Progressive Web Apps [PWAs] employ web programming abilities championed by Google and other allies like Microsoft.
Their purpose is to make interactive websites behave more like regular Apps installed locally on your device.
A PWA is a web-based application, delivered to a consumer by them clicking on a URL or hyperlink [as you would for any web site] which then gives the experience of a mobile application without needing to be downloaded to a user’s device.
Their abilities include things like working even when you don't have a network connection, launching with a tap on a home-screen icon, sending you alerts with push notifications and synchronising data in the background while performing well giving you a snappy startup experience.
Although it’s not a requirement, if the user wants to, they can also add PWAs to the home screen or start menu.
From there, progressive web apps look identical to native applications: they launch in the same way, have a splash screen and icons, have a browserless UI with no URL, and are a top-level app in the task switcher.
In essence, a PWA is the next evolution of a mobile-friendly website.
PWAs are discoverable and quickly accessible like normal websites, and give the interactivity and customer engagement of a native mobile application.
They are more secure than normal websites, and allow for additional features such as push notifications and the ability to browse and use offline.
Click here for a web.dev article called "What are Progressive Web Apps ?" that description in plain English how they are Capable, Reliable and Installable.
N.B. PWAs create at least three very nice outcomes:
(1) They use very little storage and CPU to run on your device
(2) You never have to update them on your device, yet they're always 100% up-to-date when you use them
(3) They're massively less expensive to distribute and support because developers only have to write them once instead of having to rewrite them for every OS platform, i.e. Android, iOS, Windows, Linux, etc. etc.
You don't have to do everything on the web in a tab in your browser - you can make use of different methods for accessing and running your favourite Apps in a way that suits you best.
Click here to read a HowToGeek article that explains all about Web Apps and why they can be so handy both online and offline.
Click here to read an article by ReviewGeek with their take on the subject.
Click here to read another HowToGeek article about using 'Progressive Web Apps' in Chrome.
Click here to jump into the middle of an article that contains, in layman’s English, an overview of what PWAs are all about and how Microsoft is embracing the technology.
Click here to read a CNET article that goes over the different views of some of the biggest technology players supporting the initiative but also the reticence of Apple to get fully involved.
Click here to read a Developers @ Google article that provides just about everything you need to know to get going or you can get the full details from this Google Support Page.
Click here to read another article by Web.Dev with their explanations and tips.
Click here fora "Practical Usage Guide" by dev.to that presents their own explanations.
Click here to read a TribuneContentAgency article that explains how anyone can produce their own PWA
Click here to see the website - if you then select the icon in your Chrome browser's Omnibox you are able to install a new desktop icon for the PWA.
Click here to see a ChromeUnboxed article that explains how to access it here.
Click here to read an article by AndroidPolice, and
Click here to read an article by 9to5Google, and
Click here for another by ChromeUnboxed,
All discuss features of the PWA to be pre-installed on some Chromebooks, with stylus support.
Click here to read a HowToGeek article about the PWA for accessing your Google Drive.
Click here to read a TechRadar article that provides all you need to know to get going or you can get the full details from this Google Support Page.
Google Photos on the web is great for sharing pics and photos but it can also be used for something a bit different.
Google’s image and colour science is clearly amazing, so what better tool is there than Google Photos for auto-correcting an image you've just taken? Having snapped a good photo you can have it automatically available in your Google Photos library. Now just click the Auto Fix button, and 7 out of 10 times you will have a much better looking photo as a result. You can also make big adjustments with the colour, light, and pop settings and/or get way more granular with things like contrast, hue, saturation and more.
Once the colours are good, you can can crop, rotate, and export the photo, add some graphics in Gravit, and then Squoosh the final result to have a beautiful end product for your website or for YouTube.
Amazingly, this is all possible from a web browser anywhere you are on any machine that can run Chrome. This demonstrates how the web has come a very, very long way in a decade.
Now owned by Corel this web-based vector editor falls in line with what you’d expect from a tool like Adobe Illustrator.
Use to build logos, design T-shirts, print materials, and massive signage with relative ease. There is a learning curve, but it is a powerful web-based tool that can be used for professional results. Amazing that something like this can run in a web browser - check it out at designer.io - note you can use the free version by simply signing in with your Google Account - no hassle.
Getting Started: Check out the Gravit Designer Basics walkthrough or watch the overview video.
Questions: Check out the extensive User Guide and Support Documentation and Knowledge Base or browse the Video Tutorials.
Squoosh is an app made by Google that was basically an experiment. Introduced at I/O as an example of what is possible from a web app, this service quickly became a go-to for me. It’s premise is simple: resize apps both in pixel count and in file size.
It’s premise is simple: resize apps both in pixel count and in file size.
The interface is easy to understand and the end result is fantastic every time. With YouTube, and other websites, keeping images condensed and small help with page speed, so Squoosh is really useful for images to be put into article or video. You can check it out at squoosh.app if you’d like to take it for a spin.
Click here to read how to combine the way you can use these features to boost your productivity