After trying out the mini-app, I found that Android users finally crushed Apple fans

In order to reflect Zhang Xiaolong's understanding of the future form of programs, mini programs have four characteristics: no need to install, within easy reach, use and go, and no need to uninstall.

The mini program of Wo氪 will be kept secret for the time being. As for the "mini program example", it is a demonstration mini program made by WeChat to introduce to developers the current components and interfaces of the mini program. As Zhang Xiaolong said, users need to enter the mini program by scanning the QR code in WeChat: after scanning the code, they will jump directly to the mini program, and the "Component Example" interface will appear (it will take a few seconds to load). Here, you can basically only view the introduction layer by layer.

"Mini Program Example" applet (the loading page is on the left, and the main interface is on the right)

That’s right, this is the function of the legendary mini program.

"Mini Program Example" interface

The above is a small program with demonstration content. Below we will show a tool -like one - Ctrip .

If the current entrance to the mini program really only has QR code and search, but no subscription and push (didn’t it say before that it could be placed on the desktop), my product classmate said that this is really a very "tool" thing, and a relatively low-frequency tool, which does not seem to be suitable for content creation.

On the contrary, for services like Ctrip that are very tool-based, such as booking hotels, train tickets, and air tickets, it seems to be very suitable for mini programs.

After scanning the QR code provided by Ctrip, I saw that the name of the Ctrip mini program was "Ctrip Hotels, Air Tickets and Train Tickets". It is indeed a long and straightforward name, which reminds me of the carrot, corn and pork bone soup in my hometown.

Ctrip mini program loading page

After confirming to enter the trial version, the mini program was officially loaded and jumped to the following page - yes, it is the entrance to the four products for booking hotels, air tickets, train tickets and bus tickets . Before doing this, you will be asked whether you allow the mini program to obtain your location. I refused, but according to Ctrip, it can run automatically based on geolocation to recommend nearby hotels to users and determine the original departure points for air and train tickets.

Then you can basically use it to book tickets just like you do with Ctrip.

Enter the hotel page and you can sort by price/stars, popularity, or search for keywords directly in the search bar. Click on any store or hotel to view photo albums, reviews, and location (map). You guessed it right, Tencent Maps is used here, and this situation will also occur as you expected in the online payment process later.

After choosing to book, you will be asked to log in first. You can use the mobile phone verification code to log in quickly or log in with your account and password. After trying it, I found that even if you exit this mini program, as long as you have logged in before, you don’t need to log in next time.

After filling in your personal information, it’s time to pay. Depending on the store, there are two ways to pay: in-store payment and WeChat payment.

There is an order option at the bottom of the Ctrip mini program’s homepage, where you can view all of the user’s orders, not just those placed in the mini program.

As for the air ticket booking page, Ctrip said that the mini program currently only supports domestic air ticket booking services, and international air tickets have not yet been opened.

Finally, after you’re done fiddling with it, you can exit the mini program using the ellipsis on the upper right.

Are only Android’s mini-programs “real mini-programs”?

From the product experience point of view, the running speed of mini programs is more stable than that of browsers (Ben Xiaoming also uses QQ browser, haha), and there are fewer freezes. Of course, slow internet speed is an exception... This may be related to the capacity limit of the mini program. According to programmers, it is currently only 1M, which also limits the development of the mini program's internal functions to a certain extent.

As for specific application scenarios, the scenarios listed by Zhang Xiaolong are indeed the most suitable. When queuing or ordering food in a restaurant, you do not need to download the restaurant's application. You only need to scan its QR code in the restaurant, and then start the restaurant's mini program, and you can order food and queue. When I finish these things, I'll just leave.

In fact, O2O services like ofo, Mobike, and food delivery are also suitable for using this mini program, because these services may not be used frequently by everyone, but may be useful at some time. For example, I use ofo almost every day, but I have never downloaded its APP and have always used it through the WeChat official account.

So, as countless witty Wo氪 readers asked on WeChat: What’s the difference between this and browsing a web page on WeChat (smiley face)? ——We call it the h5 question.

Yes, what's the difference?

First, the mini program runs in full screen, and the interface is very similar to entering an APP, which is more immersive and different from visiting h5 in WeChat; secondly, its browsing experience is more stable.

However, this is not enough, unless... after entering the mini program, he will not interrupt the chat, and after entering again, he will still be on the page when he left.

I also tried very hard to know the answer, but after personal experience, I can tell you:

For Apple users, there seems to be no difference other than what is mentioned above. (If anyone has discovered this, please tell me...)

However, for the majority of Android users, yes! (As a millennial Android user, I feel like I can finally hold my head high.)

On the Android system, the mini program really runs like a small program. This means that it is like running two programs (see the screenshot below). You can leave this page first, chat, and then come back to operate or read; without having to click multiple times to return to a page of the WeChat official account like in the previous app. This is the difference between it and embedding h5 in WeChat official accounts, which improves the user experience.

Not only that, Android can also run several mini-programs at the same time. Doesn’t it really look like a “mini-program”? However, I found in my experience that if I leave a mini program for a while, it seems to close itself.

The left side is Android system, the right side is Apple system

Unfortunately, in the iOS system, the mini program seems to be embedded in WeChat... Once you leave this page, it is equivalent to leaving the mini program. I guess this has something to do with the different architectures of Apple and Android systems. Let the programmers explain the details to you.

But no matter what the reason is, Apple's market share in China is at least over 20%. Would product manager Zhang Xiaolong ignore the experience of these 1/5 users? However, will Apple allow mini programs, which look like the App Store? Well, let’s see how the WeChat team will solve this problem.

Another payment entrance?

Finally, let me say a few more words. Judging from the current entrances and modules, the application scenarios of mini programs are limited. For Apple phones, except for the browsing experience, it seems that there is really no big difference between it and h5, and it is only 1M. In what scenarios do merchants or companies need to use this (product colleagues, please think carefully)?

However, thinking back to the article about Zhang Xiaolong putting the mini program on the desktop that was previously exposed online, does this mean that if the mini program is placed on the desktop, opening it is like not going through WeChat? It is really like everyone thinks, like a real APP.

However, the default WeChat Pay is undoubtedly beneficial for WeChat to seize the payment entrance. Moreover, life platforms such as Koubei and Nuomi have begun to implement the strategy of "empowering" merchants. After merchants connect to Koubei and Nuomi, in addition to using them to divert traffic, some can also order food and pay on them. Now that mini programs have appeared, if merchants have their own mini programs, they may not give up the first two, but will the traffic be reduced?

Of course, there are barriers to developing a mini program. Not every small and medium-sized business has the ability or strong need to do so. But in order to expand traffic, perhaps O2O or home delivery service platforms such as Koubei, Nuomi, Ele.me and Aixianfeng will also develop a mini program themselves? If so, it really feels like another wave of WeChat official accounts, working for myself while also working for WeChat.

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This article was compiled and published by the author @卢晓明 (Qinggua Media). Please indicate the author information and source when reprinting!