you MAY need one to "publish" the app to your phone, but that's why they invented simulators. If you had to publish the app to your phone each time you compiled just to test it would get very VERY annoying
 
AcidRaZor said:
WTF? You have very decent FREE compilers/test enviroments you can use that doesn't require a Mac. Sure, you MAY need one to "publish" the app to your phone, but that's why they invented simulators. If you had to publish the app to your phone each time you compiled just to test it would get very VERY annoying
Click to expand...

VirtualBox the damn Mac OS if you really DO need a "Mac". Much cheaper than to faff around with a new machine
 
Hackintoshing a Virtualbox instance of MacOS is a pain unless you have a nice workable ISO with drivers and clear instructions

As for compiling and testing on non Mac I have yet to see any comparable workable solutions to Xcode,there's a reason there is a big ol iMac sitting next to me and it isn't because I like MacOS or apple
 
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