Google will retire its Chrome Apps. Here’s what you need to know.
In January 2020, Google announced that the company would stop supporting Chrome Packaged Apps (Chrome Apps) on the ChromeOS (Chromebook) platform as of June 2022*.
This has since changed to a phased approach that will enable education users to continue using and updating their Chrome Apps (e.g., SPARKvue) without interruption through June 2025.
The existing Chrome App experience will be replaced by a new type of app, known as a Progressive Web App or PWA.
What’s a PWA?
Progressive Web Apps are browser-based apps, meaning they are accessed by visiting a specific URL, rather than downloading and opening an app. Because they are opened within a web browser, Progressive Web Apps will offer enhanced capabilities that are not possible with Google’s existing Chrome Packaged Apps (Chrome Apps).
What PASCO apps will be affected?
The Progressive Web App version of SPARKvue will be available to all users well in advance. Educators should not expect any interruptions.
Note: PASCO Spectrometry and MatchGraph! are not Chrome Packaged Apps, and will not be affected by these changes.
*This blog was originally published August 8, 2021. It was updated July 20, 2022, to reflect the latest rollout plan for Chrome OS Enterprise and education users.