A definite +1 for the idea of having a separate "Lite" app where we focus on optimizing for size and network usage for the developing world.
However, I'm afraid that having a Lite app would not automatically allow us to drop support for Android 2.3 in the "main" app. I'll be the first to attest to the number of headaches that supporting 2.3 has caused, but unfortunately this is just a routine part of Android development. Even if we drop support for 2.3, we would still need to use the Support (AppCompat) library which, for all its flaws, provides fairly great compatibility with versions all the way down to 2.1, practically for free. After all, the Facebook app (the "full" version) is still very much available on Android 2.3, and provides an experience that's fully consistent with the experience on my 4.4 device. By the same token, there are plenty of 2.3 devices that are still quite powerful even by today's standards, and surely deserve the experience of the full Wikipedia app. So then, I agree with all the other motivations for splitting off a Lite app, but as much as it pains me to say this, dropping support for Android 2.3 shouldn't necessarily be one of them. -Dmitry On Sun, Feb 1, 2015 at 2:15 PM, Carolynne Schloeder < [email protected]> wrote: > Creating a separate app to optimize sounds like a good idea. We will check > the market stats on Android versions, and I'll get the scoop from Facebook > on their learning. > > I was somewhat surprised that most OEM's we've talked to are shipping > Android 4.x even on low-priced models targeted for developing markets. But > I'll clarify what's happening and circle back with Dan on the distribution > plan (preload vs. appstores). I'll also catch up with Kim. > > I do love to see this attention given to our lower end handset users, > thank you! > > Carolynne > > On Sun, Feb 1, 2015 at 9:30 AM, Lila Tretikov <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Dan, >> >> I think this is really important and thank you for highlighting this. >> >> Could you do rough sizing on what it would take to get something like >> this out? What if we did this with a pre-load? >> >> Carolynne -- I recommend you start reaching out to Kim as you >> re-formulate your W0 strategy. >> >> Lila >> >> On Sat, Jan 31, 2015 at 2:36 AM, Florian Schmidt < >> [email protected]> wrote: >> >>> +1 for this idea. I still have an Android 2.3 device, but the Wikipedia >>> app (and others too) is very slow and becomes more and more unusable, while >>> it's agreat user experience on my Android 4.4 device. >>> >>> If dropping 2.3 support means a faster development of the main Wikipedia >>> app and the <2.3 users still have access to Wikipedia through a lite app >>> (which will be faster and more usable) i would say: do it, it has >>> advantages for both sides :) >>> >>> Florian >>> >>> Gesendet mit meinem HTC >>> >>> ----- Reply message ----- >>> Von: "Dan Garry" <[email protected]> >>> An: "mobile-l" <[email protected]>, "Carolynne Schloeder" < >>> [email protected]>, "Toby Negrin" <[email protected]>, "Lila >>> Tretikov" <[email protected]> >>> Betreff: [WikimediaMobile] [Apps] Wikipedia Lite app? >>> Datum: Sa., Jan. 31, 2015 06:45 >>> >>> Hi everyone, >>> >>> Those of you who were at the Mobile quarterly review heard me mention >>> Facebook Lite, an app that's designed especially for the developing world. >>> >>> Notably, their app has a lot of optimisations which make it good for >>> users in developing world: >>> >>> - It's only 252kB, good for limited data plans. >>> - It supports down to Android 2.2, good for older devices. >>> - It's data-efficient, good for 2G connections and for people on >>> limited data plans. >>> >>> From a development perspective, some advantages are: >>> >>> - You no longer have to support older versions of Android in your >>> main app. >>> - You can tailor the performance of the lite app to the older >>> devices so it's faster. >>> - You can tailor the features of the lite app to the developing >>> market. >>> >>> So obviously there are a lot of advantages for our users if we do this. >>> And, selfishly, I can't stress enough how much dropping Android 2.3 from >>> our current app would speed up development. As an example, almost all of >>> the edge cases with lead images occurred on 2.3 devices, and they required >>> quite a lot of investigation and hacking to fix them up. Obviously we've >>> not dropped 2.3 so far because it's a very strategically important part of >>> our user base, which I'm sure Carolynne can attest to! >>> >>> I'd say that we should put some serious thought into whether we'd prefer >>> to have a Wikipedia Lite app for the developing world, rather than our >>> current "one app to rule them all". >>> >>> Comments? Questions? >>> >>> Dan >>> >>> -- >>> Dan Garry >>> Associate Product Manager, Mobile Apps >>> Wikimedia Foundation >>> >> >> > > > -- > Carolynne Schloeder > Director Global Mobile Partnerships > Wikimedia Foundation > +14154077071 > skype: cschloeder > > _______________________________________________ > Mobile-l mailing list > [email protected] > https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/mobile-l > >
_______________________________________________ Mobile-l mailing list [email protected] https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/mobile-l
