Users of Galaxy Chromebooks have access to a variety of applications, including progressive web apps (PWAs), Android apps from the Play Store, Linux apps via the Chromebook’s Linux development environment, and desktop games from Steam. However, currently, these different app categories must be sourced from separate platforms, which can be a cumbersome process for users who desire a more integrated experience.
There might be a solution on the horizon, as Google is reportedly developing a new marketplace for ChromeOS called ‘App Mall.’ According to 9To5Google, this unified app platform is expected to streamline the process by offering both PWAs and Android apps in a single location. It appears that upon selecting an application within App Mall, users will be directed to a new Google-operated website (discover.apps.chrome) where they will be able to download the app.
Currently in its early stages, App Mall is expected to be initially available to users under a feature flag, a common practice for testing new features discreetly before broader deployment.
While there is no definitive timeline for the wider release of App Mall for ChromeOS, Google’s history of feature updates suggests that the marketplace could become available for all users within the next few months, offering a more unified and convenient experience for accessing various types of applications on Chromebooks.
The video below showcases some of the features and capabilities of Chromebooks which could be enhanced by the introduction of App Mall:
