In this paper we have revisited the recent battle between web-based software and native applications or “apps”. At
this point native apps seem to be winning especially in mobile computing. Furthermore, the trend towards mobile
apps seems only to be strengthening with the increased popularity of “branded” apps that are rapidly replacing the
traditional system applications in mobile devices. Nevertheless, it is still too early to declare the victory of the apps
and proclaim the death of the web-based software development. Rather, in the next five to ten years, native and webbased
application economies are likely going to co-exist and complement each other.
In the larger scheme of things, the battle between apps vs. the Web is becoming somewhat irrelevant as we are at
a cusp of yet another paradigm shift – the dominant era of PCs and smartphones is coming to an end. So far,
standalone devices have been the norm, and software has been attached primarily to a single device. We believe that
in the computing environment of the future, the users will have a considerably larger number of connected devices in
their daily lives than today. Unlike today, no single device will dominate the user’s digital life. We will enter the era
of multiple device ownership.
In this paper we reiterated the need for a truly liquid multi-device software environment. By liquid software, we
refer to a multi-device software experience that can seamlessly and effortlessly “flow” from one device to another.
Liquid software entails a virtualized but personal computing experience that is independent of any particular device
or OS platform, allowing the users to seamlessly roam and continue their activities on any available device or
computer. Although liquid software may still seem like science fiction, the technical ingredients and enablers for
realizing the vision are already largely in place. The vision itself can be implemented either using native or webbased
software. The seeds for the paradigm shift towards multiple device ownership have already been planted, and
it will be very interesting to see which route the future will take. In summary, paraphrasing Mark Weiser19, we
believe that by the end of this decade multi-device usage will become so seamless and ubiquitous that “it will weave
itself into the fabric of everyday life until it is indistinguishable from it”. This is simply how computing devices
shall work from now on.