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Google Will Kill Its Chrome App Launcher For Windows, Mac, and Linux In July

Posted by timothy on from the wheat-from-chaff dept.

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."

5 of 77 comments (clear)

  1. I think I can speak for most people... by BaronM · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ...when I say "Wait; you're killing what?"

  2. Backwards by jwymanm · · Score: 5, Informative

    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.

  3. Re:really? by darkain · · Score: 4, Informative

    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 /.

  4. No by DivineKnight · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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.

  5. Hell No! by ipb · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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.