What is the preferred URL to use to open an iOS app in it's App Store web page as well as the iTunes app (when available on the host device)?
I've tried using the itms:// protocol but this opens the app details in the iTunes app only and so is of no use when the URL is navigated to from an Android or Windows phone for example.
I believe you would want to look at the browser to determine which link to use. If the browser is Safari on iOS device, give them the iTunes protocol link, otherwise, http://.
I believe javascript allows you to read such information: Take a look here: http://www.w3schools.com/js/js_browser.asp
I've discovered that the behaviour of a URL opening an iTunes preview web page before automatically opening the iTunes app on the host device (where available) is triggered by affiliate links (which need to track the click before taking the user to the intended destination).
Related
How do I create a desktop call to action that goes to either (Apple) Appstore or (Android) Google Play depending on the end-user's needs?
I know we can create multi-link QR codes for mobile but is there anything similar for the desktop?
The functionality you're looking for can reside at the URL in the QR code. The embedded URL could link to a webpage that checks user agents and redirects appropriately. If the Safari on iOS user agent is detected, redirect to Apple's App Store. An Android user agent would be redirected to an appropriate app store. I would set all other user agents to go to a product page with links to both stores.
This could be a nice example!
I have PWA and I can run it as standalone (if user clicks icon on a device) or I can run as normal website (if user enter URL directly into web browser).
Is it possible to redirect page (open as standalone) if user open it as non standalone?
My manifest file already contain standalone parameter:
"display": "standalone"
I need something to start with.
As far as I know you need to "install" the pwa on the user device first.
By clicking the icon on the device (meaning you already installed the app there) you open the PWA that will be rendered as described in the web manifest (standalone in your case).
If you wouldn't have already installed the pwa on the device, you would have the same behaviour you are getting on your desktop by accessing the web site with the browser.
Let me know if I misunderstood your question.
UPDATE
The answer to your question (in the comment) is no (from a desktop browser). Chrome on an Android device uses/opens directly the PWA version, if installed of course. This is due to the Android Intent Filters that enable this.
But this is not the case from a desktop browser, where the user accesses the web site by entering the url manually. Maybe in the future it might change, but at the moment it is not possible.
In Chrome on desktop, if the PWA is installed and the user opens the app in the browser, there's a "To open this link, choose an app" link at top right on the address bar, between the password manager key and the bookmarks star - you could point that out to the user. Clicking that link offers a button to open the PWA and close the browser tab.
I am trying to open application on android phone via Browser, Is their anyway to open any application using the ** URL ** in an andoid phone via Chrome, by using HTML.
The format of these URLs is pretty simple and an example of a real URL that you can use is:
intent://#Intent;action=android.in
You have to use the format provided by the app vendor. for example whatsapp:// should be used to open whatsapp and magnet:? to open torrent app. Likewise you have to use in links
Is there a way to open any app installed on Iphone/Ipad? is there a way to open that app from HTML run in Safari.
Please help me. Thank you very much!
Yes, but only if you know the apps URL scheme.
Like for example, Facebook App registers the app URL fb:// so if you create a herf you can open the Facebook app:
Launch Facebook app
Yes you can, If you know the URL scheme of that app.
For eg. URL scheme of whatsapp is whatsapp:// so you can open whatsapp from safari by typing whatsapp:// in your browser.
You can also set URL scheme to your app so that any one can open your app from browser by entering URL.
Check this great tutorial If you want to create a custom URL scheme for your app.
Im developing a web with facebook share link function. I notice facebook mobile apps will open shared link in its own browser, instead of mobile broswer (IE. safari, chrome and so on). Is there any control on this able us to force facebook open the link in mobile browser?
No. The only reliable workaround is if you use the web app with an iOS app, and all users install that iOS app, you can send users to your iOS app to accomplish that task which isn't a great workaround.
An easier but still not optimal solution would be to detect the Facebook browser in the user-agent string, and display a message to prompt users to visit the URL in the mobile browser.