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Nice. Maybe with this I can convince my friends to move over to WhatsApp from Google Hangouts. The lack of desktop app support for Hangouts has been driving me

Nice. Maybe with this I can convince my friends to move over to WhatsApp from Google Hangouts. The lack of desktop app support for Hangouts has been driving me nuts.

tsycho 10y ago
You could just open hangouts.google.com in a browser window, why do you need a native app? Also, Hangouts would not need phone tethering
- Tiktaalik 10y ago
  It's incredibly frustrating to find the one tab/window you have open to hangouts when you have dozens of windows/tabs open.
Quiark 10y ago
WhatsApp has (proper) end-to-end encryption which is IMO a big win over Hangouts.
witty_username 10y ago
Why do you need desktop app support for Hangouts? You can install the extension.
- ascorbic 10y ago
  Because I can't cmd-tab to it. Because it brings every Chrome window to front if I just want to read a message. Because it floats on top of Chrome whenever it's open. Because I can't easily move it between monitors, or to a different part of the screen. It's also really rubbish at uploading files. Why can't I drag and drop? And how about search? You're Google ffs. Why do I have to go to Gmail to search Hangouts, instead of allowing search in, oh I don't know, how about in Hangouts? Some of these may have changed since I abandoned Hangouts last year for Telegram, which still has the best desktop experience.
  - lenkite 10y ago
    I don't use Hangouts, but I thought Google hangouts now has a desktop app variant that solves the problems you mentioned.
  - reitanqild 10y ago
    > Because it brings every Chrome window to front if I just want to read a message Are you using a Mac by any chance?
    - ascorbic 10y ago
      Yes, hence cmd-tab.
      - reitanqild 10y ago
        Ok, then that is the reason for the issues you see but you probably already knew. Edit: removed lots of unnecessary text : )
        ascorbic 10y ago
        It's only the reason for it inasmuch as Hangouts is implemented in a way that behaves like this on Mac. It's not as if it's an inherent property of the OS.
nitin_flanker 10y ago
Hangouts does have a Chrome app (not extension, but app). Which runs in a pop-up mode and gives a user interface similar to android. Also, it starts up with your operating system with a floating icon which stays at top of the windows if you want, and provides notifications. Your friends can use that if they want to stick to hangouts. [Hangouts Chrome App](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/google-hangouts/nckgahadagoaajjgafhacjanaoiihapd?hl=en https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/google-hangouts/nc...)
Propen 10y ago
use Hangouts as a desktop app... https://github.com/jiahaog/nativefier https://github.com/jiahaog/nativefier

Nice. Maybe with this I can convince my friends to move over to WhatsApp from Google Hangouts. The lack of desktop app support for Hangouts has been driving me nuts.

tsycho 10y ago

You could just open hangouts.google.com in a browser window, why do you need a native app? Also, Hangouts would not need phone tethering

Tiktaalik 10y ago
It's incredibly frustrating to find the one tab/window you have open to hangouts when you have dozens of windows/tabs open.

Quiark 10y ago

WhatsApp has (proper) end-to-end encryption which is IMO a big win over Hangouts.

witty_username 10y ago

Why do you need desktop app support for Hangouts? You can install the extension.

ascorbic 10y ago
Because I can't cmd-tab to it. Because it brings every Chrome window to front if I just want to read a message. Because it floats on top of Chrome whenever it's open. Because I can't easily move it between monitors, or to a different part of the screen. It's also really rubbish at uploading files. Why can't I drag and drop? And how about search? You're Google ffs. Why do I have to go to Gmail to search Hangouts, instead of allowing search in, oh I don't know, how about in Hangouts? Some of these may have changed since I abandoned Hangouts last year for Telegram, which still has the best desktop experience.
- lenkite 10y ago
  I don't use Hangouts, but I thought Google hangouts now has a desktop app variant that solves the problems you mentioned.
- reitanqild 10y ago
  > Because it brings every Chrome window to front if I just want to read a message Are you using a Mac by any chance?
  - ascorbic 10y ago
    Yes, hence cmd-tab.
    - reitanqild 10y ago
      Ok, then that is the reason for the issues you see but you probably already knew. Edit: removed lots of unnecessary text : )
      - ascorbic 10y ago
        It's only the reason for it inasmuch as Hangouts is implemented in a way that behaves like this on Mac. It's not as if it's an inherent property of the OS.

nitin_flanker 10y ago

Hangouts does have a Chrome app (not extension, but app). Which runs in a pop-up mode and gives a user interface similar to android. Also, it starts up with your operating system with a floating icon which stays at top of the windows if you want, and provides notifications. Your friends can use that if they want to stick to hangouts. [Hangouts Chrome App](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/google-hangouts/nckgahadagoaajjgafhacjanaoiihapd?hl=en https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/google-hangouts/nc...)

Propen 10y ago

use Hangouts as a desktop app... https://github.com/jiahaog/nativefier https://github.com/jiahaog/nativefier