I would like to add the possibility to a simple Chrome web app, to use the Chrome Omnibox. The app should just be an icon on the start-page of chrome and add Omnibox functionality.
Adding the attribute "omnibox": { "keyword" : "x" } to my manifest.json brings up the message
Feature 'omnibox' is not accessible. Not allowed for specified package type (theme, app, etc.).
Is it possible to enable this functionality or can I develop an extension which behaves exactly like an Chrome web app, so I could use the omnibox inside that extension?
Thanks for your advise.
If you're making a Hosted App, you are very limited in what you can access. I believe a Hosted App can only perform actions that a normal HTML5 web page could (with a few narrow exceptions, like long-running background pages). If you want to include omnibox functionality, you'll have to make it a Packaged App -- but it could be a Packaged App that opens your web page like your current app and includes omnibox support, since the functionality of Packaged Apps is a superset of Hosted Apps functionality.
Related
Is it possible to have a webview application for a web page and load extensions in the application?
I have created a frameless wrapper for one of our web pages, so we can hide the chrome header. I am also using the stylebot extension to alter some elements in the page. It works fine inside chrome, but when I run the application the stylebot extension is not loaded.
Any idea how can I add the extension to the application?
Greatly appreciate your help on this
Thanks, Laszlo
A Google chrome extension have to be load in Google Chrome (or Chromium based browsers). The Google chrome extension API is not included in the webview engine.
You can open a frameless window with create method of the Google window API. You should add an handler to browser action click and create a window of with "popup" type and the url you want. It's not exactly what you are looking for but I don't know a better way to do it on Mac. Perhaps some one more familliar with that environement could help you.
An other far more complicated solution is to fork the Crhomium project and do what you want. But it demand a large developpement I think.
We have an test app in the Google Chrome Web Store to try and combat the upcoming demise of Java.
We had to go via the Google Web Store as our app required sockets. However, we need to embed this in our product, which uses the browser.
Is there a way to embed a Google Web App in another web page?
Use the appview tag to embed other Chrome Apps within your Chrome App. No other ways to embed the Chrome Apps.
Read about Chrome Apps Architecture.
Also read about Native Client. Maybe that is your way.
Can I create a plugin or an extension for Google Chrome MOBILE (Android Google Chrome)?
If not, can I create an extension for Google Chrome (desktop), which will add a button in Google Chrome bar. This button will open the page in another web browser (in my own web browser), so, this button should launch my own web browser.
Extensions are not supported, see: https://developers.google.com/chrome/mobile/docs/faq .
Specifically:
Does Chrome for Android now support the embedded WebView for a hybrid native/web app?
A Chrome-based WebView is included in Android 4.4 (KitKat) and later. See the WebView overview for details.
Does Chrome for Android support apps and extensions?
Chrome apps and extensions are currently not supported on Chrome for
Android. We have no plans to announce at this time.
Can I write and deploy web apps on Chrome for Android?
Though Chrome apps are not currently supported, we would love to see great interactive web sites accessible by URL.
You can use bookmarklets (javascript code in a bookmark) - this also means they sync across devices.
I have loads - I prefix the name with zzz, so they are eazy to type in to the address bar and show in drop down predictions.
To get them to operate on a page you need to go to the page and then in the address bar type the bookmarklet name - this will cause the bookmarklet to execute in the context of the page.
edit
Just to highlight - for this to work, the bookmarklet name must be typed into the address bar while the page you want to operate in is being displayed - if you go off to select the bookmarklet in some other way the page context gets lost, and the bookmarklet operates on a new empty page.
I use
zzzpocket - send to pocket.
zzztwitter tweet this page
zzzmail email this page
zzzpressthis send this page to wordpress
zzztrello send this page to trello
and more...
and it works in chrome whatever platform I am currently logged on to.
Some extensions like blocksite use the accessibility service API to deploy extension like features to Chrome on Android. Might be worth a look through the play store. Otherwise, Firefox is your best bet, though many extensions don't work on mobile for some reason.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=co.blocksite&hl=en_US
Just use a different browser.
Follow the steps given below to install Chrome extensions on your Android device.
Step 1: Open Google Play Store and download Yandex Browser. Install the browser on your phone.
Step 2: In the URL box of your new browser, open 'chrome.google.com/webstore’ by entering the same in the URL address.
Step 3: Look for the Chrome extension that you want and once you have it, tap on 'Add to Chrome.’
The added Chrome extension will now be automatically added to the Yandex browser.
I imagine that there are not many browsers supporting extension. Indeed, I have been interested in this question for the last year and I only found Dolphin supporting add-ons and other cool features announced few days ago. I want to test it soon.
I have page where RSS icon is present. I want that when user clicks on RSS icon it will check in chrome browser that, whether that RSS reader chrome extension is installed or not
I am trying to achieve this by using chrome extension methods, mentioned here.
I tried something like this but it is not working:
var port = chrome.extension.connect("nlbjncdgjeocebhnmkbbbdekmmmcbfjd");
To use this API you need to be either an extension or a web application having the necessary permissions - normal web pages cannot access it. However, detecting whether an extension is installed in Chrome is still easy:
<script src="chrome-extension://nlbjncdgjeocebhnmkbbbdekmmmcbfjd/manifest.json"
onload="alert('installed')" onerror="alert('not installed')"></script>
This uses the fact that the extension's manifest.json file is located under a predictable URL and that web pages are allowed to load this URL. Of course, this isn't an officially documented approach but rather a loophole and a privacy issue. So be prepared for it to stop working in some future Chrome version. At the moment it works however.
What is the difference between Chrome Apps and Extensions?
What can you do with apps that you can't do with extensions or vice versa?
Quoting from https://developer.chrome.com/webstore/apps_vs_extensions:
We’ve already had the concept of “web apps” in the browser for a few years, as something more rich and interactive than a website, but less cumbersome and monolithic than a desktop application. Examples include games, photo editors, and video players; all of these categories are viable as tightly focused apps running inside the browser. Google Chrome is just formalizing the web app concept in a way that will be familiar to anyone who’s used apps on a smartphone.
Extensions ... extend the functionality of Google Chrome and the websites being viewed in it. For example, they can extend Google Chrome by adding a new button to the address bar, such as an ever-present currency converter. Buttons like this can also apply to the current website being viewed—for example, click the currency converter button to convert all prices on the website you’re viewing. Similarly, you can introduce new items to the context menu, change the behavior of the omnibox (the input field on the address bar), access the user’s browsing history (with consent), and much more. You can alter web pages too—for example, embed a “mail this” button next to every link in every page, or customize the layout of your favorite website.
Compared to apps, extensions cut across websites and web apps; they are usually in effect across all websites (though some are site-specific). Apps don’t combine with other apps in this way; they run standalone, like any regular website.
(emphasis added)
From what I can tell, Chrome apps are just web applications that are registered with Chrome's Web Store (Gmail, e.g.). They're basically just glorified bookmarks. Google seems to have introduced them in order to make their browser more "operating system"-like, in preparation for tablets running Chrome OS. Since Chrome OS won't have any native applications apart from Chrome, they need some way for you to be able to "install" applications... even if those applications are just websites.
Extensions can actually affect the way that the browser behaves (ad blocking, e.g.). They can add buttons to Chrome's toolbars, intercept web requests, change the DOM, etc.
Here is an excellent resource from the Google Chrome team explaining the differences in detail.
It also contains a decision tree flow chart shown below.
Please refer to the following link:
(chrome app vs extension).
It basically says that there are two kinds of apps: hosted and packaged. Hosted apps are glorified bookmarks. But packaged apps provide you with a somewhat best of both worlds features- of both extensions and apps.
Extensions of course extend the core browser functionality providing little or no additional UI apart from what is already provided by chrome.
There are three Chrome distribution channels for developers.
In order of increasing functionality they are:
Chrome extensions — little to no UI
Chrome hosted apps
Chrome packaged apps
More information and fuller discussion is contained in this video.
quoting from http://www.chromeplugins.org/extensions/chrome-web-apps-extensions-spot-the-difference/
(as the explanation is very good)
Major Differences Between Chrome Extension and Chrome Web Apps
One of the major differences between Chrome extensions and web
applications is their location. Majority of the Chrome extensions can
be downloaded from Chrome Extensions Gallery whereas Chrome Web Apps
can be installed from Chrome Web Store.
Another major difference between Chrome extensions and web apps is the
fact that while extensions are used to enhance the functionality of
the Chrome Browser, web apps run within the browser having a different
user interface. Unlike web applications, extensions have little or
sometimes no UI component.
From a technical perspective the major difference between Chrome Apps
and extensions is the presence of “launch” parameter in apps which
indicates Chrome to show when user starts an application installed by
him/her.