Google unveils Chrome Web Store in PHL

Internet behemoth Google has unveiled in the country the Chrome Web Store, a marketplace that gives users a place to browse and purchase apps on the Web, while at the same time giving developers a dedicated place to showcase their Web applications.

The tech firm noted that finding the best applications on the Web — like a great game of virtual basketball — can be a challenge because there has never been a dedicated place to search and browse for them.

“Now, with ratings, reviews and a user-friendly interface, the Chrome Web Store gives users an easy place to discover and purchase these web apps," it said.

The Chrome Web Store includes several apps designed especially for Pinoys, created by local developers.

The list includes Pinoytuner and Terno Recordings apps for listening to and discovering local music. The My ABS-CBN app supplements the popular TV station, and the new PBA app keeps fans up to date with the latest basketball news.

There’s also Angry Birds and Battle Stations, as well the popular file storage app Box, photo editing tools like Pixlr, and the Google Docs suite.

The Chrome Web Store also offers extensions and themes to help users customize their Web browsing experience. Extensions are custom features and functionalities that one can add to Chrome.

Unlike apps, extensions like Pinoy Exchange — which allows users to check out the top discussions on the forum any time they’re online — are always available on any website. Themes change the appearance of the background of your Chrome browser to give it a personal touch.

In the Chrome Web Store, apps and extensions are presented in a wall of images that’s updated every time a user visits the store, so one can quickly scan the store and find interesting things to try out.

Apps and extensions are easy to install — just hover over an image and click “Add to Chrome."

For Pinoy developers, the launch of the Chrome Web Store in the Philippines means they’ll be able to easily build and distribute their apps to the more than 200 million people around the world who already use Chrome. — Newsbytes.ph