Tech Creating stand-alone Apps that can be uploaded Play store and Apple store that just open my website

[C.Carnato]

Hi there,

what I want to do is this:

Create apps for Google Play and Apple Store that can be found and downloaded like any other app in those systems.

It would simply open up the mobile friendly version of my website.

One could say using it as a glorified bookmarking system for those less technically inclined + higher visibility for that regional market through searches on Play Store and Apple store.

Is this allowed by the stores? How would I go about doing this?

I could not really find anything using google about this, I believe I am missing certain terminology in my searches.

Thanks for any pointers

[candyflip]

This is about as easy as it gets for App development.

Check Fiverr.com - you can get this done for almost nothing.

[C.Carnato]

Originally Posted by candyflip

This is about as easy as it gets for App development.

Check Fiverr.com - you can get this done for almost nothing.

Thanks, what would be the correct terminology for this?

[MaDalton]

anything with adult is a no go...

[C.Carnato]

Originally Posted by MaDalton

anything with adult is a no go...

Yes, this is non adult. Simply tapping into the great minds of gfy as asking the same question on a mainstream forum will just result in loads of shit being flung at me

[candyflip]

You need a WebView app. That's just going to display your website in a WebView. The old GFY app I made a few years back was nothing more than this.

[MaDalton]

Originally Posted by C.Carnato

Yes, this is non adult. Simply tapping into the great minds of gfy as asking the same question on a mainstream forum will just result in loads of shit being flung at me

GFY has become soft?

[C.Carnato]

Originally Posted by MaDalton

GFY has become soft?

Nooo With shit I meant useless info and people trying to sell me overpriced services that I am not looking for.

[C.Carnato]

Originally Posted by candyflip

You need a WebView app. That's just going to display your website in a WebView. The old GFY app I made a few years back was nothing more than this.

Thanks a lot man, am googling in the right direction now

[candyflip]

Someone who is set up to create Android and / iOS apps should be able to put these together fairly quick and have a set price. All they have to do is drop in your link, set up the icon and compile. I'm not set up to do it at the moment. If I was, I'd have already done it for you. Would have taken me less time than I've spent explaining it so far.

[potter]

There's a very high likelihood Apple won't allow the app on the app store. It's technically against the TOS, it might get through but it's a risk because it's not allowed and their app reviewers aren't supposed to let it through.

You can't just open your website in what is effectively safari (without the browser controls) and say "I have an app!".

[candyflip]

Originally Posted by potter

You can't just open your website in what is effectively safari (without the browser controls) and say "I have an app!".

Yes, that's basically exactly what he wants to do and exactly what you do.

Here's the basics (with an explanation) on WebView for Android:

Building Web Apps in WebView | Android Developers

[x12media]

If the sites you are "loading" are responsive and or mobile ready, then this would be fairly simple task. (I could do it for you) Although you do need to supply the "complete" list of functions prior , as I get into many of these that someone just says, "I want it to just do this" and then when complete, its "ohh I thought it would do this too, because that is what this did" etc etc etc

Android Apps and iOS app are 2 very different sets of rules.

[potter]

Originally Posted by candyflip

Yes, that's basically exactly what he wants to do and exactly what you do.

Here's the basics (with an explanation) on WebView for Android:

Building Web Apps in WebView | Android Developers

I'm not questioning HOW he can do it, I know how a webViewUI works.

I'm saying - Apple does not allow you to do that. The agreement for submitting apps states a bunch of shit about how the app has to "do something" and "provide stuff for the end user".

If you write an app that is literally just a webViewUI opening a URL - it's not really any different than opening the page in safari. Thus, Apple's rule is to deny apps like that. They will deny it and send you a letter stating the app doesn't provide any (new/real) functionality to the user. There is an army of "App reviewers" for Apple who are specifically trained to deny such apps. Rightly so too, you shouldn't be creating an app that is literally just opening a URL. You can simply do that from your site by providing a bookmark button with an icon so the user can save your page to their home screen with that icon. Apple, in this regard, is keeping the app store a much more clean place - less full of bullshit apps like this.

Now, you can try it - and you may get lucky. But it's highly unlikely they'll let it through. I know he may want to have "an app on the app store" but Apple doesn't make it that easy, they want APPS on there.

But what do I know right, it's not like I work for an actual mainstream interactive firm who does this shit or anything.

Oh, but yes - if you want an Android app that could be done. They'll let any piece of shit on that store. The approval process for an Android app is minutes, unlike Apple which can take weeks. (There's a reason you constantly see news stories about bad apps that are installing malware or fucking up peoples phones - and they're Android apps)