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Google Will Kill Its Chrome App Launcher For Windows, Mac, and Linux In July
An anonymous reader writes: Google today announced plans to kill off the Chrome app launcher for Windows, Mac, and Linux in July. The tool, which lets users launch Chrome apps even if the browser is not running, will continue to live on in Chrome OS. So why is Google removing the Chrome app launcher from Chrome? Well, it turns out Google has finally figured out what everyone all already knew: "we've found that users on Windows, Mac, and Linux prefer to launch their apps from within Chrome."
Sure, ever heard of Hangouts?
...when I say "Wait; you're killing what?"
unfortunately.
Why, exactly, do developers decide the native OS methods for finding and starting apps are insufficient and must be replaced with some ill-conceived launcher app? Google is far from the only offender here.
How can I believe you when you tell me what I don't want to hear?
... So is there another way to start it without the full Chrome browser UI?
Sorry, I must be one of the few that actually use this to even load chrome because it allows easy user switching right in the top right without loading a window first. Its like a perfect launcher with full keyboard usability.. just type what you want and bam you launch it. You don't have to litter your windows/gnome/etc interface with all of your Chrome "app" launchers. Added benefit is if you put it in the task tray and hit windows key+X it pops up and away you go. Not sure how people would be _happy_ yet another feature is removed this day and age. It seems like something that could easily stay in existence without much/if any work done on it. This is a step backwards seriously.
THIS is what "begging the question" means, by the way.
(I am, of course, referring to the SowhyisGoogleremovingtheChromeapplauncherfromChrome?Well,itturnsoutGooglehasfinallyfiguredoutwhateveryoneallalreadyknew:)
As opposed to what? Explorer/Edge? Safari?
I didn't even know taht the app launcher was a thing but I'll take a browser that I can install ad and script blocking on over one that I can not.
"Oh my God. This is terrible. This is the end of my Presidency. I'm fucked."; ~ Donald J. Trump
Just use Lynx and you won't have to worry about the blocking.
Apparently, you never use Chrome Postman plugin...
I use it daily, and I prefer to have it separate from Chrome:
http://www.getpostman.com/docs/
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/postman/fhbjgbiflinjbdggehcddcbncdddomop?hl=en
You're thinking of Google+, Hangouts is their chat interface. Hangouts is more like Skype, but without the bullshit. Quite nice, actually, if they would stop with all the broken ass fucking beta bullshit in it. REMINDS ME OF /.
Nope, it was Google's abominable attempt to ditch Gtalk, a relatively decent Jabber client which significantly pre-dated Facebook messanger. In fact, Facebook was all of 2 years old when gtalk was released... so... Get your facts straight troll?
Bye!
Safari has ad and script blockers. Welcome to years and years ago?
People want you to bring back GTalk. And quit bundling your stuff so closely with Chrome. And then fire your Market research group...they appear to be drawn from the same people who thought Windows Vista was a winner.
This, I loathe Chrome as a browser, but cannot use Google talk anymore so I have Chrome installed exclusively for a launcher for Hangouts.
I would never consider using it as a web browser.
Linux users do NOT want to launch everything from a browser.
Ditch the stand alone launcher and the need for the browser.
I want standalone programs for hangouts and chromecasting and that is all.
I already don't like the overhead of chrome and it's crappy interface and I'm getting
fed-up with the crashes and arbitrary chrome and hangout resets when I do leave them running.
Make good programs, not crappy do everything browsers.
I actually like it, we use hangouts in our office and it's nice to run it outside of chrome.
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So all these google apps are really just contained in chrome.exe and they don't even try to always use OS native window API. As end result, you get all kinds of visual artifacts with these crapps.
Everyone all, I presume, means even more than everyone. Something like the population of the world squared?
At the bottom of the
I use the launcher all the time, and so it will be missed :(
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Why bother with it? They will just turn it off or change it once it is good.
"The main reason for its removal is the fact that Google's metrics show little to no usage for the Chrome app launcher."
There you have it, telemetry. Where are the angry crowds with torches and pitchforks?
Google Chat was fine but they had to screw it up again
I don't really care for Chrome apps, i'd love to have a fucking desktop hangouts app, how long has it been?
>The downside with it was that it wasn't obvious how to install it
Really? The RPM always auto-installed it for me. The biggest problem I saw was users would look for Chrome under 'Chrome Apps' and it's under 'Internet' in the standard FreeDesktop grouping.
Google should really be working on a way to handle this transparently so Hangouts, e.g., can stand alone under 'Internet'.
My God, it's Full of Source!
OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
What's wrong with Hangouts? It's like Facebook Messenger, only far more advanced and way better for group chats.
Yeap, without the bullshit, but using all the weird new Google UX. I.e., you'll face a hard time trying to start a new hangout, to invite someone, even to go offline.
The only way I've found to get to the real apps list from within the browser is chrome://apps ... is there even a link to that from a menu?
There are a few useful Chrome apps. Google Remote Desktop is actually pretty good, although the server component is a bit annoying. And it is an exception, in that it actually makes a good desktop app.
But most of them are only really useful in the browser, so there is no need for a launcher. Gmail Offline, Web Store, Everycircuit - they are all browser based, so of course users prefer to start them from the browser.
It is strange that it took Google years to realise such a simple fact.