What you might want to know
- A dive into ChromeOS 126 unearthed extra of Google’s plans for its “App Mall” retailer for Chromebooks.
- The shop shall be divided into Search, Residence, Apps, and Video games tabs with an additional one to hop instantly into the Play Retailer.
- It additionally appears that Google is trying to enhance how customers set up internet/PWA apps, as it will all happen instantly in App Mall.
Google’s growth of a brand new “App Mall” for ChromeOS progresses as new flags within the code reveal what might await customers on full launch.
The parents over at ChromeUnboxed had been capable of allow the chrome://flags/#cros-mall flag inside the Canary construct of ChromeOS 126. A lot of the App Malls’ design appears to strongly callback to the software program’s preexisting “Discover” app. The primary web page gives tabs on the highest left facet for Search, Residence, Apps, and Video games.
A separate tab can be included for Chromebook customers to hop into the Google Play Retailer.
The primary “Residence” web page gives devoted sections for “Featured Apps” and “Featured Video games.” It appears customers shall be supplied with a simple “get app” button beside apps that they are aware of and would need instantly. The App Mall then dips into “Highlight” apps and video games, that are seemingly those who match sure standards.
Clicking to broaden on apps chances are you’ll be serious about gives all the mandatory info. The early look exhibits that customers will see app preview pictures, just like cellular, a full description, and extra.

The kicker right here is that downloading and putting in apps “from the online” will change into far more seamless by way of the App Mall. The publication’s demo confirmed that customers shall be given an overlayed immediate, detailing the app, and an opportunity to confirm its set up.
After a quick pause, the app is true in your Chromebook with none additional steps by way of the Chrome browser.
When the App Mall arrives, Google will seemingly give the applying an icon on the UI’s shelf. There is not a lot to say about when the corporate plans to roll this new Chromebook retailer out for app discovery. It appears pretty carried out, although Google may have extra in retailer for its growth cycle.
We first heard concerning the ChromeOS “App Mall” again in March after a leak spilled what its UI may appear like. It was evident early on that the aim of this retailer is to offer Chromebooks a devoted place for Android and web-based/PWA apps.
Linux apps aren’t exhibiting up but (although it’s in testing), however that would occur down the road.


