On the occasion of Chrome’s 5th birthday, Google has introduced some new applications for desktops that function very much like their counterparts for mobile phones and tablets. They have already been made available for systems running Windows or Chrome OS and will soon be introduced for computers based on the Mac OS X and Linux platforms.
The search engine giant has revealed that users will be able to carry out multiple operations using these web applications, which as of now, require software installations. One of the key highlights of the new Chrome apps is that they allow subscribers to continue working or playing games even when they do not have an internet connection. And in the full screen mode, all the tabs, buttons and text boxes will disappear from the screen so you can focus on the task at hand without getting distracted.
Furthermore, the applications are compatible with most cloud storage services including Google Drive and content can easily be saved on these as well as the local hard drive. And just like phones, desktops have been bestowed with a notification center for instant reminders, updates and more. Google has revealed through its official blog that these utilities can update themselves and even work in tandem with USB or Bluetooth devices connected to the system.
And if that’s not enough, Chrome will now synchronize apps so users can access them by signing into their accounts through any internet-enabled computer. The Chrome App Launcher has also been introduced for Windows and it will be placed in the taskbar. A search box has also been thrown in to help customers look for specific apps.
Let’s take a look at the utilities that have been launched. First up is Pixlr Touch up, a photo editing application that can be used for cropping or resizing photos and even adding dramatic effects to pictures. It works in the offline mode. Wunderlist is for the busy souls who need a to-do list utility and Cracking Sands is an action-packed racing game to keep subscribers entertained during the day.
The new Google Chrome apps can now be downloaded through the Web store.