14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft and Google are working together on improving support for Progressive Web Apps, or PWAs, and according to a new report, one of the features coming in a new version of the browsers is custom actions in the jumplists.
On Windows 10, jumplists allow users to right-click the taskbar icon of an application and perform certain actions faster without opening the UI of the app – for example, a right-click on the current icon of Chromium-powered Microsoft Edge allows users to launch a new window or private window or quickly load a top or recommended website from the jumplist/context menu.
PWAs have become a more common thing on the desktop, and in Windows 10 in particular it helps address the lack of apps in the Microsoft Store.
Microsoft is betting big on PWAs in the future, and this is one reason the company is committed to improving support in Chromium browsers too.
TheWindowsClub has come across a feature that’s being worked on right now for Chromium browsers and which would essentially allow for custom PWA actions from jumplists. For example, the likes of Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome could enable tweeting right from the jumplist, while email PWAs could allow composing new messages.
Coming in Chrome 85
The same for the WhatsApp PWA, which with such a feature could make it possible to reach out to certain contacts and start typing a message faster with an option in the jumplist.
It looks like the feature is supposed to be first added in Google Chrome 85, and Microsoft Edge should get it shortly after that.
Called App shortcuts, the feature is detailed in a post on the Chrome Platform Status page.
“Lets a web application register shortcuts for common tasks. These would typically be added to the app launcher icon (for a progressive web app) enabling the user to quickly run key tasks. Adding these to the web platform provides an equivalent capability to native apps on many platforms.”
No specifics are available as to when Edge could get the same option.