AppShell
ChromeShell has evolved – meet AppShell.
Release: 0.4 (Beta)
License: Donationware
The default AppShell 'WebTop'
Author: Sam Williams
Requirements:
- A web browser or other suitable program to use as a shell.
- Windows XP and above
- .net 3.5
Download: Here
Features:
- Instantly turn your windows PC into a ‘Chrome OS like’ environment – but with any browser you want!
- Effortlessly switch between your browser UI and the default windows one.
- From standby to your email in ~3 seconds!
- Stay up-to-date with the latest versions with automatic updates
Introduction:
The majority of us use our computers for tasks that could be performed in a browser. Your email, shopping, web surfing, instant messaging etc etc. AppShell allows you to use the browser of your choice to access the things you really need from your PC – without all the things you don’t.
AppShell stops the majority of items starting at boot up, which vastly decreases the time it takes you to get to your webapps. However, if you want to get back to your old desktop, just exit the program and press the ‘Start Desktop’ button!
The Web has changes. Now with AppShell, so has windows!
Quickstart:
1). Run the installer.
2). Choose your preferred browser and close the Settings program.
3). Log out and into your new shell!
To get back to the windows desktop after you’ve used AppShell, exit program and press the ‘Start Desktop’ button! Settings can be editted using the settings utility available at Start ==> AppShell ==> AppShell.
If something goes wrong
This is a beta and as such you must be prepared for bugs. If anything goes wrong, open up task manager (Alt+Ctrl+Del ==> Task Manager) and press File ==> New Task and browse to Settings.exe in C:\AppShell\. Then just change the shell back to default windows shell in the normal manner.
If you enjoy using AppShell, I would be grateful if you could donate al little via paypal – anything is brilliant. Keeping ITBR online costs a fair bit every year, so it would be nice to have a little support! Many thanks, Sam.
Great stuff ! If you boot from stand-by this works exactly like Google’s (long-promised) Chrome OS – but months earlier !
Dave
[...] compared to running under virtualization. And an anonymous reader notes the 0.1 beta release of ChromeShell, which installs a “Chrome OS-like” environment that boots to the Chrome browser in ~3 [...]
Will the source be released for ChromeShell??
[...] indica el autor en las instrucciones de instalación, para ello tendremos que cerrar el navegador y pinchar en el botón "Start [...]
It doesn’t seem to work with Google Chrome dev-channel (4.0.249.11), tried on Windows XP and Windows 7. ChromeShell is just crashing. I would appreciate if you could fix it
.
@mark: Thanks for the notification! I’m at work at the moment, but I’ll have a look at it when I get home. I think I know where the problem might lie…
Sam
is this not just a .net app the runs the chrome browser?
any plans for anything more than this?
Thanks
Helllo my dear,
Is ChromeShell compatible with Windows 7 et SRWare Iron (portable) instead of Chrome ?
SRWare Iron is better for privacy than Spy Chrome !
http://www.srware.net/en/software_srware_iron_chrome_vs_iron.php
Thanks a lot !
@Steve:
ChromeShell is a wrapper…plus. It stops certain programs starting etc – to generally ‘lighten up’ the equation that is windows’. However, the point of ChromeShell is to provide an experience similar to that of Chrome OS, in it’s statelessness. Perhaps it is not for everyone, but then again neither is cOS.
There are huge improvements in the works, but the scope of the project is effectively an elaborate wrapper, yes.
I hope it can be of some use to you.
@Scholastique:
I am working on something that will solve your problem, please check back later/tomorrow.
@Gallantmon:
It is certainly possible. Please check give me a few days to get my ‘feet on the ground’. Being slashdotted unexpectedly last night has hit me with quite a very work load, so licensing is not the top of my list at the moment (although, please bare in mind that the software is currently my property and this is compliant with Google’s Chrome license as the program is only referenced, not linked).
Cool! I tried it out yesterday and it seems to work. But I wanted to tell you that the Chrome browser did not fill the topmost part of the screen (about 25 px), so I could see the wallpaper through. This was on a Win 7 7100 Eval copy.
@Mirshafie: Thanks for trying it out
.
That should only happen if dwm.exe and explorer.exe are running, which shouldn’t happen at logon. Are you running ChromeShell.exe after logging in?
Many Thanks,
Sam
[...] ChromeShell的目的是在Windows中创造出了一个类似Chome OS的环境，开发者目前推出了0.2 BETA，其系统需求为Google Chrome和Windows NT 4.0以上版本，它能轻松的在Chrome UI和默认的Windows桌面之间切换，在待机情况下启动邮件应用程序不到3秒，而冷启动下启动邮件也只需30多秒。 [...]
Minimal NT 4.0?
Chrome itself says minimal XP.
Good point.
I’ll correct it now, thanks!
Sam
Sam,
Installed as instructed, using vista.
Now , after logon, screen all black.
Just a message:
ChromeShell has stopped working.
A problem caused the program to stop working correctly. Windows will close the program and will notify you if a solution is available.
And then…..nothing……
I can logon on as guest and all is well.
Tried as guest to switch back to win shell per your readme.
No change.
Now what. . . . . .
Den E
I got an Initialization failed error(0xc0000135) when run settings.exe, I use win XP.
[...] 刚刚演示完 Chrome OS 第二天就有人放出了虚拟机镜像，有人开发出 ChromeShell 在 Windows 中创造出了一个类似Chome OS的环境，还有人将 Chromium 搬到 64 [...]
@Den E:
Don’t panic! The procedure for getting back to the windows shell is simple and is stated below the Quickstart section on this page.
If you can’t get that to work, don’t hesitate email me directly!
I’m sorry you had to deal with this bug, could you please tell me what version of AppShell your using and whether the application your settings.txt references actually exists?
Many Thanks,
Sam
[...] 刚刚演示完 Chrome OS 第二天就有人放出了虚拟机镜像，有人开发出 ChromeShell 在 Windows 中创造出了一个类似Chome OS的环境，还有人将 Chromium 搬到 64 [...]
Is there any way to enable some security programs to protect my computer or will this be an option in the future?
Getting “The application failed to initialize properly (0xc000135). Click on OK to terminate the application.” bug too.
Installed fine, but throws that error when you try to run it. Running XP as administrator.
@Anon: I’m working on a startup programs function at the moment. Stay tuned!
@Dustin: What happens when you run shell.exe from within the appshell folder please? Are you sure your settings.txt points to an executable that exists? Do you have antivirus running when this happens? (It’s possible that it might find some of the things appshell does (start and terminate executables, write to the disk etc) offensive, but this is unlikely at best)
This bug is the only one on my hitlist so I’d be greatful if you could help me track it down.
Cheers,
Sam
The “The application failed to initialize properly” message usually means you’re trying to start a .NET program when .NET is not installed. As .NET is listed in the requirements, check if it’s installed.
Application crashes if computer is not connected to the Internet during startup – for some odd reason it needs to contatact this domain, it would be nice if it could gracefully handle this “exception”.
Hi Josip,
I’m currently on holiday, but when I get back I’ll work on an exception handler, sorry it’s been left this long.
This domain is acessed in order to check for updates to the program.
Many thanks,
Sam
[...] Re: Google Chrome O/S. Just another Linux GUI? There is a shell for Windows that uses Chrome called ChromeShell [...]
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