Which apps for your Chromebook?
No windows
Chromebooks ( https://www.google.com/intl/en_uk/chromebook ) rely on Chrome OS as their operating system. It is almost completely web-based and cannot run Windows programs. Thousands of (web) apps have been released for this operating system, in addition to the built-in apps such as Chrome, Gmail, Google Drive and Google Calendar. Which other apps are worth trying?
Photos and videos
The built-in Chrome OS tools for viewing photos and videos are very basic. If you want more possibilities, install Polarr Photo Editor ( http://www.polarr.co ). In addition to basic operations such as colour adjustment, cropping and red-eye removal, it lets you edit RAW photos, apply filters, use masks and create collages. The app also exists online, as well as for Windows and Mac.
Videos are best played with VLC ( https://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-chromeos.html ), which can handle a very large number of video formats. It now also exists as a “real” Chrome OS app and has become very stable.
Tip. You can take a screenshot using the built-in screenshot function of Chrome OS, but we advise installing the more versatile Nimbus Screenshot & Screen Video Recorder ( https://bit.ly/37qiEJk ). This tool lets you take a screenshot of the full screen, of an individual window or of an area, and even full webpage (in which case the page will scroll automatically). You can make a video of multiple pages (showing mouse clicks, etc.) and then edit this recording.
Another useful app is Clipchamp ( https://bit.ly/2ODWIlt ), which allows you to compress or convert videos or record them using your webcam.
Office on your Chromebook?
If you really want to use Word or Excel, you can install the Office Online ( https://bit.ly/2rkhXR2 ), which also exists as a Chrome OS app. It’s free, except for the advanced features, which are available only in the paid Office subscription formula. Note. You need a free Microsoft account in order to use this app.
Make sketches with Sketchpad
Recent - and generally slightly more expensive - Chromebooks come with a touchscreen. The Sketchpad app ( https://bit.ly/34bAuxB ) lets you make good use of this by working with a stylus. However, the app works equally well without a touchscreen, just with the mouse. You can also easily add text to your sketches and use a variety of tools such as a stamp, pen, pencil and colour palette.
A PC on your Chromebook!
Do you want to make use of a “real” Windows computer from your Chromebook? This can be done remotely, so that it looks like you’re actually working on a Windows computer. This requires a (fast) Internet connection, together with the Chrome Remote Desktop app ( https://bit.ly/2O9ei1y ). Note. You will need to install this app on the other computer (Windows, Mac or Linux).
All-in-one messenger
All-in-One Messenger ( http://www.allinone.im ) is a messaging tool that supports all networks: WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Skype, Telegram, Slack, and a dozen more, each network shown as a separate tab.
Tip. This app also exists for both Windows and Mac.
Create your profile to unlock this advice and many more.