Chrome Web Store

Chrome Web Store

Chrome Web Store as seen from Chrome OS
Opened	December 6th, 2010
Website	chrome.google.com/webstore

The Chrome Web Store is an online store from Google. It was announced at the Google I/O conference on May 19, 2010 by Vic Gundotra and released on December 6, 2010.^[1] The software allows users to install and run web applications unique to Google Chrome.^[2]

The applications, written in the markup language used for the World Wide Web, HTML, are also able to use code native to the Chrome web browser starting with Chrome 14.^[3] The store hosts free and paid applications.^[4] Examples of applications available in the store include the games Plants vs. Zombies^[5] and Angry Birds.^[6] The Store has been compared to Apple Inc.'s App Store and Google's Android Market.^[7] A visual and UI overhaul of the store was announced on October 25, 2011.^[8]

Criticism

Some commentators have questioned the need for an online app store. Ryan Paul of Ars Technica said on December 9, 2010: "The way that users consume applications in the desktop and mobile world is fundamentally different than they (sic) way that they do it on the Web—where paywalls are often reviled and there is little distinction between content and software. In such an environment, does the application store model make any sense? We are not convinced...Aside from gaming, the idea of an application store in a Web browser—where installation is little more than bookmarking—seems counterintuitive and leaves us with the impression that the entire exercise is a solution in search of a problem."^[9]

Sales

TechCrunch reported that sales of paid web apps had by January 2011 sunk, with the best-selling app earning just $165 a week.^[10]

References

1. ^ Saint, Nick (2010-05-19). "Google Launching "Chrome Web Store"". Business Insider. http://www.businessinsider.com/google-launching-chrome-web-store-2010-5. Retrieved 2010-06-02. 
2. ^ Kay, Erik (2010-05-19). "The Chrome Web Store". Google. http://blog.chromium.org/2010/05/chrome-web-store.html. Retrieved 2010-06-02. 
3. ^ http://chrome.blogspot.com/2011/08/building-better-web-apps-with-new.html
4. ^ Siegler, MG (2010-05-19). "Google Previews Chrome Web Store — An App Store For The Web (If You’re Using Chrome)". TechCrunch. http://techcrunch.com/2010/05/19/chrome-web-store/. Retrieved 2010-06-02. 
5. ^ Miller, Ross (2010-05-19). "Google unveils Chrome web store, Sports Illustrated app impresses". Engadget. http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/19/google-unveils-chrome-web-app-store/. Retrieved 2010-06-02. 
6. ^ Angry Birds -- Chrome Web Store
7. ^ Dybwad, Barb (2010-05-19). "Google Chrome Web Store to Create a Marketplace for Web Apps". Mashable. http://mashable.com/2010/05/19/chrome-web-store/. Retrieved 2010-06-02. 
8. ^ Guymon, Shannon. "Making Chrome even more app-ealing". http://chrome.blogspot.com/2011/10/making-chrome-even-more-app-ealing.html/. Retrieved 31 October 2011. 
9. ^ Paul, Ryan. "Chrome Web Store: a solution in search of a problem?". Ars Technica. http://arstechnica.com/web/news/2010/12/thoughts-on-the-chrome-store-does-the-web-need-an-app-delivery-channel.ars. Retrieved 9 May 2011. 
10. ^ Kincaid, Jason. "Sales Are At A Trickle On Google’s Chrome Web Store". TechCrunch. http://techcrunch.com/2011/01/04/sales-have-slowed-to-a-trickle-on-googles-chrome-web-store/. Retrieved 4 January 2011. 

Further reading

• "Google launches Chrome Web Store" at CNET
• "Google Chrome Web Apps Store Offers Lifeline to Media" at Wired
• "Chrome web store unveiled at Google I/O" at the Christian Science Monitor
• "Google Reveals Chrome Web Store" at Edge
• "Google to Launch Chrome Web Store, SI on Board" at MediaWeek
• "Google Chrome Web Store Will Let Developers Sell Web Apps" at eWeek
• "Google Chrome Web App Store: 5 Things You Should Know" at Yahoo!
• "Google plans store for Chrome Web applications" at Tehran Times
• "Google Gives Web $120 Million Gift" at InformationWeek
• "TechBytes: Chrome App Store" at ABC News
• "Google focuses on Web media at I/O" at Yahoo!

External links

• Official website