Application Launcher for Drive

Enhance Your Cloud-Based Workflow with Application Launcher for Drive

Overview of Application Launcher for Drive

The Application Launcher for Drive is a user-centric browser extension designed for those who leverage Google Drive for their cloud storage needs but prefer utilizing their native desktop applications over Google's suite of online tools. This extension, directly hailing from Google's development team, brings convenience by breaking the mold of default file openings and streamlining your file management system.

Connecting Google Drive with Desktop Applications

The application establishes a seamless link between Google Drive and the native software installed on your computer, thereby allowing any file from Drive to be opened with a program of your choice. This can significantly improve productivity by cutting down on the back-and-forth conversions and formatting adjustments often encountered when toggling between online and desktop apps.

To facilitate this integration, users must first ensure that the Google Drive software for PC is installed and properly synced with their cloud files. This not only creates a bidirectional sync but also allows for the inclusion of Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides for added flexibility.

Installation and Usability Concerns

Once the prerequisite software is installed and your Google Drive contents are synced, adding the Application Launcher for Drive should be your next step. Refreshing your Google Drive page in your browser should then unveil the new, direct approach to file management. However, here lies a caveat: unpredictable operability. Users have encountered instances where the extension does not function as intended, displaying a deactivated icon and redirecting to the download page rather than offering the new launching options for files.

Additionally, because of the way files are managed within the extension, some users find it actually easier to manually download and utilize files directly from File Explorer, bypassing the need for the extension altogether.

Alternative Tools and Final Assessment

For those looking to wield greater control and flexibility over their saved content, it's suggested to explore tools like the 'Save to Google Drive' extension, which despite its own limitations, allows for simplistic saving of various content types directly to your Drive.

Yet, the mission of Application Launcher for Drive remains clear: to provide a more comfortable and integrated experience with cloud storage files. However, when the extension stumbles in reliability, the frustration can outweigh its benefits. Users may find that resorting to traditional methods of file management or seeking other more dependable solutions might be the more efficient route.

Pros

• Seamless integration of Google Drive and desktop applications
• Frees users from Google's suite constraints
• Facilitates direct file opening with preferred software

Cons

• Issues with reliability and performance
• Extension sometimes fails to show new options for opening files
• Could be less convenient than manually managing files for some users

In conclusion, the Application Launcher for Drive ventures to be a handy tool for those deeply rooted in a desktop-centric workflow. Nonetheless, its inconsistencies can make it less appealing, thus urging users to evaluate their specific needs and possibly consider alternative solutions.