I've never met a single end user who wants desktop notifications for web "apps," including myself. In fact I wish I could turn it off globally and more easily.
I'm sure there are a number of legitimate uses but as of now, every craptastic "news" website I visit now wants to pester the hell out of me with notifications when they post new clickbait.
Im comfortable with the current system where websites request permission for notifications, but they are as useful as phone notifications. Message in a webchat, new email, new private notification on Twitter, &c.
It should always be opt in, but it is a useful thing for many use cases.
I've never met a single end user who wants desktop notifications for web "apps," including myself. In fact I wish I could turn it off globally and more easily.
In Firefox, just open "about:config", search for dom.webnotifications.enabled, then double-click it.
If using other browsers, don't :)
(PS: I like desktop notifications for Slack, but since I'd prefer not to use Slack in the first place, I'm not sure I count)
OK: today you have met one. I have notifications turned on in desktop Safari for Facebook, Twitter, Slack, a handful of news sites that I like to keep up on, and probably some other stuff I am not remembering right now; and no: the idea of installing a native application for any of these services sickens me for numerous reasons (everything from concrete reasons of security and convenience to philosophical objections related to wanting to maintain an open, searchable, and hyperlinkable web).
I'd be OK with a small icon in the address bar to indicate push notifications are available on a site but even one pop up asking for permission is too many.
I'm sure there are a number of legitimate uses but as of now, every craptastic "news" website I visit now wants to pester the hell out of me with notifications when they post new clickbait.