Google is choosing web apps over Android apps on Googlebook, and not everyone is happy

Google is shifting its focus towards web apps over Android apps on Googlebook, a move not everyone is pleased about. Major services such as Gmail, Docs, Calendar, Sheets, and YouTube are now accessible as web-based experiences through Chrome, instead of being native Android apps. Google's rationale behind this decision is the belief that the desktop web versions of these apps provide a superior laptop experience.

However, this change becomes more evident on touchscreen and convertible Googlebooks, where native Android apps offer a more seamless tablet mode experience.

One of Googlebook's main attractions is the ability to transform Android into a desktop operating system, leveraging the extensive Play Store library. Google has heavily promoted this Android-first approach, even labeling which Android apps are optimal for desktop use. Yet, early adopters are encountering a peculiar exception to this Android-first narrative: several of Google's most prominent services are not operating as native Android apps.

This has been confirmed through hands-on experience. Gmail, Docs, Calendar, and Sheets are all running as web apps within Chrome on Googlebooks. YouTube, too, utilizes a web-based interface rather than the regular Android app.

Interestingly, Google Keep stands out as a native Android app on the tested machine, deviating from the prevailing trend. This shift in strategy raises questions about Google's priorities and the potential implications for users, especially those relying on these essential services.