Android is the world’s leading mobile operating system. This is one of the main reasons why companies invest time and capital in the development of Android applications. There is no other platform that promises as wide a reach as Android.
The main challenge here is the actual application development process. Making an app is quite expensive and extremely complicated. Companies usually have to choose between hiring a team of developers or outsourcing the work to a development agency. However, tools like AppMySite have made it easier to build an app for Android and iOS with DIY app building options.
Not every business needs a mobile app that has phenomenal features and functions. . Some just require a simple app that conveys the necessary information to the end user.
In fact, many small businesses with great websites are looking for ways to create an Android app that simply displays a mobile version of a page. Web. This represents one of the most common demands in the application development space.
In this blog
- Why develop Android?
- Availability of powerful Android development tools and systems
- Ubiquity of Android devices
- Strong compatibility with newer system versions operational
- Fast and easy development
- How does displaying a web page within an application help?
- Web View Apps – An Introduction
- Creating Web View Apps with AppMySite – A Guide
- Step # 1: Appearance Settings
- Step #2: Enable Web View in Control Panel
- Step #3: Connect Website and App
- Step 4 – Update Web View Settings
- Step 5 – Preview and Download
- Create a web view application. Provide a native app experience
- What are the benefits of Android app development for my business?
- FAQ
Why Develop Android?
Creating an Android app is generally considered a natural step in mobile app development. Here are some reasons why you should go for Android development.
1) Availability of powerful Android development tools and systems
Android is an open source operating system, so there are many tools and systems that make Android development easier. AppMySite, for example, allows you to create Android apps without writing a single line of code. Similarly, many other DIY tools let you create Android apps.
All you need to do is sign up for a tool and start developing Android for your business.
2) Ubiquity of Android devices
In terms of market share, Android is far ahead of iOS. Two thirds of smartphone devices run on Android. In other words, Android development allows you to reach a larger audience. When choosing a platform to develop your app on, Android is an obvious choice with its almost ubiquitous reach.
3) Great compatibility with new OS versions
Android releases regular updates, some far-reaching and others to fix minor issues. In general, application publishers must verify the compatibility of their program with new versions of an operating system. However, with Android, compatibility issues with new versions are very rare.
This makes Android easy to maintain, as app publishers don’t have to worry about new versions of the operating system.
4) Fast and easy development
While custom development can be tedious, Android apps can be developed quickly with tools like AppMySite. Whether you want to link your Android app to your website or create a completely native interface, AppMySite gives you all the options you need.
The ease and relatively low cost of development make creating Android apps an obvious choice.
How does displaying a web page within an app help?
Many companies with mobile apps loaded with the best features would naturally wonder the meaning of simply display a web page within an application. After all, this is nothing more than the equivalent of copying the mobile version of a website into an application environment.
There are many reasons why some companies choose to take this route. First of all, this takes the pressure off of getting the mobile app design right. The app only displays a specific web page and therefore businesses only have to work on their website design. Developing such an app is also simpler as compared to spending day and night working on the features and functions of an app.
Mobile apps that display a web page are also known as mobile apps. web view. Therefore, you must create a web view application to display a website link within an application.
Web View Applications: An Introduction
Let’s look at native apps first to get a better idea of web view apps. A native mobile app is essentially software for your smartphone. It is designed to work in a mobile environment and take advantage of the device’s resources.
As an exercise, visit Amazon’s mobile website, and then take a look at the home screen of your app. You’ll find key differences in design and performance in both. The app will be much more responsive and aesthetically pleasing because it is designed to work on a mobile device. The website, on the other hand, is just a responsive version of the website.
Webview apps are essentially customized versions of web browsers that only contain the main rendering engine. Its performance and design depend on the website.
So how do you create an Android app that links to your website? Essentially, you should build a web view app.
Also read: Native App vs. WebView App: Which Route Has the Better Chances of Success?
Creating Webview Apps with AppMySite: A Guide
AppMySite is a free online app builder that allows users to WordPress users create native apps and webview apps without writing code. If you want to create an Android app that points to a URL and don’t know how to code, AppMySite is a great place to start. You can get your own web view app up and running in minutes.
The following steps walk you through the process of creating a web view app with AppMySite.
Step #1: Appearance Configuration
The first step is to configure the appearance of your webview application. You need to create the basic elements of your web view app, such as the app icon, home screen, and login and registration screens.
AppMySite gives users a ton of options for customization when designing these application elements. . The following points highlight some of them –
- Application Icon – Users can design an application icon using the customization options available or upload your own. design. Available layout options include color and text fields.
- Home Screen – Also known as the home screen, users can access options to design the background and logo or upload your own artwork for both. AppMySite also provides access to a free image library containing high-quality images for your home screen background.
- Login and registration screens – Layout Options are available to optimize the background, logo, buttons, and fields. Users can also upload their own designs for the background and logo.
These main elements will help configure the essential parts of your webview application.
Step #2: Activate the web view in the panel
This step will allow you to display a web page from your website in the application panel. After you finish working on the key elements of the application, go to Control Panel under Appearance.
You’ll find the web view tab here. Enter a URL of your website in the field. You can also choose to display your website’s header and footer using the switch below the field. Hit save to complete the process.
Following this procedure will essentially ensure that your dashboard displays the URL of the website you entered. You don’t need to work on the other options in this section, as you’re directly displaying your web page.
Step #3: Connect the website and app
You must connect your website to AppMySite to display your website’s content in the app. The following steps explain what you need to do:
- You need to enter your WooCommerce REST API keys if your website is an eCommerce store. Generate the consumer key and consumer secret from your WooCommerce website and enter them in API Details under Connectivity. Click here to learn how to generate WooCommerce REST API keys from your eCommerce store.
- Next, download the AppMySite WordPress plugin to your website. Activate the plugin once the download is complete.
- Go back to your AppMySite account and select Verify under Install Plugin.
- You will be redirected to the Application Previewif the connection is complete. You can also go to Troubleshooting in case of connectivity issues between the website and the app.
Step #4: Update the web view settings
You can also choose whether to display all screens of your application in web view. Follow the process below to make this change:
- Go to Application Settings and go to the Pages
- Turn on the switch next to Enable a web view interface for all my pages. Basically, this will ensure that each screen of the application loads a web page.
- You can customize other parts of the web view, such as enabling hyperlinks and inputs with the other options in the section.
tab.
Step #5: Preview and Download
Download the AppMySite demo app to preview your webview app.This will help you get a real idea of your app’s performance in a mobile environment.
Look for areas where you can improve your design. To customize the design, you would naturally have to make changes to your website. You can finally download the app once you are done making changes.
The following process explains how to download an app from AppMySite:
- To download an app, you must update your subscription plan. Visit the pricing page to learn more about the different plans available.
- Generate your app build after upgrading your subscription plan. You have the option of generating app builds for Android and iOS.
- With Android, you have options to choose between AAB and APK builds.
- Download the app after generating the build of your app. You can then proceed to submit your app builds to app stores.
Create a web view app. Provide a native app experience
The main benefit of building a web view app with AppMySite is performance.
One of the main complaints people have with web view apps is their lower performance compared to native apps. This becomes a problem for many companies who prefer the simplicity of developing and managing web view applications.
AppMySite simplifies performance issues in web view to provide performance similar to that of a native application. It also provides additional capabilities within the web view, such as hot links, back button functionality, and full screen display.
These features help enterprises deliver a native app experience in plain view apps. Web. Therefore, it is advisable to choose AppMySite if you are looking for a platform to create a web view application.
What are the benefits of Android application development for my business?
So how does building an Android app really help your business? The following points explain the benefits of Android app development:
- Sustainable costs and high ROI: For custom developers, easy access to the Android SDK makes the process much easier and more sustainable. The alternative, which uses a no-code development tool, is also sustainable and does not require a large investment. The benefit can be huge as apps can be a great asset to your business.
- Fast development cycle: Android apps are associated with fast development cycles, whether you are thinking of custom development applications or those created with no-code tools. This makes it much easier to deploy Android apps faster and fix bugs and issues quickly.
- Business Growth Scalability: Android app usage has grown exponentially. If your app ranks well in the Google Play Store and you are running a good marketing campaign, you can scale your business growth exponentially with an active app in the app store.
- Developed for native Android smartphones: Compared to a mobile website, an Android app is designed to accommodate the native specifications of smartphone devices. You can offer a much better user experience with an Android app, compared to a mobile website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have questions about linking your Android app to a website or just Android development in general? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions.
What is the estimated cost to create an Android mobile app?
The cost of creating an Android app depends on many factors. The average cost of developing Android apps can be anywhere from $40 to $70,000, but this can increase depending on factors like feature requirements, integrations, developer location, etc.
An easier alternative is to subscribe to a DIY platform that allows you to build Android apps without spending thousands of dollars.
Which programming language is best for building Android apps?
Java and Kotlin are generally the main Android app development languages. Android developers must have a firm understanding of Java at least to work on an Android project. If you are new to Java or Kotlin and want to create an Android app for your company or client, you can sign up to AppMySite and create Android apps without writing a single line of code.
What to do after submitting an app to the app store?
Before submitting your app to Google Play and the Apple App Store, you must create developer accounts.
Developer accounts allow you to submit your app to app stores. For Android, you need to create a Google Play Console account (also known as a Google Developer account). For iOS, you need to create an App Store Connect account (also known as an Apple Developer account). You can submit your app to app stores with these developer accounts.
Before submitting your app, it’s also a good idea to do a thorough test of the mobile app to make sure there are no bugs or issues with the app.
In Conclusion
Not every company wants to create an app that is packed with great features and functions. Some businesses just require a simple application that can be easily developed and managed.
This leads many towards developing web view applications. This article provides a comprehensive guide on how to create an Android app that links to a website. The overall app building process discussed here is done on AppMySite, a great platform for building a WordPress app without coding.
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