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Opening question on mobile web via Chrome on the iOS device shows a bar at the top of page:

read

After tapping on it installed ios-app will be open. But after return to Chrome I see modified text in the bar:

get

Should the text "Get via App Store" be displayed even if ios-app already installed?

  • App Version: 1.6.1.2
  • Device: iPad Air 2 (Wi-Fi)
  • OS Version: Version 10.1.1 (Build 14B100)
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For as far as I know you can't detect if the app has actually been installed on the device, so that message is necessary to give you the ability to go to the app store once you dismissed the download dialog you get.

The additional text gives you two distinct options: go to the app store or retry opening the post in the app.

Although a little confusing, I think it currently is the best option the developers of the app have.

Update: okay there is sort of, buy it requires to show a very annoying banner on every page you open. I like the current design better...

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  • The bug is that it only shows the "Get via App Store" after opening the post in the app, not before
    – Cai
    Commented Nov 14, 2016 at 8:28
  • Where is the bug? It should do that since that is 99% of the time the action you want to perform.
    – Patrick Hofman
    Commented Nov 14, 2016 at 8:40
  • I don't see the logic there... it only shows after you open the app (or click the banner to get the app), why would you need the App Store link 99% of the time after you already have the app? The only time it kind of makes sense is the first time you ever click the link (to get the app), but in that case it should show the link before, not after. The entire logic is backwards
    – Cai
    Commented Nov 14, 2016 at 9:14
  • Sometimes loading the app fails for whatever reason: old version, expired beta, etc. Linking the app store is the best option available then.
    – Patrick Hofman
    Commented Nov 14, 2016 at 10:00
  • But those are the exception, not the norm. If the problem is not being able to detect if the app is available then always show the link (having it only show up after is confusing).
    – Cai
    Commented Nov 14, 2016 at 11:14
  • (I'm sure you should be able to detect the app with some JS and a custom URL scheme though)
    – Cai
    Commented Nov 14, 2016 at 11:14
  • No, you don't want to confuse users with the download link all the time. Usability is key here.
    – Patrick Hofman
    Commented Nov 14, 2016 at 11:15
  • If you have a better way to detect if the app is installed, go ahead. Answer the questions on SO regarding that subject.
    – Patrick Hofman
    Commented Nov 14, 2016 at 11:15
  • But that's my point, it's more confusing to only show the link after clicking the banner since most users will already have the app at that point
    – Cai
    Commented Nov 14, 2016 at 11:17
  • I didn't say you have any control, I just referred to the numerous questions on SO how to overcome this limitation of iOS.
    – Patrick Hofman
    Commented Nov 14, 2016 at 11:18
  • There are numerous questions on SO on how to get around this, yes (you could do something like this for example).
    – Cai
    Commented Nov 14, 2016 at 11:31

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