Chrome Web Apps

Today I installed the developer build of Google Chrome to test out the new web apps. First, I was pleasantly surprised that the dev build of Chrome, like Chromium, has moved the window buttons to the left for Ubuntu.

I continued to install the only three available web apps released thus far - Gmail, Calendar and Docs. They install like a standard extension, but are activated on the new tab screen. Once activated they appear as small icons and act as tabs. It seems to me that the idea is to have a similar feeling to a desktop environment, where desktop icons are ever present. On a Windows desktop, you have an Outlook Express icon sitting there and you open it when you need to check email. Likewise, Chrome will have a Gmail application pinned as a tab. If you need to check email you go to that "application" even though it is really just like any other tab.

The main difference between one of these "apps" and a regular tab is the address bar goes away when that tab is active, making it feel like a self-contained desktop program. Obviously this addition is a result of Chrome becoming an operating system. The more Chrome OS feels like a desktop environment, the more likely people are to leave Windows for Chrome.