Home New in Chrome 10: Run Google Chrome Web Store Apps in the Background

New in Chrome 10: Run Google Chrome Web Store Apps in the Background

Google is bringing Web apps one step closer to having full desktop functionality. Today, it announced new functionality that allows apps from the Chrome Web Store to run in the background, even when all Chrome windows have been closed but the user hasn’t actually exited the browser. Why would you want to do this? A couple of reasons.

  1. To enable hosted apps, such as calendars, to provide notifications without having to leave a window or tab open for the app.
  2. To enable apps to load content in the background so that it’s instantly available when a user launches the app. For example, a dashboard with real-time information, or something like Mint.com that takes a while to update.

There’s an example app available here (you’ll need Chrome 10).

To close the background apps, users only have to exit Chrome. Users will also be able to check which background apps and extensions are running through the Chrome icon in the system tray in Windows and Linux or the dock on OSX.

To address security concerns, Google has made the functionality available only to Chrome Web Store apps and extensions. Regular websites won’t be able to access this functionality. Developers will also have to declare the background capability in their apps.

At the moment this seems only minimally useful, but it does give more purpose to the creation of Chrome Web Store apps, which have been criticized as over-glorified bookmarks.

About ReadWrite’s Editorial Process

The ReadWrite Editorial policy involves closely monitoring the tech industry for major developments, new product launches, AI breakthroughs, video game releases and other newsworthy events. Editors assign relevant stories to staff writers or freelance contributors with expertise in each particular topic area. Before publication, articles go through a rigorous round of editing for accuracy, clarity, and to ensure adherence to ReadWrite's style guidelines.

Get the biggest tech headlines of the day delivered to your inbox

    By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe anytime.

    Tech News

    Explore the latest in tech with our Tech News. We cut through the noise for concise, relevant updates, keeping you informed about the rapidly evolving tech landscape with curated content that separates signal from noise.

    In-Depth Tech Stories

    Explore tech impact in In-Depth Stories. Narrative data journalism offers comprehensive analyses, revealing stories behind data. Understand industry trends for a deeper perspective on tech's intricate relationships with society.

    Expert Reviews

    Empower decisions with Expert Reviews, merging industry expertise and insightful analysis. Delve into tech intricacies, get the best deals, and stay ahead with our trustworthy guide to navigating the ever-changing tech market.