Ask HN: Temporary Apps?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7827595

by stasy • 12 years ago

6 6 12 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

What if on your iPhone there was a folder/group of temporary apps? These apps would include store apps for when you walk into a store and you see items to purchase and a map. Or even a travel guide app for the country you just traveled to. These apps would appear when you walk into their vicinity area and go away when you leave.

Also, what if the apps were not downloaded, but viewed and downloaded for a short period of time like a website?

qb• 12 years ago

http://www.patentlyapple.com/patently-apple/2010/05/apple-re...

stasy2• 12 years ago

Well then, it looks like this won't happen since it was introduced in 2010

na85• 12 years ago

Everything about this idea sounds like an awful experience for the user. My phone is my phone, not an advertising platform as so many developers seem to wish it was.

I don't want or need a bunch of adware installing itself onto my device without my consent, using my already limited bandwidth and wearing down my battery for no other reason than to increase Banana Republic's bottom line.

No thanks.

spacemanmatt• 12 years ago

If it were couched as location-aware group highlighting/hiding, it's just one more dimension for sorting your apps. It makes a little more sense without the reactionism.

stasy2• 12 years ago

Okay then, what if apple had an app that shows a list of temporary apps in the area, and you can choose which to use or even to download the app?

jaredsohn• 12 years ago

This sort of exists now.

If you go to the App Store and click on "Near Me", you can often find apps related to where you are. (i.e. if you do it in a BART station, you'll see BART apps and if you are just in Berkeley itself you'll get SpoonRocket (which started in Berkeley), several AC Transit apps, and BerkeleySide.)

Ask HN: Temporary Apps?

Related Stories