Can anyone enlighten me on the purpose of this beast?
I understand why an app store would exist for a mobile device, but … a PC browser?
Because some people constantly complained about the inability to sell their browser extensions for Firefox, so Chrome offered the feature.
Plus, if you want an actual app, you get to design it the same way you would any other web-based content, and yet have a built in way of having people pay for it.
Plus, ideally, any app produced app would work on ChromeOS, a netbook operating system. So, in that regard, it’s just like every app store.
Not sure I understand the question. If you understand why it exists for a mobile device then you understand why it exists for a Laptop/PC browser.
It offers lots of free applications that you can install and gain benefit or fun from. For smart phones/pads they display on the main screens, for “big screen” devices using something like Chrome then they are accessed directly from your browser. (in my case they are all there on any new tab I open)
Not really sure where the confusion lies. Can you elaborate?
Well, it showed up on the iPhone because that was how you got apps on the machine.
With a personal computer, there is already a well-established method of getting apps on the machine.
Thus, my question, why add one more?
Because it is easier than the traditional method? More user-friendly? Quicker? it doesn’t even feel like installing at all and that appeals to a lot non-technos.
For me, I browse the store, single click to download and install the app and from then on it appears on my browser new tab page. Also all those apps can be synched across multiple chrome browsers on multiple computers. I’m using a windows PC at the moment but If I download a chrome app now, it will also appear later at home on my ubuntu laptop. As most of them are cloud based, this approach really well.
Some of the apps are astonishingly good.
Audiotool for instance is brilliant considering it costs bugger all.
That doesn’t really answer the “why” behind the question, though, as there are other methods for getting apps onto your device, such as sideloading, for example.
The idea behind any app store is more specific, in that you have a consolidated location to find useful programs/tools for your specific operating system, or in this case, browser (though Chrome is also an OS, as mentioned previously). In the case of the iPhone, keeping relevant programs within the Apple store helped to drive quality control and ultimately profits, among other things, just as you see with the Android and Amazon markets. It also helps to bolster your product, when you can direct users to a dedicated spot to serve their needs-- for your casual users, this is key.
If I want a certain extension added to my Chrome browser, it makes much more sense to search the dedicated store for what I need, including reviews, demos, etc., as opposed to browsing the net. It keeps everything within one “ecosystem”, and is a lot more user friendly.
Downloading programs from third-party locations? Again, that’s a nightmare for many casual users, and represents one of many reasons casual users have difficulty with computers and software.
Instead of expecting one of my casual family members to browse the net and try to make a reasonable decision on which program they can install, from what they will assume is a reputable site, they can instead direct themselves to a familiar “Chrome store” and perform a search or browse categories.
There are a number of reasons this makes sense.
Thanks. If this was GQ, I’d call this one answered…