Chrome Web Store gets a facelift

The new clean look of Chrome Web Store. Click for larger

Google has quietly slipped a redesign of its app store for Chrome web apps. The new Chrome Web Store look (above) adopts a much cleaner layout than its predecessor (below). No longer are various store sections scattered all over the place. Instead, the redesign calls for all store features aligned vertically in the lefthand navigation pane, offering a one-click access to any category no matter what you’re currently browsing. Consistent with the broader changes in other Google properties, your account name is now in the upper right corner.

The store is a true web app: It’s zippy, has infinite scrolling and sports big screenshots to really bring items to life. Also cool is the use of overlays to open extension pages. The new look is being rolled out and it may take a while before it becomes available. If you don’t see it yet, check that you are logged in with your Google Account. The new interface works in the Chrome browser so expect and the old version will load when accessing the store with a browser other than Google’s.

Chrome Web Store expanded to 24 new countries last month and sixteen new markets a month earlier. The ten-month-old project is now available in 55 countries around the world and it hosts web apps which accept in-app payments with a flat five percent fee.

The old Chrome Web Store look.