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Google Hangouts adds remote desktop support

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Re: Google Hangouts adds remote desktop support

#12
post #7

Am I the only one who prefers regular gchat to google hangouts? It's super difficult to figure out who on my contact list is online or not. I also mistake old msgs as new ones because of the lack of time-stamps. Maybe I'm missing a check-box or something that could fix all this but I gave up and switched back to gchat almost immediately.

There is a green bar below the user's picture when they're online.

Re: Google Hangouts adds remote desktop support

#13
post #7

Am I the only one who prefers regular gchat to google hangouts? It's super difficult to figure out who on my contact list is online or not. I also mistake old msgs as new ones because of the lack of time-stamps. Maybe I'm missing a check-box or something that could fix all this but I gave up and switched back to gchat almost immediately.

There is a green bar below the user's picture when they're online.

Only in the web interface, that feature is entirely missing from the Hangouts app that replaced the Google Talk app on Android.

Re: Google Hangouts adds remote desktop support

#14
post #5

Can anyone comment on how a browser plugin gets access to the desktop? (even if hangouts doesn't do it, there's a remote desktop plugin) I'm a curmudgeon, but it seems like it's like designing a washing machine attachment that serves as a home security system and pasta maker. Are there OS or X11 permissions that can restrict userland apps from deviating far from their original use case?

The browser is a native app and can use native apis to access screensharing desktop apis. It can then proxy these via some browser plugin api making those available to browser plugins.

Re: Google Hangouts adds remote desktop support

#15
post #5

Can anyone comment on how a browser plugin gets access to the desktop? (even if hangouts doesn't do it, there's a remote desktop plugin) I'm a curmudgeon, but it seems like it's like designing a washing machine attachment that serves as a home security system and pasta maker. Are there OS or X11 permissions that can restrict userland apps from deviating far from their original use case?

Actually there is a pointer lock api that allows apps to control user's mouse. And it can be added as a permission in chrome manifest. They only need the screen and mouse control. Which essentially means control entire machine.

Edit: never mind, I was thinking of chrome app, not the local plugin that we install for voice and video.

Re: Google Hangouts adds remote desktop support

#16
post #7

Am I the only one who prefers regular gchat to google hangouts? It's super difficult to figure out who on my contact list is online or not. I also mistake old msgs as new ones because of the lack of time-stamps. Maybe I'm missing a check-box or something that could fix all this but I gave up and switched back to gchat almost immediately.

I see timestamps under messages in both the web and Android client.

I definitely prefer the look of Hangouts. I don't see much difference between it and GTalk utility-wise.

Re: Google Hangouts adds remote desktop support

#17
post #5

Can anyone comment on how a browser plugin gets access to the desktop? (even if hangouts doesn't do it, there's a remote desktop plugin) I'm a curmudgeon, but it seems like it's like designing a washing machine attachment that serves as a home security system and pasta maker. Are there OS or X11 permissions that can restrict userland apps from deviating far from their original use case?

Not X11, any app can see or manipulate any other apps screen buffer. It is one reason Wayland is nice.

If your system has MAC you can restrict its file access, but in general you have library support for this stuff built in.

It is also why in most cases it is a PITA to stream 3d rendered screens. Opengl / directX don't provide easy ways like X11 to look at a completed framebuffer and store / broadcast it.

Re: Google Hangouts adds remote desktop support

#18
post #7

Am I the only one who prefers regular gchat to google hangouts? It's super difficult to figure out who on my contact list is online or not. I also mistake old msgs as new ones because of the lack of time-stamps. Maybe I'm missing a check-box or something that could fix all this but I gave up and switched back to gchat almost immediately.

The worst thing about the new Google Hangouts is that it doesn't expose the phone numbers associated with some of the Google Contacts. So in order to make a phone call, I'd have to recall the number and type it in the search bar. Typing the name in the search bar won't reveal that person's phone number either. This is more intuitively done in the old Google Chat which has a phone button which reveals the numbers. So sometimes I can call and sometimes I can chat with the same person. And searching the name reveals number(s) as well.

Re: Google Hangouts adds remote desktop support

#19
post #14
post #5

Can anyone comment on how a browser plugin gets access to the desktop? (even if hangouts doesn't do it, there's a remote desktop plugin) I'm a curmudgeon, but it seems like it's like designing a washing machine attachment that serves as a home security system and pasta maker. Are there OS or X11 permissions that can restrict userland apps from deviating far from their original use case?

The browser is a native app and can use native apis to access screensharing desktop apis. It can then proxy these via some browser plugin api making those available to browser plugins.

[deleted]

Re: Google Hangouts adds remote desktop support

#20
post #7

Am I the only one who prefers regular gchat to google hangouts? It's super difficult to figure out who on my contact list is online or not. I also mistake old msgs as new ones because of the lack of time-stamps. Maybe I'm missing a check-box or something that could fix all this but I gave up and switched back to gchat almost immediately.

There is a green bar below the user's picture when they're online.

Just switched back to check this out. I see the green bar under only one of my friends but the rest that are online or away don't have this. Do they also have to have hangouts enabled for me to see that?

Also, I understand that they are trying to make things minimal and look cool but it's not something that's very intuitive or noticeable. I thought it might have meant that I have a chat window open with that person.

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