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Next-gen Chrome apps launch for Window and Chrome OS on Chrome's 5th birthday

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ThatObviousUser

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Google Chrome Blog: A new breed of Chrome Apps

Editor's note: Today marks the 5th birthday of Chrome, a project we started to push the web platform forward. From a humble beginning of static text, images and links, the web has grown into a rich platform teeming with interactive content and powerful applications. We’ve been astounded by how far the web has come and are very excited to see what developers around the world will be able to do with the new generation of Chrome Apps.

Today we’re unveiling a new kind of Chrome App, which brings together the speed, security and flexibility of the modern web with the powerful functionality previously only available with software installed on your devices. (Think apps designed for your desktop or laptop, just like the ones for your phone and tablet.) These apps are more powerful than before, and can help you get work done, play games in full-screen and create cool content all from the web. If you’re using Windows or a Chromebook, you can check them out in the “For your desktop” collection in the Chrome Web Store (Mac & Linux coming soon).

Here’s what you can expect with new Chrome Apps:

  • Work offline: Keep working or playing, even when you don’t have an internet connection.
  • More app, less Chrome: No tabs, buttons or text boxes mean you can get into the app without being distracted by the rest of the web.
  • Connect to the cloud: Access and save the documents, photos and videos on your hard drive as well as on Google Drive and other web services.
  • Stay up-to-speed: With desktop notifications, you can get reminders, updates and even take action, right from the notification center.
  • Play nice with your connected devices: Interact with your USB, Bluetooth and other devices connected to your desktop, including digital cameras.
  • Keep updated automatically: Apps update silently, so you always get all the latest features and security fixes (unless permissions change).
  • Pick up where you left off: Chrome syncs your apps to any desktop device you sign in to, so you can keep working.
  • Sleep easier: Chrome apps take advantage of Chrome’s built-in security features such as Sandboxing. They also auto-update to make sure you have all the latest security fixes. No extra software (or worrying) required.
  • Launch apps directly from your desktop: To make it quicker and easier to get to your favorite apps, we’re also introducing the Chrome App Launcher for Windows, which will appear when you install your first new Chrome App. It lives in your taskbar and launches your apps into their own windows, outside of Chrome, just like your desktop apps. Have lots of apps? Navigate to your favorite apps using the search box.
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The new Chrome app launcher

Of course, even with all this great stuff happening behind-the-scenes, the apps are what really matter. We know many of you doing enjoy things like photo editing, checking off your to-do’s or unwinding with games, so here are a few Chrome apps to get you started:

Explore and create

Pixlr Touch Up lets you quickly touch up, crop, resize and adjust photos from your computer or Google Drive. If you’re feeling dramatic, you can also choose from a variety of film-inspired effects to apply. And it works offline, so you can get a head start polishing up your vacation photos on your flight home.

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Other creativity apps worth checking out: Until.AM, The Economist, Pocket, 500px and more

Get stuff done

Wunderlist is a beautiful and simple to-do list, which features voice dictation and desktop notifications, which remind you of timely tasks and team updates. And for those on the move, you can take your tasks with you from computer to computer, and manage them even if you’re offline.

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Other productivity apps worth checking out: UberConference, Gliffy, Lucid Chart, Google Keep and more

Be entertained

Cracking Sands is an action-packed racing game that lets you speed your way past your online or computer opponents through beautiful 3D courses. And for those looking for more precise control, you can even connect your Xbox controller via USB.

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Other games worth checking out: Tank Riders, Spelunky, They Need to be Fed and more

We hope you enjoy what you see in the Chrome Web Store.​
 
Are the apps supposed to open up on Chrome? Most of the apps just open Chrome than opening on it's own window separate from Chrome
 
This could be great if they allowed non-web store deployment, but I doubt that will happen.

You can still install CRX files from anywhere, same as always.

Are the apps supposed to open up on Chrome? Most of the apps just open Chrome than opening on it's own window separate from Chrome

The new generation of Chrome apps cannot open in the browser. They should have their own dedicated windows. If you're seeing some open in tabs, you're using an older Chrome app.
 
I have to say, this is a great idea. I normally forget that I even have these apps and end up typing the web address instead of clicking on the app tabs. I like having my most recent web pages available immediately, so I practically never see my apps.
 
What I actually meant was standalone deploy a Chrome App, i.e. compile a Chrome App to .exe which auto downloads Chrome if not installed on the computer.

That sounds pretty involved. It might happen eventually though, but there's probably some technical hurdles that need to be overcome first.
 
Damn...Google is practically hijacking Windows with this. Turning it into a Chrome OS platform.
With IE's ability to pin to the taskbar ... this really isn't all that different. Kind of a logical extension actually



I have Pandora, Feedly, etc pinned as IE web apps.
 
I can't believe Chrome has been around for 5 years already. I also can't remember life before Chrome, I used to use Firefox religiously.
 
Finally, a Pocket app for Windows. That's honestly the only thing I could find that I use regularly on the store.
 
With IE's ability to pin to the taskbar ... this really isn't all that different. Kind of a logical extension actually



I have Pandora, Feedly, etc pinned as IE web apps.

Eh, is it really the same thing? I mean I've "pinned" webpages via Chrome before on to the desktop and task bar (application shortcut option). This seems to be more native than just a web app. Then again, I'm not a developer. It just seems that way to me.
 
Eh, is it really the same thing? I mean I've "pinned" webpages via Chrome before on to the desktop and task bar (application shortcut option). This seems to be more native than just a web app. Then again, I'm not a developer. It just seems that way to me.
Oh yeah, it sounds like these are native. So they should offer a lot of capabilities.


The cool thing about using IE (not chrome) with pinning, is you get right click options for sites that code to it. This is what happens when I right-click my pinned Amazon IE link:

qXdhBwr.png




To me, this is kind of an expansion on the concept? idk
 
I can see how it'd be useful, but I barely use Google's services as it is (especially after Reader's demise) and Chrome tends to heat up my iMac heavily compared to Safari.
 
The Weatherbug app for this is really cool, and I already see a ton of potential for this. Looking forward to more support for this!
 
I still have no idea why I'd want to run my apps through a browser rather than natively if I don't have to, but alright.
 
Speaking of Chromebooks, i'm looking to replace an old netbook I have, used mainly for web surfing/email etc. Are these cheap-o Chromebooks from Acer any good?

http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/prod...d1740e72579b4643346b85cen02&SearchPageIndex=1

I've heard decent things. The ones to get seem to be the $250 Samsung one though (but that will probably be refreshed in October.)

I still have no idea why I'd want to run my apps through a browser rather than natively if I don't have to, but alright.

Well, they're not really run in the browser (they have their own windows.) But the benefits would be built-in syncing and they're more lightweight.
 
I still have no idea why I'd want to run my apps through a browser rather than natively if I don't have to, but alright.

Well, I mean these are kind of native apps that run on top of the Chrome code (OS).

At the very least something like Google Music can have a Native Player running on Chrome. There is currently no native WIndows client.

On the developer side, if Chrome runs on all platforms (OSX, Windows, Linux, etc) you can code your app on Chrome and deploy to all three operating system. I think that one of the main point.
 
Speaking of Chromebooks, i'm looking to replace an old netbook I have, used mainly for web surfing/email etc. Are these cheap-o Chromebooks from Acer any good?

http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/prod...d1740e72579b4643346b85cen02&SearchPageIndex=1

The ARM one is by far the best chromebook going. That's the Samsung Series 3 WiFi. It's due for an upgrade very shortly, so you might want to wait a month. I've played around with the first gen model and its super great for the price.
 
I still have no idea why I'd want to run my apps through a browser rather than natively if I don't have to, but alright.

You have this backwards. There is no reason to run non-sandboxed, non-portable apps if there is not a very compelling reason to.
 
The Google+ Photos app is also a good showcase. You can tell it to auto-upload any photos it detects in your Pictures folder/library and when you insert an SD card.

(You need to install it on a Chromebook so it can sync to your other OS Chrome installations, can't install on other OS's through the Web Store yet. But it does work on Windows.)
 
I really like the idea of web apps that look and behave more like traditional apps (from a web developer perspective it's really difficult to monetize a web app without resorting to ads or subscriptions), so I think this is amazing. I remember Mozilla working on something similar but they didn't quite get it right. Tried out Pocket and Keep and I think this works great.
 
Finally. Packaged apps are seriously one of the most revolutionary evolutions of Chrome yet. We're entering the stage where it becomes perfectly clear that Chrome is more of a platform than just a browser -- satisfying all non-native needs, and beyond. Developers unite! <3

P.S.: Really wonder how long it will take for Chrome apps to arrive on mobile operating systems. They are being made with that in mind already, with the API having some incredibly responsive tools. Chrome becoming a cross-platform platform is where we're getting at.
 
Hopefully, this means that a Picasa replacement is coming soon. Google crippled it more with every update.

See my previous post:

The Google+ Photos app is also a good showcase. You can tell it to auto-upload any photos it detects in your Pictures folder/library and when you insert an SD card.

(You need to install it on a Chromebook so it can sync to your other OS Chrome installations, can't install on other OS's through the Web Store yet. But it does work on Windows.)

If it adds some more editing and power user features it'll basically be Picasa Mk.2.
 
It doesn't seem like there are very many apps by Google yet. I mean, I already have the gmail ones and such, but those are still just links that open a tab. The only one that currently works as it's own App is Google Keep.
 
Google's so far are limited to Google Keep and Google+ Photos, far as I can tell. Chrome Remote Desktop and Gmail Offline will probably be converted fairly soon, I'd imagine.
 
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