One of the biggest criticisms of Google’s Chrome operating system has always been the fact that any device it runs on is pretty much useless without an Internet connection.
Well, that criticism has apparently been taken to heart by Google because they have released a great new app that lets you do a number of constructive things with your Chrome-based device even when you’re offline.
The new Chrome App Launcher adds something akin to a “Start Button” to the Chrome O.S. taskbar. Just click or tap it and up pops Chrome’s version of a “Start Menu” from which you can launch any of your installed web-based apps – without ever leaving the Desktop!
The Chrome App Launcher will now be included with all new versions of the Chrome O.S.
What’s more, you can also download Google’s suite of “Packaged Apps” and run them right from the Desktop as well, whether there is an active Internet connection or not. As you can see, the Chrome App Launcher lets you actually use your offline Chrome-based device for something other than an expensive paper weight.
Now that Google has finally decided to take their Chrome O.S. down this road, I fully expect to see a flood of apps that work independently from the web hit the Google Play Store before too long. I also expect to see sales of Chromebooks and other devices that run the Chrome O.S. to pick up steam in the months ahead.
Interestingly, Google has also released a version of the Chrome App Launcher as a Chrome browser extension for both Windows and OS X users. Whenever the Chrome web browser is running you can simply click the App Launcher icon and have instant access to all of your installed Chrome-based apps as well as a number of Google web services.