Progressive Web Apps might be a huge deal in the future, but right now, many of the sites and services we want to use in this way simply are not available. Recently, though, Google Drive made its debut as a Progressive Web App (PWA).
According to Android Police, Google Drive has recently added support for being a Progressive Web App. As a PWA, Drive can be “installed” on computers and other devices. Installing a PWA has your PC, Mac, or Chromebook treat that site more like a native app.
For Drive, this means you won’t see the address bar at the top of the page. There are no tabs and everything just looks more like a native app. This is good news for those who have been opposed to Drive’s web experience as, with this change, it feels more like installed programs on Windows and Mac. On Chromebooks, it’s also handy for docking.
What Are Progressive Web Apps?
Progressive Web Apps are websites that have the same functionality and ease-of-use of as actual apps. Rather than investing your resources into an app and using your mobile page to drive users to download it, PWAs allow users to immediately access a brand’s content as if they were typical app users. Google specifies three main features of PWAs:
- Reliability: PWAs should load instantly, regardless of whether a user is online or offline.
- Speed: PWAs should load in fewer than three seconds, and the content should be immediately available without any delays or scrolling issues.
- Engagement: PWAs should have engaging content and give users the power to add the app to their home screens. PWAs can also send push notifications to users without the user having to download a specific app to receive them.
Essentially, a progressive web app walks like an app and talks like an app, but lives within the web browser instead of on the phone. It takes up less room on user devices while offering the same features as an app.
