Chrome/Windows/Chrome OS: Google today rolled out a new category of Chrome Apps, a.k.a. Chrome Packaged Apps, that run on the desktop and feel more like native apps than ones tied to the browser. Among these new apps are popular ones, such as Google Keep, Any.DO, and Pocket.P
What Are These New Chrome Apps?P
It's confusing, but there are the webapps that run in the Chrome browser and then this new category which runs as standalone desktop apps. Both kinds are installed from the Chrome Web Store .P
The desktop apps require Chrome to be installed. Once they're installed, they can be launched from new shortcuts on your taskbar. Currently the 50 or so Chrome Apps available for the desktop work with Windows or Chrome OS, while Mac users will get access to these apps in six weeks.P
We've seen Google launch examples of this new app platform before, with theChrome App Launcher , but today you can install more popular standalone apps.Also, you might have previously heard about these apps as "Chrome Packaged Apps," but now they're just Chrome Apps.P
Running a Chrome App on your desktop means you can free up a tab and don't have to open up the browser at all if you just want to quickly do something, such as access your reading list, for example, in Pocket. The apps can run offline and, when connected to the internet, continue to sync across all your devices.In the future, Chrome Apps are coming to mobile devices too.P
Examples of Chrome AppsP
Some of the most popular Chrome Apps for desktop:P
- Pocket : Offline access to your saved articles and keyboard shortcutsP
- Any.DO : Desktop reminders for your tasks, keyboard shortcuts, and voice recognitionP
- Google Keep : Notes created offline are synced back when your connection returns, synced with Android app and Google DriveP
- Wunderlist : Again, offline access and desktop notificationsP
There aren't that many Chrome Apps for desktop available right now, but you can count on this collection growing, since it's an easy way for developers to roll out apps across many platforms. Check out the ones available via the link below.P
Apps for Your Desktop | Chrome Web Store via The Verge P
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