Why Scientias is now a Progressive Web App
Since June 2019 the Dutch science news portal Scientias.nl stopped offering a native application in the Play Store and App Store. Instead it switched to a progressive web app (PWA). A PWA behaves like a regular website but can be “installed” on a mobile device, giving you an icon, offline caching and a full‑screen experience without the overhead of a traditional app.
Installing the Scientias PWA on Android
Automatic prompt
If you open www.scientias.nl in Google Chrome on an Android phone or tablet, a small banner will appear at the bottom of the screen inviting you to add the site to your home screen. Tapping that banner instantly creates a shortcut that looks and feels like a native app.
Manual method
Should the banner not show up, you can still add the shortcut manually:
- Launch Chrome and navigate to www.scientias.nl.
- Tap the three‑dot menu in the upper‑right corner.
- Select "Add to Home screen".
- Confirm the name (the default "Scientias.nl" works fine) and press "Add".
After these steps the Scientias icon will appear on your launcher, ready for a single tap.
Installing the Scientias PWA on iPhone or iPad
Using Safari
Apple devices rely on Safari for PWA installation. Follow these instructions:
- Open Safari and go to www.scientias.nl.
- Tap the “Share” button (the square with an upward arrow) at the bottom of the screen.
- Choose "Add to Home Screen".
- Enter a name – we recommend "Scientias" or "Scientias.nl".
- Tap "Add" in the top‑right corner.
The new icon will sit alongside your other apps, granting instant access to the latest science stories.
What you gain by adding the shortcut
Beyond the convenience of a single‑tap launch, the PWA stores a small amount of content locally, so articles load faster and can be read offline. You also receive push notifications (if you enable them) about breaking research news, keeping you in the loop without opening a browser tab.
Source: https://www.scientias.nl/download-scientias-app-android-en-ios/
