As the Chrome Web Store draws ever closer

Aug 9, 2010 09:40 GMT  ·  By

The fact that Google is working on bringing web-app support to Google Chrome is no surprise. The Chrome Web Store was unveiled at the 2010 Google I/O developers' conference and there are plans to launch it sometime this year. The Chrome team has been adding the pieces necessary to support the store and web apps in the browser and, while the feature hasn’t been enabled by default just yet, the finishing touches are landing in the experimental versions of Google Chrome.

A recent addition to the Chromium repositories brings initial support for web app sync, which will enable users to keep their applications regardless where they’re using the browser. Sync support has been greatly expanded since being introduced earlier this year in Google Chrome. Bookmarks, preferences, even extensions are now synced and, once web apps are officially supported, they will be also.

Web app sync will enable users to switch from one Google Chrome install to another and have all of their favorite apps ready. More importantly, it will allow Google Chrome OS users to log into any machine and have everything set up the way the like it. One of Chrome OS’ most touted features is the fact that the desktop, settings, files and so on will follow the users regardless of where they’re logging in from.

Web apps are also a big component of Chrome OS. While web apps are just like any website out there, they can be installed locally to make them load faster, operate with elevated permissions and generally behave more like a native app. Chrome OS is slated for launch this fall, most likely in the second half, so the Chrome Web Store should be launching earlier than that. By that time, the sync features should cover every aspect of Google Chrome. [via Download Squad]
Google Chrome for Windows is available for download here. Google Chrome for Linux is available for download here. Google Chrome for Mac is available for download here.