Uber has launched its Progressive Web App for the Windows 10 ecosystem. The app-based radio taxi hailing service has ceded to the versatile operating system’s demands for flexible apps that work effortless across hardware like PC, Mobile, HoloLens, and Hub.
Following Twitter’s footsteps, Uber has fully embraced the Progressive Web App or PWA platform. The relatively new app ecosystem is infinitely more flexible and scalable as compared to any of the previous standalone applications for Windows OS. Now that two major companies have adopted the PWA system, other companies like Lyft, Starbucks, etc. could soon follow suit. Interestingly, there’s another parallel approach that Microsoft has been exploring. Called as Universal Windows Platform or UWP, it is a different approach to app development. Quite recently, there were rumors that WhatsApp, one of the most popular internet-based web messaging apps, would be redeveloped and ported onto the UWP platform. However, with Uber going the PWA route, other companies may not consider developing their apps on the UWP protocols.
Table of Contents
Uber’s Mobile-Friendly Website Indicated It Was Taking The PWA Approach:
Back in February, the PWA ecosystem was getting major attention from Windows 10 team as well as app developers. Uber grabbed the opportunity to announce it would soon stop development on its app that worked on Windows 10. As expected, the company ended support for its Windows 10 app in June.
Industry insiders were confident that Uber was working hard to develop a scalable alternative to its app. Moreover, there were speculations the company would become the first to take the PWA approach. The m.uber.com website was a strong indicator of Uber’s preference. However, Twitter’s PWA eventually became the first, and the company quickly followed the micro-blogging platform’s footsteps on the Microsoft Store.
Uber’s Progressive Web App Works On All Hardware That Runs Windows 10:
Uber launched the PWA on the Microsoft Store this week. The new app has a changelog that mentions, “updated to m.uber.com wrapper.” The 34 MB app is a unifying platform that all Windows 10 devices can download and use. In other words, there are no longer separate Uber apps for PC, Mobile, HoloLens, and Hub. Needless to add, this significantly reduces app development costs.
The Uber PWA is fairly simple and works as expected. The user simply has to enter his login credentials of the current and valid account. Since the app is in its nascent stage, it may fail to ask permission to access the user’s location, a critical aspect for the app’s reliable functioning. If such a situation arises, users should merely end and re-launch the app. The app works on both WiFi as well as cellular connections.
Twitter’s PWA app appears far more sleek and mainstream when compared to the Uber PWA app. However, it is amply clear that the company intended to launch the platform at the earliest. The company should accelerate development on the User Interface (UI) elements.
