60 million apps keep getting pushed on us, and everyone wants their own… Every restaurant, gorcery store, etc.
Would it not be feasible to install all of those Kroger, Gas Stations, bloat, bloat, bloat apps on an app Server that we just have a remote access to them like a thin client from our phone in a singular app of shortcuts (look like a folder, directory) So all the apps stay installed and don’t use resources on the phone. Which keeps storage requirements down on the local device and means when you go into another device you can just log in and have access to all the apps already signed in and how you left them.
Does anyone know if there is already such a setup?
It wouldn’t work well with things like streaming services, but it could still cover a lot of day to day apps I don’t really want to have to have on my device.
If you want to get deals for the grocery store you need their app, cheaper deals for pizza, have to open the dominos/Pizza Hut app, I rarely go to Taco Bell, Starbucks, McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, etc but they all want you to use their app to get access to their coupons and order things. Maybe their points all add up on their websites, would just have to save all the logins in a password manager. Kroger comes to mind because they now use in store prices, price with Kroger card, and price with coupon from mobile app. It’s crazy that that is allowed, but if they are going to charge 3.99 for a watermelon if you have the mobile app, and 6.99 regular, unfortunately I will cave and install the app.
Edit: seeing a product for sale with 3 prices listed below it is mildly infuriating
Part of what you’ve described is market economics. They want your loyalty and they want to track your purchases to sell that data to advertisers. Do they need an app for that? Absolutely not. They can and do host websites with the same deals and all you have to do is login. The reason they push you to their app is because either the app is something they spent a bunch of money on and want to increase customer adoption. Or, they have added massive new tracking capabilities and want to spy on their users on behalf of advertisers, so they need you on their app.
None of this is related to the technical aspects of this question. In fact, most of these companies would resist you installing their app on an “app server” simply because then they wouldn’t be able to track your location and other phone details easily. Defeating the purpose of your idea.
Oh, and as for the watermelon - there’s a sweet spot between the prices which is usually $5 if you use their loyalty card and not their app. That’s the price you pay for your phone’s privacy and resources - a buck. Not a fair trade, but it is what it is.
p.s. I hear you about the three prices thing. It’s frustrating. Grocery shopping is not simple. It’s all about hunting for deals and accepting the time vs money trade off. I’m sorry you are in this situation. I am too.
Yeah, the location data wouldn’t function right as you said. They wouldn’t know you were at the store on 5th Street if the app is running on a machine at home I suppose. Could always manually search it.
Not your fault we are in that situation. Hope your life comes into many a cheap watermelon.