> I can list a ton of APIs that are available to native iPhone apps that aren't available to apps via Safari.
And thank God for that! I don't want websites in Safari to have the APIs available to a native app!
And thank God for that! I don't want websites in Safari to have the APIs available to a native app!
Nope, not at all. You want 3rd party app stores because:
1) you don't believe Apple's walled garden is worth a 30% cut
2) you dislike Apple's lack of transparency in their app review procedures
3) you're unable to sideload an app onto your "customer's" devices
One or more of those are why you "need" third party app stores. And, I think you've got a valid argument for any of them. But none of those have anything to do with what APIs are available to websites in Safari.