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Comment by jp57 | Hacker News Reader

Why does Patreon need an app?

If nothing else, to get consistent notifications from the creators you are a patron of, as Apple dragged their feet on web app notifications for many years, and they are still crippled and unreliable.

Email works just fine? Seriously, absolutely hate the trend of making apps out of websites.

Even webbrowsers can use push notifications for webapps IIRC, so that would also be a thing (ignoring that Apple kneecaps PWAs, dunno if they allow this).

Me too, but shockingly there are a lot of people who don't have a computer, just a phone. I even know people in their 40s like this.

I can read my email on my phone, and also get it to notify me when I get a new one from a particular address. It's not as easy as installing an app, but it's really not that hard either.

Phones usually have a web browser installed.

mmmhmmm, indeed. You need to consider the mentality of the people who chose to live this way. Most don't want want to type an address into a browser, ever, they want to tap an app.

I don't think it's anything to do typing the address. It's that there are a lot of people out there who don't understand what a web browser really is, how a web page is distinguished from an app, or how to get something from a web browser to their home screen.

See also: people who copy and paste images into Word documents before attaching them to emails. Same mental model disconnect.

For sure, I was using a simplistic description. My point is that my experience (and it's just my experience) is that many people don't care to understand what a browser is or how to use it properly, they want apps. I stress this is just my experience but I'm one of those people who tries to (unsuccessfully) teach them. They just don't care (though I'm probably a bad teacher).

And yes, see also people who print emails so they can scan them XD

So for nothing then.

Nothing for you. Important to others.

I agree with your sentiment. I tried the app a few years ago and found it offered nothing of value. Most content you can get by supporting an artist is best enjoyed outside the app anyway, like goodies they send in the mail or high-res art that looks better on a bigger screen.

The only use cases I can think of for an app are 1) Socializing with other supporters who support the same artist, and 2) Searching other creators on Patreon and discovering similar artists you could support.

But Patreon's social features were (still are?) terrible, which is why all the creators took their social communities to Discord instead. And ever since the beginning, Patreon has opposed adding search. So their app, to me, is totally worthless. I'm astonished they're still in business.

I love Apple stuff. I'm all in, iPads, iPhones, AirPods, Apple TVs, HomePods various *Books everywhere.

I wish Patreon had more apps. It's a pain to watch videos on my TV. I have to mirror my iPad and keep tapping the screen to keep it from locking and ending the session.

But they're being forced to use a payment platform that they don't want to use and have to alter/drop one of their best features to do it.

Feels like getting a dry cleaning bill from the guy who stabbed you.

It sounds like the problem is that you're using a combination of devices that makes it unusually hard to just play a video from not-your-TV on your TV.

Or, Apple could stop coercing Patreon into setting 30% of donations on fire and Patreon could make the Apple TV app. Everyone wins.

Apple should have a carve out for small donations/creator support just like physical goods.

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