Using Chrome For Apps

• 
  
• Tweet
• Sharebar

• 
  
• Tweet

Using Chrome For Web Applications

Want to know one the secrets us web, Internet, and computer gurus use to get more work done faster? Read on to learn how a simple tool that you probably already have on your computer can help you stay more organized while using web applications and speed up your workload!

Last week we discussed selecting a browser for Web Apps; I thought I would follow up that post with one that highlights an AWESOME (see it’s in all caps!) way to use Chrome (our winner of best Browser for web applications) when accessing your web applications. Few users know – that Chrome was designed with web applications in mind, and there’s one key secret to Chrome that could make your work much easier and help you stay organized.

Creating an Application Shortcut

What we’ll be doing throughout these next couple of steps is called “creating an Application Shortcut” they’ve been around for years in some form or another, but Google stepped up their game when they introduced shortcuts specific to applications. Much like what they’re trying to do and the paradigm shift they’re trying to instill with their ChromeBook, application shortcuts are meant for those of us that live on line – that use Web Apps for sharing information with friends, for communicating, for doing business.

What is an Application Shortcut?

An application shortcut is simply a link from your computer direct to a place on the web – but in this case that place is SPECIFICALLY a web application. You click on the link – on your desktop, taskbar, or start menu – and Google Chrome auto-opens a window with that web page immediately displayed.

In order to setup an application shortcut follow these simple steps:

1. Open up Google Chrome (what you don’t have Chrome? – download it!)
2. Open up your favorite web app (preferably login – and if you’re comfortable with it make sure “save account information/stay signed in” is selected – you’ll see why in just a minute)
3. Once logged in we’ll actually be creating the special shortcut:
4. Go to the wrench at the top right of the screen – that’s right… click on it!
5. Select “tools > create application shortcuts” ( you can also look at the screenshot on the right…)
6. Select from the list that appears the most appropriate options for you and click “create.”

That’s it – you’ve now created application shortcuts on your computer. At the very bottom of the screen if you select “task bar” you’ll now see the icon of your favorite web application appear. When you click on this link you’ll immediately be brought to the application you use, logged in (if you choose to stay logged in). There’s almost no difference between what you’re now experiencing and the conventional installed software setup – where you have an icon on your computer that you click and launch a program – except of course – you know your software is 100% online.

Personally I’ve setup all of my most used web applications (Quickbooks online, Basecamp, Salesforce, etc.) in this manner and quick click on them when I need them and then close them when I’m done – like any conventional program.

An additional step Google goes through to help us stay on task – is that it removes all navigation, tools, icons, extensions, tabs, etc. while you are in an “application shortcut.” I could see this being helpful for some and a hindrance for others, but personally I appreciate not having to look at, worry, or even having the possibility of these additional distractions while in an application. You can’t even open another tab in order to check out the latest AMA on Reddit ;).

If you have any questions about setting up your own Application Shortcuts, feel free to comment.