Comment by kube-system

kube-system Oct 29, 2025 parent

But, it doesn't. The browser is unsupported for many of the above-mentioned applications.

jayd16 Oct 29, 2025

Can I get an example of a single one that can't be found on the web?

qingcharles Oct 30, 2025

I seem to remember Venmo and Cash App had near useless web portals. TikTok's web app is very poor. Reddit's mobile app has functions not available on web. I bet the McDonald's web site doesn't let you order for pickup and get the deals (does Starbucks?). CapCut's web site sucks, and their desktop app is missing a bunch of features the mobile app has. I'd guess an absolute ton of betting apps don't work on the web because they are trying to do good location checking. Does Shazam even have a web version? What about mobility apps like Uber/Lyft and the bike/scooter ones?

On the flip side of the coin, some places are locked to web apps because Google & Apple won't allow them to exist. e.g. OnlyFans and Playboy can't get in the app stores, but OnlyFans still manages to make several billion dollars a year, most of which is almost certainly mobile.

jayd16 Oct 30, 2025

I think you're misunderstanding my conjecture. My point is that there is no technical reason these features can't live on the web. I'm not talking about the incidental or intentional decision by some company to force user behavior by not providing a web solution.

kube-system OP Oct 30, 2025

Yes, theoretically anyone could build anything. Building it is not, nor was it ever the hard part.

There’s no financial, political, or mass market incentive for browser APIs to have feature parity with mobile OS APIs. Approximately nobody wants to do what you’re asking for. If anything, there are incentives against doing this.

kube-system OP Oct 29, 2025

Netflix? Telegram's push 2FA? Any mobile wallet application? The vast majority of dating apps? Any of the app-only social networks? Basically all keyless entry applications?

jayd16 Oct 29, 2025

All functionality found on the web.

kube-system OP Oct 29, 2025

Have you tried?

* Netflix does not load in a mobile browser, it directs you to download their app.

* web.telegram.org sends a 2FA push notification to their app

* Apple wallet/ Android wallet do not have web apps

* Popular dating apps, e.g. Hinge do not have web apps

* Some social network apps, e.g. BeReal do not have web apps. Many others have reduced features.

* I have never seen a keyless entry app that supports the web, at least not from a mainstream manufacturer.

Can you name a single browser app that can do NFC payments in the US?

lanfeust6 Oct 29, 2025

Firefox supports Netflix web app. It prompts you to install the Widevine plugin.

krzyk Oct 30, 2025

I use Netflix web version on my linux desktop all the time.

kube-system OP Oct 30, 2025

We were talking about mobile browsers. Obviously I am aware that people watch Netflix on their laptops.

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