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A new breed of Chrome Apps

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Re: A new breed of Chrome Apps

#91

Post by millstone »

jarek-foksa wrote: post #89
millstone wrote: post #69

Google says that "packaged apps are written in HTML5, JavaScript, and CSS" but the first one they show, Pixlr Touch Up, is actually written in Flash. New breed, eh?

From my read of the code it appears to be written mostly in JavaScript. There is one NaCl module, not sure what it does though.

Err, I guess was testing the Pixlr version in the Chrome Web Store, which I assumed would be the same thing as the “desktop” version. Is it possible that one would be Flash and the other would be something else?

Re: A new breed of Chrome Apps

#92

Post by pjmlp »

mythz wrote: post #86
pjmlp wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Server side is already too crowded, there is nothing that Dart brings to the table. The only way Dart will have any future is if Google makes a requirement to use it somewhere.

Having developed several server-side projects in Dart, the language/environment brings a hell of a lot to the table optimized for reducing complexity and improving productivity which: - Provides a familiar language with clean semantics and low ceremony - Provides the fastest dev iteration times (there's no compile step, just edit + run in Dart VM/Dartium) - Provides ~10x faster start-up times than JS with snapshots (…

Most of your points were already covered by Smaltalk, and we all know where it is nowadays.

Sorry, but I lost count of the languages I have used since 1986 and just don't believe in Dart ever taking off unless Google makes it so.

Re: A new breed of Chrome Apps

#93

Post by jarek-foksa »

millstone wrote: post #91
jarek-foksa wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

From my read of the code it appears to be written mostly in JavaScript. There is one NaCl module, not sure what it does though.

Err, I guess was testing the Pixlr version in the Chrome Web Store, which I assumed would be the same thing as the “desktop” version. Is it possible that one would be Flash and the other would be something else?

Definitely, Flash is on the list of web features that are disabled in packaged apps: http://developer.chrome.com/apps/app_deprecated.html

Re: A new breed of Chrome Apps

#94

Post by RandallBrown »

notatoad wrote: post #58
alexandros wrote: post #3

Prediction: The much-anticipated convergence of Android and Chrome is near. These new Chrome apps are the programming model for the upcoming native Android webapps The next milestone I expect to see is V8 added alongside Dalvik as a first-class runtime for Android. Maybe in Android KitKat?

according to theverge, that's exactly the plan: http://www.theverge.com/2013/9/5/4696618/google-chrome-apps-... although in that article, they also claim chrome apps are going to come to iOS including availablity in the iOS app store, which sounds really really unlikely.

I don't think it's any different than what you would do with a tool like PhoneGap.

Re: A new breed of Chrome Apps

#95

Post by comex »

gcb0 wrote: post #33

Chrome is now a serious security risk for me. it's just waiting to happen. for now on, it will be used as the remote debugger for android browsers (until we have something native). just like i have a spare mac for running xcode for the same reason. firefox serves me well. and will not make me worry much.

All this functionality sounds like an increased attack surface, and it is. But when the comparison is Firefox, it's far outweighed by the fact that Chrome has a very good process sandbox, while Firefox has none. It will be years before Firefox can match Chrome's level of security.

Re: A new breed of Chrome Apps

#96

Post by rorrr2 »

RivieraKid wrote: post #25
alexandros wrote: post #3

Prediction: The much-anticipated convergence of Android and Chrome is near. These new Chrome apps are the programming model for the upcoming native Android webapps The next milestone I expect to see is V8 added alongside Dalvik as a first-class runtime for Android. Maybe in Android KitKat?

As an Android dev I can tell you this isn't happening in the next 5 years. They may add Chrome apps to Android, but it will be a niche option that won't be used by anybody. My utopic wish is a new open platform that will combine strengths of the web and of operating systems (Windows, Android): - Web: Great for documents, which it was originally designed for. Automatic updates. No installation. You can "fork" an app /…

There are thousands of PhoneGap apps out there, pretty much disproving your point.

Re: A new breed of Chrome Apps

#97

Post by scholia »

RandallBrown wrote: post #94
notatoad wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

according to theverge, that's exactly the plan: http://www.theverge.com/2013/9/5/4696618/google-chrome-apps-... although in that article, they also claim chrome apps are going to come to iOS including availablity in the iOS app store, which sounds really really unlikely.

I don't think it's any different than what you would do with a tool like PhoneGap.

Exactly...

Re: A new breed of Chrome Apps

#98

Post by IanChiles »

bluedino wrote: post #83
kolev wrote: post #79

Chrome is a resource hog. I don't want that on my phone, which barely lasts 4 hours idling in my pocket. Thanks but no thanks. On my Mac, Chrome with 20 open tabs is always using most of my memory and CPU.

And Firefox doesn't?

Firefox as of 23+ uses significantly less memory than Chrome (in my experience - your mileage may vary though)

Re: A new breed of Chrome Apps

#99

Post by _sh »

kllrnohj wrote: post #88
walexander wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know if the convergence will happen, but they certainly need to fix WebView in Android to at least allow migration. It's still using the old Android Browser and is severely outdated (no WebSockets, etc). My guess is that Chrome Packaged apps will be the replacement for WebViews on Android. Anyone who wants a stop gap though, should check this out: https://github.com/pwnall/chromeview

> Anyone who wants a stop gap though, should check this out: https://github.com/pwnall/chromeview A stop gap that adds at least 30mb to your application is a really shitty solution.

Actually, it's just what I was looking for in this announcement from Google. We currently deploy our internal apps on phonegap, and I want the snappy and the APIs that Chrome offers over the stock webview.

Re: A new breed of Chrome Apps

#100

Post by scholia »

bluedino wrote: post #83
kolev wrote: post #79

Chrome is a resource hog. I don't want that on my phone, which barely lasts 4 hours idling in my pocket. Thanks but no thanks. On my Mac, Chrome with 20 open tabs is always using most of my memory and CPU.

And Firefox doesn't?

Firefox uses less resources in Windows 7 than Chrome does, it runs more tabs, and it is much more stable.

I usually have more than 50 tabs open in Firefox and often go over 60 before having a tidy up. Firefox can survive that for a couple of weeks whereas Chrome would often crash in less than a day. (Flash would crash even more often.)

YMMV, but I switched back to Firefox a couple of months ago and no longer have Chrome installed....

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