Google just stop

[owlmoose]

I would like to have something coherent to say about Google shutting down Google Talk and forcing the functionality into Google Hangouts, but right now all I've got is "Google argh bargle WHY??? [insert profanity here]"

News article about the change, more positive than I'm feeling, but at least it acknowledges my main concern: will Google stop supporting the ability to log in via a client? Because if I can't access Google's chatting function through a client (I use Adium for the most part), it becomes useless to me.

Anyone still on AIM? Any thoughts on Skype as a text-only chat service?

I still need to decide what I'm using instead of Reader, too. Goddammit Google, why are you dismantling my online life? To paraphrase a quote regarding Google's decision to take sharing out of Reader (which happened only a few months before they announced that Reader would be sunset), you aren't going to get me to use Google+ by taking away bits and pieces of the services I use. That's not how this is going down.

Comments

[wallwalker]

Ugh, Google. I don't remember exactly what happened, but they managed to sign me up for Google+ by sneaking some sort of functionality into YouTube. I remember cancelling my account and being asked, "Why are you cancelling your account?" My answer was something to the tune of, "I didn't know that I was signing up for one in the first place!"

Anyway, I've had decent luck with Skype as a text-only chat, although I haven't signed in lately.

[owlmoose]

You know how they got me? Some bug in the system blocked me, via Google+, from a friend I chat with every day, who also did not have a G+ account. The only way to get me unblocked was for both of us to sign up for accounts so they could unblock me. It was completely and utterly ridiculous. I've kept the account, just in case something goes wrong again, but maybe if we find another chat medium I can shut it down.

[ossobuco]

I still use AIM, and also Skype, though I find the latter to be a bit clunky and generally with fewer text options (less formatting, less control over how logs are saved, etc).

I think I have a G+ account from ages back when a couple friends left facebook, but... only those few ever use it, so I may just delete it out of apathy-annoyance.

[owlmoose]

I don't really care much about the text formatting as long as I can read it, and I've never saved chat logs, so none of those things are issues for me.

I have a G+ account under my real name, but not really for my fandom account (just the one I was basically forced to create, as described above). As soon as I can get away with deleting it, I probably will.

[ryry]

I use Skype and AIM both still. Skype is pretty useful as a text chat client if you don't mind not having a lot of bells and whistles in your text appearance.

[owlmoose]

I still use AIM, too. Through a client, it works perfectly fine. I wonder if we can lure people back? ;)

[wordweaverlynn]

Yeah, I use AIM and YIM via Adium. But dammit, I also use Google Talk. WTF is wrong with those people?

[owlmoose]

I don't know, and I am increasingly less inclined to care. :\ Google you used to be such a great company, what happened to you?

[phdfan]

I use Skype predominantly as a text-based chat client :)

[owlmoose]

I think I will probably have to try it out. From anecdotal evidence, it seems to be what most of my Tumblr friends use. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like I can log in through Adium -- can one Skype with clients, or do you have to use their software?

[alias_sqbr]

One thing I like about Skype is that if you're in a multi person chat, then leave and close the program, then come back, you can see what was said in your absence. But yes I use both. Though there are lots of people I chat to regularly who are only on google chat, and I really like not having to open another program to have it running in the background, so I am still grumpy. Google! *shakes fist*

[owlmoose]

That sounds cool, although I participate in group chats very rarely -- 99% of my chatting is one-on-one.

Google has given me many reasons to be grumpy lately. *grump face*

[sarasa_cat]

Oh google... Why???

I have many first hand experiences with google. They are very out of touch, but that is a story for later. Off to movie number ??? (some high unknown number) in two minutes.

[owlmoose]

I know a number of people who work or have worked for Google, and I suspect they would agree with you. I look forward to your perspective, when you have time to give it. :)

[zen_monk]

I use Skype and aim, but mostly Skype, and through it I've consistently kept an internet friendship for almost a year (looks into the distance nostalgically). Everyday, too. Until I started finals week. and my academic malaise two weeks prior... (sobs distressfully). I use it mostly for text chatting.

I have usually avoided google products like GChat and G+ since they started out and had for a long time just used firefox and stuff.

(if anyone's interested.... my Skype id is zen.fallon.leung)

[owlmoose]

I have never even downloaded Chrome (I use Safari as my primary browser, Firefox as secondary), largely because I didn't want Google to get its claws into yet another aspect of my online life. I feel better about that decision all the time.

[lassarina]

I use AIM still! And I have skype though I do need to make a fandom-name one.

[jerkface]

Why do they keep changing the internet? Season 1 was the best, bring back Classic Internet, I don't like the New Internet with its Tumbloo! and GoogleMATH and constant attempts to link everything to Facebook blah blah etc. /hipster rant

jk.

In all seriousness, while I generally do like Google, I sometimes have to stop and ask myself "WTF? What are they doing?." Stop, Google. Stahp!

[bitchet]

I'm still pissed about Google Reader. Google needs to be a bit more organized about its world domination attempts.