Domains vs Apps

julian · Jun 24, 2013

This was started in another post but think its an important topic in its own right.

I think domains are safe for the moment..

As pseudo developer/domain investor who's been doing this stuff since 1998 my feeling is that App hype will continue, but slowly die away in the functionality they provide in favour of content delivery via HTML5 and the like - especially with improved broadband infrastructure (4g)

Why..?

Maintainability.

bensd · Jun 24, 2013

Although some apps are standalone, most are part of the larger picture, like domains

Blossom · Jun 24, 2013

They will co-exist for at least another decade IMO.

FWSJay · Jun 24, 2013

I think some niches suit domains better while there are some areas where an app is perfect and the domain/site is much less important. Like a restaurant for example - the app would be used for bookings, special offers etc, and the site would be there only to spread the app, link to from rating & review sites etc.
Jay

Edwin · Jun 24, 2013

There are already some signs of "app burnout". When every site, large and small, pushes their app as a way to keep in touch with them, it's hardly surprising...

Retired_member41 · Jun 24, 2013

I now find myself moving off the app to go to the desktop version as you always feel you are losing out on features, especially on shopping sites.

Even the largest companies apps are so buggy, its easier to use the www site.

stellar73 · Jun 24, 2013

There's a lot of badly coded apps out there! I'm certainly feeling rather apped out.

My laptop is on the blink at the mo and am having to use a borrowed one with Windows 8 which just makes me hate them even more.

Edwin · Jun 24, 2013

It's the "tragedy of the commons". Every time you come across a buggy, useless app, you feel slightly less disposed towards all apps in general. And with more and more apps being shovelled out faster and faster, the probability that you'll come across a junk one is increasing all the time.

I've already had 3 "spring cleans" on my phone in the last year, and each time I deleted 20+ apps that I'd installed on a whim but turned out to be junk.

sdsinc · Jun 26, 2013

Would you want to install an app for every site you visit ? Of course not.
Apps are not domain killers.

An other example: when you have the site bookmarked, the URL becomes less important and you can even forget the domain. But you still need to be able to go to the site first. The app has got to be downloaded from somewhere too...

GEaston · Jun 27, 2013

I didn't originate the debate to say that Apps are where it's at, and as a result the domain is dead. I'm merely pointing out that this obsession with domains is unhealthy to the point that you have all convinced yourselves that the domain is here forever. I've got news for you, it isnt.

10 years ago there were no apps, noone had heard of them and domains were all we could think about. For many here that is still the case. The real world has moved on though and the fact that domains are still an annoying part of the infrastructure doesnt mean they always will be.

I'd put domains in the same category as the 5 minute bios boot. Remember that? 5 years ago every single person on this forum had to wait several minutes between pressing the on button to actually getting a responsive computer. People then would have said "its like that because it's a computer - you have to have BIOS" Turned out that Apple pulled the rug out from under Windows and now noone with a new PC has that wait.

To look forwards and with confidence say "domains are where it's at, we'll always need them" is just annoying. It's a historical nonesense that does still exist today, but not for much longer, just like the desktop PC. Surely people have enough vision to see that.

Then again, maybe not. Jobs did quote Henry Ford's saying that "if I asked people what they wanted it'd be faster horses". Substitute horses for domains on this forum.

pugyrob · Jun 27, 2013

GEaston said:
I didn't originate the debate to say that Apps are where it's at, and as a result the domain is dead. I'm merely pointing out that this obsession with domains is unhealthy to the point that you have all convinced yourselves that the domain is here forever. I've got news for you, it isnt.

10 years ago there were no apps, noone had heard of them and domains were all we could think about. For many here that is still the case. The real world has moved on though and the fact that domains are still an annoying part of the infrastructure doesnt mean they always will be.

I'd put domains in the same category as the 5 minute bios boot. Remember that? 5 years ago every single person on this forum had to wait several minutes between pressing the on button to actually getting a responsive computer. People then would have said "its like that because it's a computer - you have to have BIOS" Turned out that Apple pulled the rug out from under Windows and now noone with a new PC has that wait.

To look forwards and with confidence say "domains are where it's at, we'll always need them" is just annoying. It's a historical nonesense that does still exist today, but not for much longer, just like the desktop PC. Surely people have enough vision to see that.

Then again, maybe not. Jobs did quote Henry Ford's saying that "if I asked people what they wanted it'd be faster horses". Substitute horses for domains on this forum.

What do you think will replace domains and how will the millions of companies who spend billions branding domains react and change? To compare domains to bios is a bit of a stretch but i am curious as to how you see things progressing away from names at least in the next 30 years.

It is a bit like saying "you people think that mobile phones will be around forever but years ago people sent a raven and they thought ravens were here to stay!!" There are some things that stand the test of time, purely because of the logistics of altering them is too great.

julian · Jun 27, 2013

Listen old chap, it sounds to me like your someone who's a bit bitter because they didn't invest in any decent domains - prove me wrong and post a few would you.

It does beg the question, if your so sure domains are dead in the future, why you are on this forum

- nowt wrong with getting the skeletons out the closet before you invest though if thats your game

GEaston said:
I didn't originate the debate to say that Apps are where it's at, and as a result the domain is dead. I'm merely pointing out that this obsession with domains is unhealthy to the point that you have all convinced yourselves that the domain is here forever. I've got news for you, it isnt.

10 years ago there were no apps, noone had heard of them and domains were all we could think about. For many here that is still the case. The real world has moved on though and the fact that domains are still an annoying part of the infrastructure doesnt mean they always will be.

I'd put domains in the same category as the 5 minute bios boot. Remember that? 5 years ago every single person on this forum had to wait several minutes between pressing the on button to actually getting a responsive computer. People then would have said "its like that because it's a computer - you have to have BIOS" Turned out that Apple pulled the rug out from under Windows and now noone with a new PC has that wait.

To look forwards and with confidence say "domains are where it's at, we'll always need them" is just annoying. It's a historical nonesense that does still exist today, but not for much longer, just like the desktop PC. Surely people have enough vision to see that.

Then again, maybe not. Jobs did quote Henry Ford's saying that "if I asked people what they wanted it'd be faster horses". Substitute horses for domains on this forum.