Google launches Chrome app launcher for Windows
The company says the feature will be available to OS X and Linux users "soon" but doesn't say exactly when.
Google's Chrome OS app launcher is now available to Windows users, the search giant announced today.
Available through the Chrome dev channel -- which means it's not a final build -- the application houses all of a user's Web-based apps in one space and allows the user to open them outside of the browser. The apps that work with Chrome's app launcher are written in HTML, JavaScript, and CSS but can be opened while a person is offline.
According to Google, the app launcher icon will show up on the Windows taskbar. However, in order to get it working, users must install a Chrome packaged app. Such apps are not yet searchable on Google's Chrome Web Store, so users will need to have a direct link to add them to the launcher. Developers can also build their own packaged apps and upload them to the Chrome Web Store.
Google is for now offering its app launcher only to Windows users. The company plans to bring it to OS X and Linux "soon."