What's wrong with using a browser to view Lemmy? Seems like a lot of posts are about best apps for Lemmy. Am I missing out on something by not using an app?
First post. Majorly a lurker on reddit, and now that I've switched to Lemmy, most likely will continue to stay a lurker.
I know I can download and try all the apps to see what the difference is but I'm curious as to how many people just use their web browser or mobile browser?
Since I'm new, I have no interest to figure out what apps would work for me as all my time is used to figuring out Lemmy, and absorbing the contents.
Would it be a better experience to use any app to learn how to use and navigate Lemmy? The idea of using multiple apps at the same time to find what I like more seems overwhelming.
Apps are generally more optimised for phones, and thus work a little bit better (with the exception of www.wefwef.app). But if you like the website, you don't have to use apps.
What does this mean? Wefwef is amazing, easy to install, and provides one of the best Lemmy mobile experiences right now, in my ever so humble opinion.
wefwef is a progressive web app. It's something inbetween a native mobile app an a traditonal web app u would load in your browser(aka the user interface of your homepage). They have certain advantages but also disadvantages like performance and dependemcy on specific browsers etc.
Basically everything you download from app stores like Google play are native mobile apps everything else runs in a browser or some container of it (roughly summarized)
It's probably just that the majority of users here are here because their Reddit app stopped working yesterday! So they're used to a certain app and are looking to fill that hole
Nothing really. The mobile app is mainly to browse on the phone when not in front of the computer. I guess you can browse it in a phone's browser but it's more convenient, at least for me, to use an app.
If you can stand it, then go for it. You don't need to explain what's wrong with it, to most it's a terrible and janky experience immediately. There's a reason why people prefer native. If you don't see why, then who cares?
I found it would constantly jump to the top when reading/scrolling as new content was added, so I found various apps to be a much better experience. I guess that's what happens with such a jump in new lemmings coming online!
I understand the scrolling/jumping problem was supposed to be addressed in 0.18.1, which is great!
Apps have a few advantages not the least of which are Push notifications, individualised UIs, additional functionality like swipe to upvote etc. Webapps are ok, native Applications in General just have greater flexibility and access to more features of your Smartphone.
You're not missing anything by not using apps, as other people said, many people came here because reddit apps stopped working and they're looking for replacements.
I never used apps on reddit, old.reddit on desktop was by far the best experience for me, I don't intend to use apps on lemmy either.
I downloaded Connect for Lemmy as I'd seen others recommend it. I suppose I was drawn to using an app out of instinct rather than need. I'm waiting for Sync for Lemmy and can't be bothered to try out a bunch of other apps before then.
Nothing wrong at all with using a browser to view. Lemmy. People just like an app because it can better organize the site, posts, and comments. It really comes down to what you find most efficient and visually appealing.
I use my phone for Reddit mostly. The web UI was awful on mobile, and constantly annoying you to install their app. If the mobile UI for lemmy works well it's not an issue. But I think many people have a workflow that consists of an app for interacting with Reddit, and now lemmy
My biggest gripe using the browser was the constant auto-refresh. I’m using wefwef which has better functionality and looks way nicer, feels more like a ‘Reddit’ experience.
I'm firmly a desktop user here, I'm old-fashioned, I don't like using my phone, I'd rather be doing just about anything else than reading and typing on a phone screen. But each to their own!
If someone wants to make a desktop app I'd be interested (there never was one for Reddit), but the browser experience is just fine - especially with version 0.18 it's starting to feel polished.
you clearly aren't suffering from the random screen fast scroll bug. Every time I try to browse on the desktop, it just starts scrolling like mad and I close the site.
There are bugs but they are getting fewer by the day, I don't think I've had the fast scroll thing for a few days now. But that's not relevant for me, I have no interest in using my phone so it's either live with the bugs of the web version or don't do it at all.
I don't think there's anything wrong with using a web browser. I think people like the app just because it makes it easier to manage when browsing on the phone.
Since I work from home on a company PC now trying to use my own PC for anything is depressing lol so now I browse pretty much exclusively from my Android phone
The Lemmy web interface works well on mobile and seems to be a progressive web app because the browser gives an "install" option. Installing it from your local instance gives you a desktop icon that takes you straight into Lemmy.
I've found this to be very usable, much better than Reddit ever was through a browser on the phone. I don't feel the need for an app.