Actually, I think web apps could do it. Some browser could just add a ton of proprietary JS APIs for notification, payment, identity, etc, in the same way that WeChat and Kik have.<p>The Chinese web browsers are beginning to bolt on features in the same way the chat apps have. News, offline file storage, ebook stores with offline support, etc.<p>Chrome almost had the right idea, but their app store makes no distinction between web-based apps that actually make use of Chrome&#x27;s app-specific APIs and those that are just normal websites. There is no standard for a good experience from a Chrome app.<p>No reason Chrome&#x2F;UC Browser&#x2F;Brave&#x2F;Opera in the west couldn&#x27;t throw caution to the wind and rachet it up all the way, then wait a few years for WC3 to come along and pick up the pieces.<p>Result wouldn&#x27;t be as good as if the OS and web standards properly evolved, but it&#x27;s one way to make it happen.