Google Debuts Chrome OS Web Store for Apps

By Jane McEntegart
published

Google's I/O conference is taking place this week and the biggest announcement so far is the revelation of the Chrome OS Web store.

We don't know an awful lot about Chrome OS, or even when the super lightweight operating system will launch. Yesterday, Google announced the Chrome OS Web store. Sundar Pichai, one of the architects of Chrome OS, revealed the Web store as a way to rate and review web applications for the desktop market. Presumably, the store will also act as a one-stop shop for users looking to get free and paid applications for Chrome OS.

The Chrome Web Store is accessed through a 'new tab' feature in Chrome. Clicking on the button will open a new tab a list of several popular Web applications, such as Wave, Picasa, Google News, Google Maps and some non-Google apps like Sports Illustrated, TweetDeck, and Plants vs. Zombies. Along with all these applications, there's also a 'Web store' icon. Clicking on this will take you to the Web store where you can buy all kinds of Web applications, and check reviews.

Google demonstrated some of the games available, like Lego Star Wars, which uses Native Client to run directly in the browser and a Web-based version of PopCap's Plants vs. Zombies. Pichai also demoed the Sports Illustrated interactive magazine, which boasts a host of nifty features like embedded video and a full search.

No word on a launch date other than 'soon' but you can sure this will be available before the first Chrome OS devices hit shelves. If Google is going to try and convince the netbook crowd that all they need is the cloud and an internet connection, this Web store will be an important part of its arsenal.

*Image via CNet

Jane McEntegart
13 Comments Comment from the forums
  • pollom
    sweet
    :)
    Reply
  • tokenz
    Google's I/O conference is taking place this week and the biggest announcement so far is the revelation of the Chrome OS Web store.

    How is that the biggest news. Lets see android is 2 to 5 times faster than before. Google tv. Flash on android, And flash on google tv. to me all those sound bigger than the Chorme OS web store. Dont mean to be rude I am just saying. There has been no coverage of this on the site, but I bet there will be minute by minute coverage of WWDC for apple.
    Reply
  • dman3k
    Finally! I dunno why Google doesn't just integrate Chrome OS (browser) into Android.

    BTW: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/21036-9-google
    Suggestions do work!
    Reply
  • dman3k
    tokenzGoogle's I/O conference is taking place this week and the biggest announcement so far is the revelation of the Chrome OS Web store.How is that the biggest news. Lets see android is 2 to 5 times faster than before. Google tv. Flash on android, And flash on google tv. to me all those sound bigger than the Chorme OS web store. Dont mean to be rude I am just saying. There has been no coverage of this on the site, but I bet there will be minute by minute coverage of WWDC for apple.Check this link below
    http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/21036-9-google

    They probably wouldn't even have this news written if I didn't even make that post. Well, maybe not. But seriously, Tom's, more iPhone news over Google I/O? Is it not as important as Apple WDC?
    Reply
  • zorky9
    Clicking on this will take you to the Web store where you can buy all kinds of Web applications, and check reviews.

    I know cloud computing is the future, but I hope you get the option to install these natively, not just links to an online application. If you buy it, you get the right to use it, online or offline.
    Reply
  • djtronika
    Reply
  • tokenz
    Yeah I saw that and commented on it. I think its funny they have posted articles on apple stuff, like the camera that should have been in the first gen ipod touch, and tethering which should have been in the first gen iphone. Meanwhile at the bat cave (google IO) google has been dropping bombs. Flash, server side compression, google tv, and massive speed increases for android. Not a blip. Not even on TOMS radar.
    Reply
  • tokenz
    djtronika
    Yeah with good free apps. Flash apps. Yep I am excited. Finally someone came along and kicked apple in the b*lls
    Reply
  • JMcEntegart
    zorky9Clicking on this will take you to the Web store where you can buy all kinds of Web applications, and check reviews.I know cloud computing is the future, but I hope you get the option to install these natively, not just links to an online application. If you buy it, you get the right to use it, online or offline.
    I get the feeling the point Google is trying to make with this is that it's possible to have everything web-based as that is the idea behind Chrome OS.
    Reply
  • zoemayne
    the best feature is the tethering that means no need for the USB 3G/4G service this combined with a netbook is killer
    Reply