Webpage to App conversion

markjbloggs

Could someone please explain how difficult it would be to covert a webpage (HTML) to an App to a complete tech numpty? I am considering Apps as a way to diseminate info that I regularly update on a webpage,

Presumably the answer lies between the "press the convert HTML to App button on your computer" and the "completely impossible - hahaha" extremes

thanks.

AlmightyCushion

Depends what OS you want to target. If you have the webpage already then why don't you just keep that? It's cross platform so will work with any OS (you may need to tweak the UI to work better on a mobile screen but this will be far easier than coding new apps). I think far too many people rush to make apps for mobiles when a more mobile friendly site is a better alternative.

markjbloggs

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

Depends what OS you want to target. If you have the webpage already then why don't you just keep that? It's cross platform so will work with any OS (you may need to tweak the UI to work better on a mobile screen but this will be far easier than coding new apps). I think far too many people rush to make apps for mobiles when a more mobile friendly site is a better alternative.

Not sure I understand you - are you saying that the enduser should access my existing webpage using the browser (safari?) on their iPhone?

The people I am targeting are well into their iPhones, hence the need to accomodate them.

AlmightyCushion

markjbloggs wrote: »

Not sure I understand you - are you saying that the enduser should access my existing webpage using the browser (safari?) on their iPhone?

Exactly except by using a website instead of an app you also give access to people on android, WP7, WM6.5, BlackBerry etc. You won't be limiting it to just iPhone users.

markjbloggs wrote: »

The people I am targeting are well into their iPhones, hence the need to accomodate them.

A website can still accommodate them though. What does having a dedicated app offer the user over a website?

markjbloggs

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

Exactly except by using a website instead of an app you also give access to people on android, WP7, WM6.5, BlackBerry etc. You won't be limiting it to just iPhone users.



A website can still accommodate them though. What does having a dedicated app offer the user over a website?

Ok, that's the answer I was looking for - so I just get them to bookmark the webpage on their IPhone browser? Does this bookmark necessitate them opening the browser first ? (total numpty on iPhone too !!)

thanks for your answers, by the way.

AlmightyCushion

markjbloggs wrote: »

Ok, that's the answer I was looking for - so I just get them to bookmark the webpage on their IPhone browser? Does this bookmark necessitate them opening the browser first ? (total numpty on iPhone too !!)

thanks for your answers, by the way.

With the iPhone I believe they can just put a shortcut on their homescreen. So they have an icon where their list of apps are, they click that icon and it opens the browser for them and takes them to your page. You might want to check that first but I'm pretty sure that's how it works. You should make sure that your webpage is tailored for running on a smaller screen and is touch friendly.

markjbloggs

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

With the iPhone I believe they can just put a shortcut on their homescreen. So they have an icon where their list of apps are, they click that icon and it opens the browser for them and takes them to your page. You might want to check that first but I'm pretty sure that's how it works. You should make sure that your webpage is tailored for running on a smaller screen and is touch friendly.

That's great, thank you

AlmightyCushion

markjbloggs wrote: »

That's great, thank you

No worries.

conor.hogan.2

Webpage is a great option, good luck if you are trying to sell it the users though.

markjbloggs

conor.hogan.2 wrote: »

Webpage is a great option, good luck if you are trying to sell it the users though.

Not trying to sell it, just trying to show data that may be compelling...

conor.hogan.2

Then a webpage is the best option, saves you time and gets you much more viewers.

Eoin

And bear in mind that it's possible to make a web page for the iPhone that looks very similar to an application anyway.

I used the JQTouch framework for a web front-end for iPhone clients and it was pretty easy to do.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpFCnopKLF4