Native Apps VS Hybrid Apps !!!

What is a Native Application ?

Definition. Apps developed exclusively for a specific mobile platform that can leverage all device capabilities.

The inherent benefits are obvious. Native applications can leverage the full array of features and functions available through the mobile device’s core operating system. Generally, they are faster, smoother and offer a significantly more fluid user experience than either Hybrid apps or mobile Web apps.

Native Mobile Apps- Built using the native programming language for the platform like iPhone or iPad apps built using Objective-C, and Android application built with Java. Native apps are fast, provide better user experience and interface and have access to all device features for which it is built. On the down side, a native app can be used only for its specific platform thereby restricting the reach. For e.g., an android app cannot be run on an iPhone and vice versa. If you want to cover a larger audience across all platforms, you will need to have separate native apps for them.

Instagram-Example of Native Applications

Angry Birds-Example of Native Applications

What is a Hybrid Application ?

Definition. Apps that wrap a mobile web interface inside a native container

Today, technology changes so rapidly that most businesses require immense flexibility and scalability to adapt content, design and even application architecture, all on the fly. By deploying applications that rely on a robust combination of HTML5 Web technologies and native OS features, you preserve a large degree of control over the content and design of the solutions we build for mobile platforms.
We find that this process empowers our customers to perform fast, easy, on-demand updates, without losing the inherent advantages that come from hosting a solution in the iTunes Apps Store or the Android Marketplace.

While many confuse a hybrid app with a native app, but there is a fundamental distinction. A hybrid application is built using web technology, and then wrapped in a platform specific shell.  The native shell not only makes it look like native apps and makes it eligible to enter the app stores, but also, developers can build in some of the native functionalities into it, to access some of the native APIs and use device specific hardware features to some extent. A hybrid app is basically an app developed in combination with HTML 5 and native technology. For cross platform reach, developers would need to code the native part separately for each platform but they can use the same HTML5 part across all of them.

More in this video:

-And now that we know what a Hybrid & Native Application means, Here's a comparison between them:

Comparing Native to Hybrid

The following table offers a matrix comparing the benefits and various features supported by native and hybrid mobile applications.

Feature	Native	Hybrid (PhoneGap)
Access to the Contacts or Address Book	Full support	All platforms except older Blackberry OS and WebOS
Access to the Accelerometer (motion detection)	Full support	Not supported on older Blackberry OS
Camera	Full support	Not supported on older Blackberry OS
Storing data locally and offline	Full support	All platforms except older Blackberry OS and Samsung Bada
Accessing network properties and conditions	Full support	Full support
Access to the local file system for saving and retrieving files (e.g. images)	Full support	All except Symbian, older Blackberry OS, WebOS and Bada
Access to Location / GPS data	Full support	Full support
Local notifications (alerts, vibration, sound)	Full support	Full support

And here's a Video to increase your knowledge about those Apps

References and External Links:

Web Sites:

www.worklight.com

http://mobiloud.com/blog/2012/06/native-web-or-hybrid-apps/

http://www.cloudsherpas.com/services/custom-development/mobile-apps/native-hybrid-and-mobile-web-application-development/

http://www.mendix.com/blog/whats-the-big-deal-with-native-vs-web-vs-hybrid-applications/

http://sandhill.com/article/hybrid-or-native-mobile-app-development-six-key-considerations/

http://www.quora.com/Mobile-Applications/What-is-the-difference-between-HTML5-Native-and-a-Hybrid-app-Which-is-better

http://www.xcubelabs.com/blog/native-web-and-hybrid-apps-understanding-the-difference/

http://www.icenium.com/resources/forums/icenium-general-discussion/native-vs-hybrid-app

http://scn.sap.3com/thread/3365532

Video Links:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ns-JS4amlTc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDnNEKtBkBE