Google has made some big changes to its Chrome Remote Desktop for Android app, and you might not be happy
A Remote Desktop update years in the making, but not as good as first hoped
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Google’sremote desktopAndroid app for Chrome, which has amassed more than 10 million downloads on the Play Store, has undergone a major change from being a native Android app to using web app architecture.
A hugely popular app that has been a firm favorite among users of any OS, including Windows, Mac, and Linux, Google’s Android app had not been updated for several years leaving many to wonder about its future as they started to consider alternatives.
It seems that two or three years of radio silence have seen Google working behind the scenes to translate the app from a regular Android app to a less favorable web app that many criticize for its tendency for being buggy.
Google Chrome Remote Desktop web app
Nevertheless, unsuspecting mobile users looking for an easy, and importantly, free, way to connect with their desktop or laptop, can still download the app from thePlay Store, giving the illusion that it is indeed a fully-fledged Android app.
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Despite a general sentiment that web apps are inferior and less capable, Google has been testing this latest update for almost a year (according to9To5Google); the publication noted some pretty serious issues when it joined the testing program.
For those unfamiliar with underpinning app technology, the new app is most clearly identified from its new Google Material Theme UI interface which is a notable improvement over the now very dated-looking Material Design 1.
Real-world reviews and rants are yet to flood in, with many users likely having ditched Google’s remote desktop software for failure to keep it up to date, but already, 9To5Google has shared its feelings of disappointment amid high hopes for a significantly improved app that it believes has failed to deliver.
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Via9To5Google
With several years’ experience freelancing in tech and automotive circles, Craig’s specific interests lie in technology that is designed to better our lives, including AI and ML, productivity aids, and smart fitness. He is also passionate about cars and the decarbonisation of personal transportation. As an avid bargain-hunter, you can be sure that any deal Craig finds is top value!
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