Google had a different way to celebrate the fifth anniversary of Chrome. The company released a new breed of apps, which are now available for the Google Chromebook, called the Chrome Apps! They are similar to what the Chrome WebStore already offers, but with a few extra functionality, which makes it look like a native desktop app, instead of an app which runs inside the Chrome browser.
These apps launch from the Chrome App Launcher instead of the browser, giving it the look and feel of a desktop app. The launcher is automatically installed when you download your first Chrome App. Further, they can be used offline as well. This is a good move for the company who might have foreseen the future of permanently connected devices a little too soon!
It’s become easier to access connected devices such as USB, Bluetooth and digital cameras. Syncing of apps has never been more seamless, pick up right where you left off on any Chrome App on any desktop device you sign in.
These apps also offer security features such as Sandboxing. They update “silently” without annoying permission requests (unless it is of utmost importance).
Chrome Apps available now for download include, 500px, Pixlr Touch Up, The Economist, Pocket, Wunderlist, Gliffy and Google Keep. They also offer games such as Cracking Sands, Tank Riders, Spelunky and They Need to be Fed.
Special Mention – Nitrous.IO:
One of the coolest apps available is the Nitrous.IO. It has the potential to turn your Chromebook into a powerful development device. It offers a full Linux environment with advanced tools and features and also easy configuration for Ruby, Python, Go and NodeJS templates.
While the app may look like it’s meant for novices, it does have the capacity to create intricate apps and services such as front-end development platform Divshot and software development team Tilde.
“I’ve dreamed of a Web-only development environment for years,” said Divshot’s Michael Bleigh. “With Nitrous.IO, Divshot, and my Chromebook Pixel, I’ve stopped dreaming and started working.”
We’ve been testing this app out for quite sometime, and we are liking it than we thought we would. And all these development environments on Chrome OS is going to help the Chrome App Ecosystem in the longer run.
Image Courtesy: The Next Web