Stand-alone Mobile Apps versus Internet Browser Mobile Websites

Do you prefer to use an app on a mobile device or use an internet browser on a website?  Now a days, you have the choice between using an app or getting on an internet browsers. It is set up that way so we can choose whichever we prefer.  I wanted to touch on the differences between the two.  Some of the benefits and disadvantages to both.  I found really great explanations about both the mobile apps and internet browser websites on two websites.  The first website listed specific features of each. You can go directly to first website by clicking here.  Also, below I have posted the list:

"Web hosted applications rely on the following architectural features:

Web Application

• The UI is rendered on a client machine, using a specialized client (a.k.a. web browser)
• The UI capabilities on the client machine are limited to what the web browser (including plugins) supports. The programmer generally has no ability to implement arbitrary functionality on the client, but rather must work within the capabilities supported by the client.
• Business logic and data storage are not on the client machine (generally speaking, there can be limited exceptions). Rather, one or more servers take those architectural roles.
• Communication between the client and server occurs using a standardized network communication protocol (HTTP).

Stand Alone Application

• There are a vast number of different architectures for stand-alone applications. Some can be quite similar to a web hosted application; others are quite different.
• The programmer has full control (within the capabilities of the operating system and with support of a broad selection of UI frameworks) over the user interface.
• The business logic layer and data layer may reside on the same machine or on a remote server.
• If one or more remote servers are involved in the solution, many different remote communication protocols can be selected from. There's no requirement to use HTTP over TCP/IP (and in fact, more efficient protocols are often selected)."

I found a very detailed article describing the "stand-alone mobile apps vs. browser mobile websites" debate.  You can find that article here.  The benefits of mobile apps are that they are fast and easy to figure out. Also, they are really handy to use because they can pull information from the areas of your mobile device such as location, uploaded data, or links that could be related.  Some disadvantages to mobile apps could be that apps can get bugs and not work properly.  There have been many complaints as well as my personal experience with apps crashing. 

Some advantages or benefits to browser mobile websites are that they are more responsive to your device.  They can adjust to provide the best image for your device.  Also, they can update more easily providing you with a better working website.  Some disadvantages to browser mobile websites can be that it cannot personalize as well as an app can.  Also, there is no app icon which helps people recognize a company easier.  

Overall, there are a lot of good things and bad things about each.  It's just which you prefer more. We are lucky to live in a time where we can choose between the two or become familiar with both.