PWAs Taking Over the ChromeOS Software Ecosystem with YouTube the Latest Addition

[btarunr]

PWAs, or progressive web apps, are web-based software whose functions are dynamically fetched from the web. Twitter and WhatsApp Web are examples. Their Windows Store editions are essentially UWP Chromium containers that run the PWA. When it debuted in 2011, Chrome OS was intended to be entirely web-based, with a Chrome web-browser running web-based services such as Google Docs or G-Mail. Eventually, there arose a need for a larger software ecosystem, and Chromebook manufacturers pressured Google to add Play Store, and bring the Android software ecosystem to the Chromebook.

A trend over the last couple of years is PWAs, and YouTube TV is the latest addition, with a PWA added to Play Store, replacing the Android app. The PWA creates a lightweight Chromium container without Chrome's bulk, to run the PWA on. It also gives the user the impression of using an app outside the web-browser. The addition of the YouTube TV PWA is a strong indication that at least for Chrome OS, Google is phasing out locally-stored apps in favor of lightweight PWAs, as it rightfully should. Chrome OS was intended to be an evolutionary next-step to PCs with locally-stored software - a lightweight OS for lightweight clients that serve as edge devices, with much of the processing and storage handled by the cloud.



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[phanbuey]

Nice! Good read.

 

[notb]

Too late to shine.
Today this is pretty much how people do most tasks on Windows - of course utilizing a lot of software from Google.

ChromeOS was built around an idea that was quite revolutionary 10 years ago (and, I'd imagine, caused havoc on this forum ).
And it was a strong condition: *everything* that didn't have to run on local hardware would be delivered from a server.

They backed off and the market caught up. Today Microsoft is way ahead...

IMO the real problem for Google is that they miss a "core" programs for professionals/enthusiasts.
Gmail, Maps, Youtube, Drive and so on - all really great. Most people on the planet use them.
But you can't really build a job profile around Gmail.
If they added a proper MS Office or Visual Studio alternative, a lot of people could work exclusively in Google Cloud / G Suite ecosystem.

The lack of proper cloud IDE really bugs me. Every other large cloud service offers something.
Instead Google provides integration with VS Code (MS), Cloud9 (AWS) and IntelliJ...

 

[RoutedScripter]

Emmm nope, maybe for google, not for me. I am perfectly fine with my locally stored apps, locally stored games, locally stored programs, locally stored data, I don't need your cloud, thank you very much and have a nice day.

 

[notb]

Emmm nope, maybe for google, not for me. I am perfectly fine with my locally stored apps, locally stored games, locally stored programs, locally stored data, I don't need your cloud, thank you very much and have a nice day.

Locally stored email and map browser / route planner? Locally stored calendar? Locally stored web index search? Locally stored online shop offer?

You're either seriously underestimating how much of your tasks are in the cloud already or you're really living like in early 90s. Which surely is fun.

 

[RoutedScripter]

You're either seriously underestimating how much of your tasks are in the cloud already or you're really living like in early 90s. Which surely is fun.

No, I don't use most of those, yes I do locally store email archives the accounts I don't have anymore, closed down all the unsafe email's and use a highly secure paid service, not because I really need to, but out of spite, even if the data may not be as valuable to them, despite most people sheeplishly think their data isn't of much worth, only the predator truly knows the value of your data.

Besides, you really think I run stock Windows 10. My Windows 10 and everything else runs exactly how I want it to run, is totally tweaked and there's isn't a single packet that ever goes out to a microsoft server, those are MY cables and I control what data can be inside them. Do you really think it's going to be that easy? That a few companies are going to produce these apps and we're all have to drop our pants and take it? Yeah Right!

Yes it is fun, my life does not depend on some system made by a group of entities 9000 miles away that I never knew or seen. Why do I need to subscribe to that particular culture? Did we sign an agreement somewhere? Did I pledged an oath to something? No I didn't. The egoism and predatory behavior of the modern tech culture is just astounding, thinking their way is the only way.

Perhaps I do use many cloud services ... but here's something you missed, the anonymous acountless services and those that don't include my data are quite something different. The main point is that it's not my personal data being stored on the cloud, and by extension data/product you purchased. The move to service type apps is primairly designed to take the power out of an individual away so you are enslaved-shackled to their always-online service and their TOS and Privacy Policy, a way for them to hook you up even stronger as their customer (pawn) so you're totally exposed for tracking and data mining, with no escape, that's all it is about, they don't want any individual doing things that can potentially challenge their empire.

The 1% are talking about how "empowered individuals" are a major threat to their private plans for the world, and companies under their control (most of them) are implementing measures to reduce the power of an individual (youtubers, startups, anyone who could use their tech in innovative ways to become a competitor) this also means any and all individuals, you and me, they just declare war on everyone, just like that. So Fuck Google.

 

[notb]

No, I don't use most of those

You don't use e-mail and web search?

But you own a smartphone, right?

besides, you really think I run stock Windows 10. My Windows 10 is totally tweaked and there's isn't a single packet that ever goes out to a microsoft server.

I have no idea what you mean by "tweaked". You've changed the background?
It's a proprietary, closed-source OS.

Yes it is fun, my life does not depend on some system made by a group of entities 9000 miles away that I never knew or seen.

Of course it does. If you use a PC and software, you depend on whoever provides these. Of course unless you're making everything using what grows in your garden.
And primarily, computers and Internet are used to access services and information provided by someone else. So if you don't, why own a computer at all?

For example, you're using this forum. You depend on owners - who let you in. You depend on other users - who make discussions possible.

 

[RoutedScripter]

You don't use e-mail and web search?

But you own a smartphone, right?

I have no idea what you mean by "tweaked". You've changed the background?
It's a proprietary, closed-source OS.

Of course it does. If you use a PC and software, you depend on whoever provides these. Of course unless you're making everything using what grows in your garden.
And primarily, computers and Internet are used to access services and information provided by someone else. So if you don't, why own a computer at all?

For example, you're using this forum. You depend on owners - who let you in. You depend on other users - who make discussions possible.

Notice, the term use and depend. I do use half of what you descirbed, but that doesn't mean I depend on it. My life does not end, I can find alternatives, adapt, it doesn't mean I will accept their demands.

I'm using it until I can, after I don't agree with their policy I'll stop using it and find alternatives, it's simple. Google isn't god.

Sure it is a closed-source OS, many things are still possible that most average users have no idea about. But Win10 is slowly straining up the noose and many tweaks and old Win7 tricks stopped working as new updates come out, so yeah fuck microsoft too. They really don't give a crap about Power Users, exactly, because they see them as a threat, but we're not kindergarden, we're not sheeple, we'll find another way. Oh let the games begin!

One way of dealing with it is with https://reactos.org/

 

[notb]

Notice, the term use and depend. I do use half of what you descirbed, but that doesn't mean I depend on it. My life does not end, I can find alternatives, adapt, it doesn't mean I will accept their demands.

So if all web search engines vanish, how will you look for information? Just remember to have a plan B ready, because you won't be able to google it later...

Sure it is a closed-source OS, many things are still possible that most average users have no idea about

don't need, don't care

They really don't give a crap about Power Users

No offence, but the fact that you like tweaking your Windows doesn't make you a power user...

One way of dealing with it is with https://reactos.org/

But you're probably using Windows because it lets you do something, not because you like tweaking.
If any other OS was a viable alternative, you'd probably migrate already. You're clearly miserable in the MS ecosystem.

ReactOS is a mess (in development since 1998! ). PC world changed completely on the way. They can't keep up, let alone work on stability and features.
It probably won't reach a production-ready release, ever. For fun and learning - great. Would I use it for work or research? Pfff.

Unless of course the goal is to remake Windows 98. They already have Solitaire.