- July 19, 2013 03:14pm EST
The Chrome app launcher, a dedicated spot beyond the browser where Google users can access their apps, is now available for those on the stable version of Chrome on Windows.Still a work in progress, the launcher is not yet available in the Chrome Web Store, but is accessible via a download link on Chrome.Google.com.
A test at the PCMag offices successfully added the launcher app on the desktop, taskbar, and menu bar for Windows 7; Engadget reported similar results on Windows 8.
The Chrome app launcher hit the dev channel in February, along with the Chrome 25 browser update. Google touted it as "the same experience as the app launcher on Chromebooks, but for other platforms." A version for Mac OS X and Linux is expected, too.
Once installed, a single click on the colorful taskbar icon reveals a tray of installed Chrome applications and services, along with a search bar at the top for those with a large apps library.
One app you can now add to your collection, meanwhile, is the Wunderlist to-do service, which supports voice input, Twitter-like tagging, and desktop notifications.
"If you've been wanting to use Wunderlist on your Windows, Linux or Mac desktop computer, but can't install it at work, Wunderlist for Chrome is your solution," the company boasted on its website.
Two more apps — Pocket and Google Keep — have launched their own packaged versions, allowing offline changes to sync with the Web and other devices for later use.
Check out the Wunderlist packaged app in action in the company's video below.
