SOFTWARE - MISCELLANEOUS - 18.02.2014

Google apps on your desktop

Apps

Google recently released the “packaged Chrome apps”, which no longer need the Chrome browser but work as a standalone on your Windows system. They run in their own window and keep working when you’re offline. In fact, they are HTML5 apps, but with full access to your hard drive or USB storage device. They can also use your webcam or printer. In short, they provide web developers with a handy method for building small applications themselves.

Installation

To install a packaged Chrome app, you should go to the For your Desktop section in the Chrome Web Store ( https://chrome.google.com/webstore/category/collection/for_your_desktop ) via your Chrome browser. The first time you install such an app, a separate App Launcher start menu will be added to your Windows taskbar.

All apps you subsequently install will be located there, and you will no longer need to open Chrome to use them. If you had installed Chrome web apps previously, you will also see them in this start menu - you can recognise them by the arrow on the “shortcut”, which indicates that you can’t run these older apps outside of the browser.

Note. You’re required to log in with your Google account. This makes it possible to synchronise apps and data between the different computers you want to use them. Whenever a new version of the app is released it will be updated immediately.

Useful Chrome apps?

If you already use Google Hangouts on your Android or iOS device, you can now continue your chat conversations on your computer thanks to the Hangouts app. Google also offers an app for its Google Keep notes service. It allows you to make offline notes which are synchronised as soon as you go online, so that you can read and edit your notes on other devices. Pocket lets you save online articles to read them at a later date. The app automatically downloads any articles you save, so that you can also read them offline, which isn’t possible on the Pocket website.

Gliffy Diagrams is an app which lets you create professional-looking organisation charts and flowcharts, using hundreds of shapes, arrows and icons. Diagrams are saved as PNG images. Pixlr Touch Up is a simple photo editor which also allows you to apply Instagram-like filters. YouTube Video Deck lets you view the videos which have been posted on the YouTube channels to which you’ve subscribed. WeatherBug shows weather forecasts and outside shots made by webcams in the neighbourhood. And then there are the countless games.

Mac, iOS and Android?

These Packaged Chrome apps are currently working only in Windows and Chrome OS (the operating system which runs on the ChromeBooks, the Google netbooks). Mac OS X and Linux are said to follow later this year. Google is also adapting these apps so that they’ll be able to run on Android and iOS smartphones and tablets. The first trial versions of these Mobile Chrome Apps are expected to be ready soon.