>http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/19/technology/publishers-straddle-the-apple-google-app-web-divide.html
>
>I lean toward the browser myself.
>I don't see how the app stores add value.

As always it depends.

If you're building a pure business application that doesn't need access to the device hardware or software features directly (beyond camera, mic, gps which you can reasonably easy access from Web apps now) then Mobile Web apps are fine. I tend to lean this way myself. However, if you do need access to device features that aren't supported in the browser then you *have to* build an app to make that happen.

There are additional issues to consider:

* Web Apps are not as easily accessible as 'real' apps (shortcuts in browser or possibly on desktop)
* Desktop Shortcut Web apps on iOS behave badly (no preview, force reload on each re-activation)
* Users often expect an App

You can also use a hybrid solution like Apache Cordova to build a Web app and use Cordova to publish it as an app (as long as you run it as a local HTML based app on the device).

Lots of issues to consider - there are no black and white answers here.

I do agree - the Web will win here eventually. The API specs exist but browser vendors are dragging their feet implementing them - especially Apple which is hell bent on preventing Web apps from becoming first class citizens. Of all the major Vendors out there Microsoft actually has a real strategy for Web apps, with an app model that allows running apps off the Web with access to the Windows 10 device features which is promising as a first step in the direction I'd like to see apps go: remotely hosted and deployable with app store or 'curated' approval to minimize malware.

We'll see where this goes - right now the Mobile Web is unfortunately in a sad state for cross platform and for any mainstream solution you want to build I think Cordova is the best choice if you want to use Web technologies.

+++ Rick ---