With all the talk of Android Apps coming to Chrome OS this fall it is easy to forget that Chrome OS, as it stands right now, is a very capable and reliable OS.
While we here at Chrome Unboxed have been eager to share and talk about all the advantages this change will bring, I feel it is necessary to also keep everyone aware that both Gabriel and I work completely from Chrome OS on a daily basis. As excited as I am about the Play Store coming to Chrome OS, I love Chrome OS just as it is, too.
The truth is, I’ll likely keep using my Chromebooks and Chromeboxes as I always have during work hours once these apps come around. Sure, I’ll begin adopting certain apps for work (and playing games like crazy after work, along with other entertainment fun that Android brings), but I know there are many services I’ll keep on using the web versions for.
And that’s why knowing how to make an app or webpage launch in a window is important. For some reason, things like Google Play Music or Spotify feel strange with the Omnibar and tabs up top. They feel much more native if all that is removed.
And you can do this for most websites and apps. Here’s how.
1) Navigate to the page you’d like to make windowed, click the 3-dot menu, and select ‘More tools’ > ‘Add to shelf…’
2) Name Your New ‘App’
3) Right (2-finger) Click on the new icon on your shelf and select ‘Open as window’
That’s it! Now you have a docked ‘app’ that, in many ways, behaves like a standalone app. As stated before, this works very well for web-based services that you simply want a portal to (just like an app) without having to deal with the browser distraction up top.
Hope this tip helps you get the most from Chrome OS! Enjoy!