Google Launches Chrome Apps for Mac

[Winni]

Google can take a running jump i dont need that shady company harvesting my private data.

Of course. It's much better when the shady company with the fruit logo harvests your private data.

But don't worry. The NSA knows everything about you anyway, so it just doesn't matter which company scrutinizes you first. Welcome to the home of the free.

This may be nothing, or we will look back on this five years from now as the moment Google started beating the Mac.

Google and the trend that EVERYTHING is moving towards the web are the two reasons why people could migrate to the Mac. The web and the Internet made computer users independent from Microsoft. (Just like Microsoft made users independent from IBM back in the 1980s.)

 

[hazriqpedia]

Err... someone has it on their Mac already, hello.

So how do I get mine??? Where did they get the Gmail app??? I don't see it on Google App Store.

You can try installing any apps from the For your Desktop collections.

 

[jecowa]

My biggest problems with using Google's Office suite is that it 1. required an internet connection and 2. required that I use a browser. It's nice to be able to work on spreadsheets without having to worry about the internet going out or the web browser crashing.

On a similar note my biggest problems with Microsoft's Office suite is that it's expensive, bloated, and has a clunky UI. And I haven't used it in a while, but the last time I used Word, I remember the copy paste feature being really weird. Every time I would copy or cut something, it would add it to this big list of everything I've copied. So I guess part of my problem with MS Office is that I'm unfamiliar with it.

And OpenOffice - it's just like MicroSoft Office except that it's free. Still bloated with a clunky UI.

I've really enjoyed using Claris Works, Apple Works, and iWork over the years. They are minimalistic, launch quickly, and inexpensive.

Now that Google has improved its suite significantly, I'm going to have to give it another chance. Even if it doesn't turn out to be my favorite, it could still be nice to use when I don't have access to my Mac.

 

[radiohead14]

People actually want WeatherBug as an app?

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/category/collection/for_your_desktop

weatherbug used to come with spyware back in the windows xp days.. i hated it. now it is one of the most accurate weather apps from my experience using it the past 3 years now. they've gotten rid of any bloat, and their app is easy to use.

 

[sniffies]

They're already in the folder that this puts on your desktop post install. I downloaded the Keep app (great app btw) and everything was in there.

You can try installing any apps from the For your Desktop collections.

Thank you guys!!

 

[ChrisA]

Can someone tell me the benefit of having these google apps on my laptop/iPad?

You can create and edit documents that sync over the Internet with other computers that also have Chrome apps installed. Yes Apple does this with iWork apps but that only works between Macs. You can't sync a Pages document between your Mac and your Android phone or your buddy's Windows system. Crome is more cross platform.

This is of zero use if you own only one computing device and never work collaboratively with other people.

One user group who will go for this is students. They like FREE apps and many times need to work on group projects and many will not be able to afford Apple computers so might be working on a $350 notebook from Walmart

This suite of apps in intended to compete with Microsoft Office and Apple iWork.

 

[Konrad9]

Apple specifically has said it does not engage in this practice. Moreover, Apple's business model is much different then Googles.

Further, Google calls home repeatedly. This is especially bad when using Chrome, Little Snitch verified this. Moreover, it does it even when you delete its apps. I had to go into the terminal to get rid if Google tools that dialed home even when I had no Google apps on my Mac. Apple apps rarely call home.

Apple says a lot of things. As did every other company that is complicit in these privacy invasions.

If you think Apple isn't involved, you are fooling yourself. They may not be WILLFULLY involved, but they are.

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Follow the money.

Yes, Apple does collect very limited and anonymous data, which they make clear--and let you choose to opt in or out very easily. Example: detection of traffic jams for iOS Maps. It's a useful and legitimate tool for both Apple and Google.

But Apple's income is founded on happy users becoming return customers.

Google's customers are advertisers. Users are what's for sale! Their income depends on collecting personal info to make ads worth more.

Google's incentive to collect more data, less anonymously, build profiles, and make it hard to know what's collected, is far greater. Their history bears this out. They touch the creepy line often, and occasionally cross it. Very different behavior from Apple.

I will repeat and clarify myself.

If you think Apple is not giving your information to the government, you are fooling yourself.

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Follow the money.

Yes, Apple does collect very limited and anonymous data, which they make clear--and let you choose to opt in or out very easily. Example: detection of traffic jams for iOS Maps. It's a useful and legitimate tool for both Apple and Google.

But Apple's income is founded on happy users becoming return customers.

Google's customers are advertisers. Users are what's for sale! Their income depends on collecting personal info to make ads worth more.

Google's incentive to collect more data, less anonymously, build profiles, and make it hard to know what's collected, is far greater. Their history bears this out. They touch the creepy line often, and occasionally cross it. Very different behavior from Apple.

I will repeat and clarify myself.

If you think Apple is not giving your information to the government, you are fooling yourself.

 

[Gudi]

I think you may have just given Apple an idea for a new slogan.

It has always been there motto.

 

[KdParker]

You can create and edit documents that sync over the Internet with other computers that also have Chrome apps installed. Yes Apple does this with iWork apps but that only works between Macs. You can't sync a Pages document between your Mac and your Android phone or your buddy's Windows system. Crome is more cross platform.

This is of zero use if you own only one computing device and never work collaboratively with other people.

One user group who will go for this is students. They like FREE apps and many times need to work on group projects and many will not be able to afford Apple computers so might be working on a $350 notebook from Walmart

This suite of apps in intended to compete with Microsoft Office and Apple iWork.

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Can't this be done while logging into Google apps for collaborative work?