Chrome Remote Desktop On The Web Pushes Desktop App Out

There will always come a time when you wished you could access a computer without actually touching it. And, no, we're not talking about Minority Report. Remote computer access has always been tricky business, requiring some third-party apps, complicated setups, and new account sign-ups. Google's Chrome Remote Desktop has tried to simplify that process and is now making it even simpler by removing the need for any program other than your trusty Chrome browser.

The Chrome Remote Desktop name is nothing new and goes a few years back. Despite the name, it has been available on computers via Chrome and on both Android and iOS. With the latest iteration of the feature, however, Google is really putting the emphasis on the "Chrome" part of the name.

Chrome Remote Desktop on the Web was launched in December 2017 and took advantage of the fact that almost everyone uses a browser and most of that set usually use Chrome. All that either side of the remote connection needs to do is go to the service's web page and follow the step by step instructions.

Admittedly, those instructions include installing a Chrome browser extension, which all the more ties it to Chrome. Google announced back then that it will be retiring the desktop app version of Chrome Remote Desktop but not it has given a hard date. The extension will no longer be supported after June 30, 2019. Whether it continues working, we'll find out soon.

Other than that, the process for setting it up is exactly the same. Those who want their computer to be controlled remotely will have to generate and send a unique PIN to authorize the connection. Google promises that it leverages the latest web technologies, which hints that it should be faster and more robust than before.