Amazon AppStream Now Supports Chrome Browser and Chromebooks

As you might know from reading my earlier posts (Amazon AppStream – Deliver Streaming Applications from the Cloud and Amazon AppStream – Now Available to All Developers), Amazon AppStream gives you the power to build complex applications that run from simple devices, unconstrained by the compute power, storage, or graphical rendering capabilities of the device. As an example of what AppStream can do, read about the Eve Online Character Creator (pictured at right).

Today we are extending AppStream with support for desktop Chrome browsers (Windows and Mac OS X) and Chromebooks. Developers of CAD, 3D modeling, medical imaging, and other types of applications can now build compelling, graphically-intense applications that run on an even wider variety of desktops (Linux, Mac OS X, and Microsoft Windows) and mobile devices ( Fire OS, Chromebooks, Android, and iOS). Even better, AppStream’s cloud-based application hosting model obviates the need for large downloads, complex installation processes and sophisticated graphical hardware on the client side. Developers can take advantage of GPU-powered rendering in the cloud and use other AWS services to host their application’s backend in a cost-effective yet fully scalable fashion.

Getting Started With Appstream
The AppStream Chrome SDK (available via the AppStream Downloads page) contains the documentation and tools that you need to have in order to build AppStream-compatible applications. It also includes the AppStream Chrome Application. You can use it as-is to view and interact with AppStream streaming applications, or you can customize it (using HTML, JavaScript, and CSS) with custom launch parameters.

The AppStream Chrome Application runs on Chrome OS version 37 and higher, on Chrome desktop browsers for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux, and on Chromebooks. Chrome mobile and other HTML 5 web browsers are not currently supported. The application is available in the Chrome Web Store (visit Appstream Chrome App) and can be launched via chrome://apps.

The AppStream SDK is available at no charge. As detailed in the AppStream Pricing page, you also have access to up to 20 hours of streaming per month for 12 months as part of the AWS Free Tier. You will also have to register for a Chrome Developer Account at a cost of $5 (paid to Google, not to AWS).

— Jeff;