The App Hub will be available sometime later in 2019, although educators and developers alike can show interest in the program right now.

There's no question that the App Hub is a pragmatic move for Google. The easier it is for schools to find and use Chrome OS web apps that fit their needs, the more likely they are to deploy Chromebooks. That could give it an edge against Microsoft, Apple and others vying for a piece of the educational pie. Even so, it could be genuinely helpful if it leads to smarter uses of technology in the classroom.