ArtsAutosBooksBusinessEducationEntertainmentFamilyFashionFoodGamesGenderHealthHolidaysHomeHubPagesPersonal FinancePetsPoliticsReligionSportsTechnologyTravel

Best HTML5 Web Apps in the Google Chrome Browser's New Web Store

Updated on July 6, 2014

What is a Web App?

Google describes a "Web App" as an "advanced interactive website."

Although fairly vague in definition, the phrase "advanced interactive website" screams exciting possibilities for the user experience in Internet browsing.

Often web apps provide a service like photo editing or organizational tools, which can be extremely useful for netbooks because no information has to be installed on the hard drive.

For regular PC users, the web apps are convenient and often just plain fun to use.

With the advent of more HTML5 used in web development, we see a wide door opening to a web app world bursting with creativity, flexibility, user control options, and just down right sexy "ness".

Google Chrome's web store has put itself in a unique position to deliver these HTML5 apps through its web store in the Chrome browser.

Lets look at a few of the notable HTML5 apps that are current "launch titles" in Google Chrome's new web store.

What is HTML5?

HTML5 is the latest and greatest version of the HTML web language. 

It provides new support for all sorts of multimedia features, which means better and more beautiful web apps and websites.

With so many internet browsers, or web language interpreters, HTML5's improvements help bridge the gap between the different browsers' ability to see a webpage the same way across the board. 

1. New York Times

According to the Web Store, the NYTimes app includes:

All major sections including top stories, business, technology, Opinion, science, travel, fashion & style, most e-mailed and more

Large, beautiful photos

Fast and easy keyboard shortcuts and navigation

Customizable views that allow you to change the look and feel

Offline reading capabilities (text only)

Breaking news alerts to keep you informed

I particularly like that I can customize the layout of the NYTimes in ways not available on the regular NYTimes website

The organization is much more pleasing to the eye, and navigation is a snap!

For those who do not subscribe to a print or e-Edition, this is far above the standard NYTimes website experience.

 

2. HTML5 Photo Editor by Aviary

According to the Web Store:

  • Powerful filters
  • Download photos to computer or get a hosted URL
  • Filter updates
  • ]Slick, easy-to-use design

I've used Aviary for a long time as a Google Chrome extension.

It is great! Its simple, sleek, and easy to use.

The new HTML5 based editor is more versatile and useful than ever before.

3. Ajax Animator-will work offline!

According to the Web Store:

 
  • A html5 powered web-based animation suite. 

  • Its original goal was to be a usable Flash IDE alternative, but has evolved into a cross-platform/cross-format animation tool. 

  • Works offline.

This is one of those great netbook apps for the would be animator. 

Many of my students would love the chance to play around with this.

4. Freeciv.net- "Civilization" game in a browser!

According to Web Store:

  • Freeciv.net is an open-source turn-based strategy game.
  • It’s built entirely in HTML5 and features in-depth game-play and a wide variety of game modes and options.
  • Your goal is to build cities, collect resources, organize your government, and build an army, with the ultimate goal of creating the best empire.

To this day, I love Sid Meier's civilization games. I started playing the civilization games when I was very little back in the days of DOS. 

I am excited to see that a clone is available free and clear for all in their web browser

Rule the world! 

5. Canvas Rider

According to the Web Store:

 

Canvas Rider is an addictive game written in JavaScript & HTML5, using the most of the new <canvas> element.

To ride the tracks previously drawn by other players, there are 2 bikes (BMX & MTB) with the same controls:

- UP to pedal,

- DOWN to brake,

- LEFT & RIGHT to lean & balance,

- Z to turn around,

- ENTER to restart when you crash (or BACKSPACE to cancel checkpoint(s)).

Use your mouse to move the track, zoom, select tools, or display help.

If you set a time record, your run will be saved below the track for others to click & watch!

This is another version of the "free rider" and "line rider" craze sweeping up the young people. 

Perhaps because of its simplicity, it allows lots of room to be creative. 


working

This website uses cookies

As a user in the EEA, your approval is needed on a few things. To provide a better website experience, hubpages.com uses cookies (and other similar technologies) and may collect, process, and share personal data. Please choose which areas of our service you consent to our doing so.

For more information on managing or withdrawing consents and how we handle data, visit our Privacy Policy at: https://corp.maven.io/privacy-policy

Show Details
Necessary
HubPages Device IDThis is used to identify particular browsers or devices when the access the service, and is used for security reasons.
LoginThis is necessary to sign in to the HubPages Service.
Google RecaptchaThis is used to prevent bots and spam. (Privacy Policy)
AkismetThis is used to detect comment spam. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide data on traffic to our website, all personally identifyable data is anonymized. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Traffic PixelThis is used to collect data on traffic to articles and other pages on our site. Unless you are signed in to a HubPages account, all personally identifiable information is anonymized.
Amazon Web ServicesThis is a cloud services platform that we used to host our service. (Privacy Policy)
CloudflareThis is a cloud CDN service that we use to efficiently deliver files required for our service to operate such as javascript, cascading style sheets, images, and videos. (Privacy Policy)
Google Hosted LibrariesJavascript software libraries such as jQuery are loaded at endpoints on the googleapis.com or gstatic.com domains, for performance and efficiency reasons. (Privacy Policy)
Features
Google Custom SearchThis is feature allows you to search the site. (Privacy Policy)
Google MapsSome articles have Google Maps embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
Google ChartsThis is used to display charts and graphs on articles and the author center. (Privacy Policy)
Google AdSense Host APIThis service allows you to sign up for or associate a Google AdSense account with HubPages, so that you can earn money from ads on your articles. No data is shared unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Google YouTubeSome articles have YouTube videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
VimeoSome articles have Vimeo videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
PaypalThis is used for a registered author who enrolls in the HubPages Earnings program and requests to be paid via PayPal. No data is shared with Paypal unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook LoginYou can use this to streamline signing up for, or signing in to your Hubpages account. No data is shared with Facebook unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
MavenThis supports the Maven widget and search functionality. (Privacy Policy)
Marketing
Google AdSenseThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Google DoubleClickGoogle provides ad serving technology and runs an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Index ExchangeThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
SovrnThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook AdsThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Unified Ad MarketplaceThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
AppNexusThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
OpenxThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Rubicon ProjectThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
TripleLiftThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Say MediaWe partner with Say Media to deliver ad campaigns on our sites. (Privacy Policy)
Remarketing PixelsWe may use remarketing pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to advertise the HubPages Service to people that have visited our sites.
Conversion Tracking PixelsWe may use conversion tracking pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to identify when an advertisement has successfully resulted in the desired action, such as signing up for the HubPages Service or publishing an article on the HubPages Service.
Statistics
Author Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide traffic data and reports to the authors of articles on the HubPages Service. (Privacy Policy)
ComscoreComScore is a media measurement and analytics company providing marketing data and analytics to enterprises, media and advertising agencies, and publishers. Non-consent will result in ComScore only processing obfuscated personal data. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Tracking PixelSome articles display amazon products as part of the Amazon Affiliate program, this pixel provides traffic statistics for those products (Privacy Policy)
ClickscoThis is a data management platform studying reader behavior (Privacy Policy)