I'd just like to say that the Beatles haven't been bigger than Jesus since 2004, when Google started recording search results...
http://www.google.com/trends/explore#q=%2Fm%2F07c0j%2C%20Jesus&cmpt=q

Also, that they weren't bigger than Jesus, in text, at any time:
https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=the+Beatles%2CJesus&year_start=1800&year_end=2000&corpus=15&smoothing=3&share=&direct_url=t1%3B%2Cthe%20Beatles%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2CJesus%3B%2Cc0

Jesus is still bigger than bitcoin... for now...
http://www.google.com/trends/explore#q=bitcoin%2C%20jesus&cmpt=q

It mostly works the way that you have represented. The majority of your post in on the back-end propagation of updates, which works well, and obviously doesn't work when offline. Generally apps work offline by default (like a saved webpage), unless your app needs to reach to an online site.

Chrome apps are submitted in a manifest along with all of their files to Google, which charges a fee to be a developer ($5), establishes a limit on the number of apps, and has automated checks to make sure that security precautions are applied.

I am a Chrome app developer (a bad one, but whatever), and all of the apps I've made work offline.

This isn't true at all... I made a "Mirror" app yesterday (https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/mirror-tds/fapfdhoailemkonegpjdhngmjfpmdjdj) on my Chromebook which works just as well as a "flipped webcam image" offline as it does online.

My other app to graph relationships between objects (https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/tensity-grapher/keomiemppflejbjkafeaepbdhigggifd) also works offline.

As does Google Docs (Offline), as the calculator, as does a timer, and my calendar, and many of the apps I have installed (I'm frequently offline).

I don't have a GSM subscription (I use wifi), Google Chrome doesn't sell such a subscription (try it with your own laptop, with whatever wifi/service you have), and many apps work without internet connection.

Whelp, we might as well never have common standards than!

You hit the nail on the head. Numerous but relatively minor details in a large program rollout are to be expected. The benefit of establishing standards outweighs the difficulties of establishment.

I am a scientist who dabbles in data mining problems. I use Python with a healthy dose of C++ and the occasional Java. These are probably the three most common languages among the community. I see people using R and Matlab relatively frequently. A bunch of people in this topic have suggested Fortran, but I've never seen anyone use it seriously.

I haven't run into anyone who who doesn't use a minimum of two programming languages (Python/C++, Matlab/Java, etc.).

Note that Kaggle.com (the data mining competition site) frequently posts their example solutions in Python. Failure to understand the Python solution starts you out at a healthy disadvantage.

If only there were some sort of public sector approach to the same initiative. Wherever would you find it?

https://gifttutoring.org/ [gifttutoring.org]
http://www.adlnet.org/ [adlnet.org]
http://learningregistry.org/ [learningregistry.org]
http://www.darpa.mil/Our_Work/DSO/Programs/Education_Dominance.aspx [darpa.mil]
http://www.tutor.com/military/eligibility [tutor.com]
http://www.learnlab.org/ [learnlab.org]

And if only some research laboratories were working on the problem... Like Arizona State University, Carnegie Mellon University, Columbia Teacher's College, the University of Memphis, the University of Central Florida, and others...

If only there were some sort of public sector approach to the same initiative. Wherever would you find it?

https://gifttutoring.org/
http://www.adlnet.org/
http://learningregistry.org/
http://www.darpa.mil/Our_Work/DSO/Programs/Education_Dominance.aspx
http://www.tutor.com/military/eligibility
http://www.learnlab.org/

And if only some research laboratories were working on the problem... Like Arizona State University, Carnegie Mellon University, Columbia Teacher's College, the University of Memphis, the University of Central Florida, and others...

My favorite subjects are Lunch, Nap, "Free Play"/Gym, and Sex Ed., which I believe are in line with all of humanities favorite activities.

(Bonus points for a Pip & Flinx reference to the Ulru-Ujurrians, the advanced race who simply wants to "eat, sleep, mate, and play games".)

I use the Start key all of the time. Seriously. I use it in the following manner, essentially as a keyboard shortcut and linux holdover:

*Start* (type some keys) (enter) to launch a program.
Frequent uses include "cal" for Calculator, "not" for notepad, "wor" for Word, and "add or remove" for the Program Manager

*Start* (# key) to bring up window #.
One uses include Start+1 (Currently set to the Google App Launcher) (then used as the first example)
Another is Start+2, which is always my E-mail application (across multiple computers)

*Start*+R to bring up the "Run" dialog
Frequent uses from the Run dialog are "dxdiag", "cmd", and "regedit"

*Start*+D to "Show Desktop"
Admittedly used less now with the prevalence of two monitors

*Start*+E to bring up Explorer
Used ALL THE TIME

*Start*+CTRL+TAB to bring up a listing of all windows
Admittedly, this is mapped to a StrokeIt Gesture shortcut (but the point stands)

*Start*+DirectionalArrow (Up/Down/Left/Right)
Used to move, maximize, and restore a window. Try it, Start+Left will put a window at half of your left screen. SUPER USEFUL. USED ALL THE TIME. EXTRA POINTS ON A BIG MONITOR. This is the fastest way to move windows to a second monitor.

I probably do 90% of these every day. I use the Start key as much as CTRL and ALT.

I use the Start key all of the time. Seriously. I use it in the following manner, essentially as a keyboard shortcut and linux holdover:

*Start* (type some keys) (enter) to launch a program.
Frequent uses include "cal" for Calculator, "not" for notepad, "wor" for Word, and "add or remove" for the Program Manager

*Start* (# key) to bring up window #.
One uses include Start+1 (Currently set to the Google App Launcher) (then used as the first example)
Another is Start+2, which is always my E-mail application (across multiple computers)

*Start*+R to bring up the "Run" dialog
Frequent uses from the Run dialog are "dxdiag", "cmd", and "regedit"

*Start*+D to "Show Desktop"
Admittedly used less now with the prevalence of two monitors

*Start*+E to bring up Explorer
Used ALL THE TIME

*Start*+CTRL+TAB to bring up a listing of all windows
Admittedly, this is mapped to a StrokeIt Gesture shortcut (but the point stands)

*Start*+DirectionalArrow (Up/Down/Left/Right)
Used to move, maximize, and restore a window. Try it, Start+Left will put a window at half of your left screen. SUPER USEFUL. USED ALL THE TIME. EXTRA POINTS ON A BIG MONITOR. This is the fastest way to move windows to a second monitor.

I probably do 90% of these every day. I use the Start key as much as CTRL and ALT.

Research Development Evaluation and Test part of the Department of Defense portion of the president's budget. The budget is available at http://www.darpa.mil/newsevents/budget.aspx.

For those in the acronym game: President's DoD RDT&E funding, cross-service.

I took the AP CS course in 2003 in C++, and again in 2004 in Java. "Slack off in the computer lab and learn a new programming language", count me in! Later, this proved to be a wise choice.

Like releasing the same document twice, with different redactions? http://www.aljazeera.com/humanrights/2013/08/2013851618340986.html
Or information on an Iraqi shooting? http://gcn.com/articles/2005/05/13/pdf-user-slipup-gives-dod-lesson-in-protecting-classified-information.aspx
Or when the TSA published their 'classified' handbook? http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2009/12/tsa-leak/
Or when the UK revealed their nuclear submarine secrets? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13107413