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Watney's avatar
Watney
Iron Contributor
Nov 27, 2019

Does “Install” make a website a PWA?

Thurrott.com reports today that Outlook.com and 365 OWA are converting to PWAs. If I “install” these sites will they be PWAs? Or do I need to wait until seeing the little arrow in the right hand end of the search bar like Twitter?

My hunch is that the arrow means it will install as a PWA. Simply “installing” a normal site wraps the webpage with magical JavaScript.

Can someone please confirm? Thanks so much!!

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  • HotCakeX's avatar
    HotCakeX
    MVP
    Nov 27, 2019

    Hi Watney 

    if you install any website as an app, Edge insider will treat them as a PWA, regardless of whether that website is actually a PWA (such as Spotify web, Google photos, outlook email etc) or just a normal web page like a Google search.

     

     

    • Watney's avatar
      Watney
      Iron Contributor
      Nov 27, 2019

      As a follow on, what are the benefits to "Install" a site versus open the site in a new tab? Thanks so much!

      • HotCakeX's avatar
        HotCakeX
        MVP
        Nov 27, 2019

        Watney 

        Watney wrote:

        As a follow on, what are the benefits to "Install" a site versus open the site in a new tab? Thanks so much!

         

         

        it integrates into your system in the same way as a native app. In the case of Windows 10, this results in the app showing up in the Start menu and within the Settings app. it will have its own window, its own icon, minimal UI, the notifications coming from that app is supposed to be more integrated into the OS, so for example Whatsapp app from Windows store and Whatsapp web PWA installed from Edge insider should produce the same type of native notifications in the Windows 10 action center.

         

        some of these features are still in development:

        https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/Discussions/Need-more-info-about-Web-Apps-Identity-Proxy/m-p/1032125

    • Watney's avatar
      Watney
      Iron Contributor
      Nov 27, 2019
      When you say “treat” does that mean the same in all instances? In other words, will Edge Insider make a non-PWA website into a PWA? Thanks, if you know what I mean?
      • HotCakeX's avatar
        HotCakeX
        MVP
        Nov 27, 2019

        Watney 

        Watney wrote:
        When you say “treat” does that mean the same in all instances? In other words, will Edge Insider make a non-PWA website into a PWA? Thanks, if you know what I mean?

        Well the thing is the line between a PWA and a website is very thin and blurry,

        in Edge insider, all websites are treated the same way when they are added as an app (or PWA).

         

        Edge doesn't make a non-PWA into a PWA.

         

        PWA:

        "A progressive web application is a type of application software delivered through the web, built using common web technologies including HTML, CSS and JavaScript. It is intended to work on any platform that uses a standards-compliant browser. "

         

        this is why I say the line between a PWA and a normal web site is blurry because both of them use the same 3 programing languages.

         

        but some of PWAs are obvious such as Spotify web player, Whatsapp web, Telegram web, Google Photos (maybe?), Gmail, Outlook etc

         

         

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