Google Hangouts only works on Chrome

#1

Post by jmathai » Tue, Jul 08, 2014, 5:57 PM UTC

Google Hangouts only works on Chrome
i.imgur.com

Re: Google Hangouts only works on Chrome

#2

Post by tiles » Tue, Jul 08, 2014, 6:19 PM UTC

This misleadingly comes after you click the Get Hangouts -> Computers option on http://www.google.com/hangouts/.

Google+ Photo Editing has also gone Chrome-only: https://www.evernote.com/shard/s2/sh/776b19e1-487f-4dbb-9962...

Regardless if this is for a local installation using Chrome Desktop APIs, the phrasing "Hangouts won't work in your current browser" seems intentionally misleading.

Re: Google Hangouts only works on Chrome

#3

Post by cconger » Tue, Jul 08, 2014, 6:19 PM UTC

So what you're attempting to install here is a chrome app[1]. It uses the Chrome Extension/App APIs to create "desktop app" experience. Hangouts as a part of gmail/google+ I believe is supported on Google supported browsers[2].

[1]: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/hangouts/nckgahada... [2]: https://support.google.com/a/answer/33864?hl=en

Re: Google Hangouts only works on Chrome

#4

Post by jmathai » Tue, Jul 08, 2014, 6:25 PM UTC

cconger wrote: post #3

So what you're attempting to install here is a chrome app[1]. It uses the Chrome Extension/App APIs to create "desktop app" experience. Hangouts as a part of gmail/google+ I believe is supported on Google supported browsers[2]. [1]: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/hangouts/nckgahada... [2]: https://support.google.com/a/answer/33864?hl=en

Thanks for the clarification. The messaging is terribly misleading. I'm not claiming they are doing it on purpose but they aren't expending much effort to make it clear that you're installing a Chrome app that can't be installed on Firefox/Safari when they say "Hangouts won't work in your current browser".

Re: Google Hangouts only works on Chrome

#5

Post by jmathai » Tue, Jul 08, 2014, 6:28 PM UTC

tiles wrote: post #2

This misleadingly comes after you click the Get Hangouts -> Computers option on http://www.google.com/hangouts/ . Google+ Photo Editing has also gone Chrome-only: https://www.evernote.com/shard/s2/sh/776b19e1-487f-4dbb-9962... Regardless if this is for a local installation using Chrome Desktop APIs, the phrasing "Hangouts won't work in your current browser" seems intentionally misleading.

> Regardless if this is for a local installation using Chrome Desktop APIs, the phrasing "Hangouts won't work in your current browser" seems intentionally misleading.

Not providing a link for "browser" along side Android, iOS and Computer is terrible. Intentional or not I expect better from Google.

Re: Google Hangouts only works on Chrome

#6

Post by jmathai » Tue, Jul 08, 2014, 6:41 PM UTC

Update on Twitter[1] from Googler.

> The "Only Chrome" thing in google.com/hangouts/ is not correct and an error/confusing UI. Will be fixed. CC @andreasgal @angelinamagnum

I'll leave it up to the reader to believe it or not :).

[1] https://twitter.com/cramforce/status/486572034458021888