Secondly, web apps are very useful. Google was right to make their productivity software and other apps web-based. But even when you run these apps in Google's own browser, you get UX travesties, like two menu bars. Subjectively, user interaction is never as good as in native apps. This is just the web app version of the "native vs cross-platform" app implementation decision. Being cross platform is useful but never quite as slick.
This was not published, so that purple-haired Google employees did not get the satisfaction. Jolla OS and VIRVE (government phone system) were seen as secure alternative. But Google somehow managed to ensure that this does not happen again and issue was forgotten.
But Russians just officially adopted Jolla OS as the only one in government phones. There will more adopters in rebellious countries of eastern Europe, I am sure.
Elon Musk could easily join this train. Jolla is open and there are no creepy creeps of Amerikan Westcoast Creepytown telling how to use it.
This "This was not published, so that purple-haired Google employees did not get the satisfaction. Jolla OS and VIRVE (government phone system) were seen as secure alternative. But Google somehow managed to ensure that this does not happen again and issue was forgotten." ...has got to be the most obscure yet entertaining conspiracy theory I have heard.
I know all the failed mobile platforms pretty well. The CIA did not kill any of them.
Apps exist so you can have a dedicated, integrated experience. A web page is inherently sandboxes, and the platform itself, as powerful as it has become lately, is still quite limited compared to native. Oh, also your battery life will be s**t.