So, which technology should you choose for your project? We’ve compiled some guidelines to help you navigate this decision.

Comparison of Key Aspects: Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) vs. React Native (RN) Apps

MVP

RN boasts a robust community and a wide range of UI frameworks, enabling you to quickly build an app. This makes it an excellent choice for creating a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) to test a hypothesis and determine if investing in a full-scale mobile app is worthwhile. ]

On the other hand, a PWA is essentially a standard website developed using web technologies (CSS, HTML, and JavaScript) with the addition of service workers. It can also be used to develop an MVP with limited functionality, which can later be expanded upon if the idea proves valid.

Therefore, when it comes to MVPs, you have the flexibility to choose either option.

Hardware

One drawback of PWAs is their limited access to device features. Currently, PWAs can only utilize functionalities such as the camera, microphone, gyroscope, and accelerometer. That’s about as much as they can tap into.

In contrast, React Native development excels in leveraging native APIs, allowing access to a broader range of hardware features. Need to utilize sensors or Bluetooth capabilities? Want to make use of NFC? Then, RN is the ideal solution for you.

Third-Party Services

React Native (RN) excels in leveraging external libraries for a wide range of purposes. Whether it’s testing, gathering analytics, or communicating with smartwatches and wearables, RN can handle it all and more. Additionally, RN seamlessly integrates with social media platforms and effortlessly switches between the user’s accounts without requiring credentials.

On the other hand, Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) fall short in this aspect. Logging into a Twitter account using a Google account, for example, is simply not possible with a PWA. The standard authorization process of entering a username and password is mandatory.

From a user experience perspective, this gives RN a slight advantage over the other technology.

Look and Feel

Unlike PWAs, which resemble regular websites with limited mobile app features like gesture control and push notifications, RN builds upon native widgets of major Mobile Operating Systems (MOSs). This means that JavaScript code written by a React Native developer can be transformed into native code. The outcome? A lightning-fast performance and a look and feel that closely mirrors purely native apps.

Search Engine Visibility

When it comes to search engine visibility, Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) have an advantage over React Native. PWAs are hosted on a server and can be accessed through a regular browser, allowing search engines like Yahoo! to find and index their pages just like any other website.

On the other hand, React Native apps function more like native mobile apps. They need to be added to app stores, downloaded, and installed on users’ devices. Search engines are not interested in indexing them.

Stores

PWAs can be accessed and installed directly through a browser, but they can also be uploaded to app stores, similar to native mobile apps. However, Apple has imposed restrictions on PWAs, making it challenging for developers to publish them. So, if you want to publish a PWA, your best bet is the Play Store.

Adding a React Native app to app stores is a less daunting task. If having a presence in app stores is important for your business, then React Native is a better choice.

Budget

Developing a PWA is relatively straightforward and cost-effective for front-end professionals. Basic web technologies and writing a service worker script are all that’s required to create a functional progressive web application. The development cost of a PWA is cheaper than that of a native mobile app, and even cheaper than that of a React Native app.

On the other hand, React Native may require developers to write code in Swift/Objective-C or Java/Kotlin to access certain device functionalities. This additional complexity can increase the overall development cost, depending on the complexity of the app.

Working with No Internet Connection

One of the notable features of PWAs is their ability to work offline or with a weak network signal. This is achieved through advanced caching mechanisms, allowing users to continue browsing content even without an internet connection.

React Native can also work in an offline mode, but it requires the installation of third-party libraries since React Native itself only provides the NetInfo module, which detects internet connectivity. For larger projects, external libraries are necessary to ensure proper functionality without an internet connection.

Push Notifications

Push notifications are a valuable tool for staying connected with your audience. Both PWAs and React Native apps support this functionality. The react-native-push-notification library enables developers to incorporate various types of notifications into their apps, ensuring compatibility with both iOS and Android platforms.

However, when it comes to PWAs, there are limitations imposed by iOS. Safari, for instance, favors Apple’s own push notification service, blocking others including push notifications from PWAs. Therefore, in terms of push notifications, React Native is the preferred choice.

Final Words

In conclusion, the technologies discussed in this post offer distinct features and capabilities. It is important to consider your business objectives and budget when deciding between them. Review the points highlighted above and determine which are essential for your specific case. 

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The regulator said in a statement that it found that dozens of apps, including the country’s most popular karaoke service Changba and electronics recycling service Aihuishou, were found to have engaged in misconduct, including the collection of excessive user data, during an inspection launched Nov. 3. The developers of these applications were notified by the regulator of violations of the law, but no action was taken by them to resolve the problem. This led to the removal of more than 100 applications, which complies with the country’s Personal Information Protection Act and Data Security Act.

The source notes that the Douban social networking website continued to be accessible on Thursday and active users were able to interact with the platform through a mobile app. However, unregistered users with IP addresses from outside mainland China, including Hong Kong, could no longer access the platform. It should be noted that less than a week has passed since the Chinese regulator fined Douban for 1.5 million yuan ($235,000) for “illegal disclosure of information”. As for the site itself, monthly social network Douban has about 10 million active users who communicate with each other, discuss movies, books, pop culture and others.

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During the testing phase, Windows Preview members can find descriptions of 50 Android apps in the Microsoft Store, along with links to download them from the Amazon Appstore. It seems that this state of affairs did not suit an enthusiast under the nickname ADeltaX, who reported on Twitter that he was able to install Google Play services and the Play Market store in Windows 11.

That means he can run any Android mobile app available in the official Google store on his computer. Although the developer described in detail the method of installing Play Market in Windows 11, the source notes that it should not be used by inexperienced users, as there is a chance of disrupting the operating system.

As for the official testing, insiders can currently only download 50 Android apps to their computers. Microsoft is working with Amazon to expand the list of available apps. “We’ve worked with Amazon and app developers to prepare 50 apps for Windows insiders to test and verify compatibility on different hardware configurations. In the coming months, we will be releasing new apps through updates to the Windows pre-assessment program,” Microsoft said in a statement. When the WSA subsystem will be available to all Windows 11 users was not specified.

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According to reports, the agency proposes to introduce a penalty of 2% of the income generated by the platform for digital content distribution in South Korea for forcing the use of certain payment methods. It is also proposed to approve a fine of one 1 percent of store revenue in the country for unreasonable delays in checking applications or unjustified removal of software products.

In August this year, South Korean authorities introduced a number of amendments to the current Telecommunications Business Law aimed at limiting the market dominance of large digital content store operators. The draft introduction of fines, which is currently under consideration by the government, is expected to be approved and come into force by March next year.

The regulator noted that cases where app developers are disadvantaged by the use of third-party payment systems can be equated to coercion, as they have no choice but to work with the payment methods imposed by the store operator. The department also plans to determine the amount of fines that will be imposed on app store operators for refusing to provide the information requested by regulators.

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Google explains the reduction of the service fee for e-books and applications for streaming music by the fact that most of the revenue of such services goes to the creators of content, not the application and its owners. According to the source, Google decided to reduce the service fee under pressure from regulators and the public. Developers are advised to familiarize themselves with the rules of the program and leave an application to change the rules of interaction with the Play Store platform.

As for applications with subscriptions, before announced changes, the service fee for the first year was 30%, after that it went down to 15%. Now the fee of 15% will be charged from the first year, which will probably encourage developers to switch from one-time payments to providing services on a subscription basis. Previously, Google reduced to 15% the service fee, which is imposed on the first million dollars earned during the year.

Google representatives refrain from commenting on the reasons for changing the existing rules in the Play Market. According to the source, such a decision could be due to increasing pressure from regulators.

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The Android apps available for download can be found in the Microsoft Store, where there are pages describing the different products along with links to download them from the Amazon Appstore. Android apps can function side-by-side with Windows software products and can be moved around within the workspace, docked to the taskbar, and more, if necessary.

Microsoft has reportedly partnered with Amazon to prepare 50 Android apps for insiders to test. Users will be able to interact with mobile games, children’s apps, book readers and more. Of course, the 50 apps are just a small fraction of the more than 3 million apps available in the Play Market, or the 600,000 apps published on the Amazon Appstore. It’s unknown at this time how many apps will be available to users when the WSA subsystem goes public.

Recall, the WSA subsystem is based on the Linux kernel and the Android 11 operating system. The subsystem is a Hyper-V virtual machine, which performs the task of mapping the execution environment and APIs in the AOSP environment with the Windows graphical environment, input modes and other components of the operating system.

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