update: novak has pointed out the easier "standard without chat" link at the bottom of your GMail inbox that will completely disable the chat functionality (including annoying popups).
GMail Chat has finally migrated to all of my GMail accounts. I don't really plan on using the chat functionality, so mostly I'm annoyed as the update also includes a popup window that appears anytime you hover over someone's name. It seems really, really, silly to me to see an "Invite to Chat" button when I hover over an Amazon purchase confirmation.
If you're as annoyed as I am and you have Firefox+Greasemonkey installed, Garett Rogers has written a Greasemonkey script that banishes the popup to the netherworld.
Warning: it eliminates all popup windows, including the one for the Quick Contacts pane. The popup window in the contacts pane is the only way I know managing your Quick Contacts, so if you still need to use the chat functionality you may wish to do without.
Comments (8)
I'm someone who randomly waves the mouse all over the screen as I browse and the things popping up in my gmail are killing me. If google doesn't change that pop-up to only happen upon click, I'm gonna have to reinstall greasemonkey.
Posted by glynn | February 15, 2006 6:50 PM
Posted on February 15, 2006 18:50
I haven't tried this out, but at the bottom of the gmail screen, you can choose to view gmail without chat. I simply enabled that for my gmail, and no matter where I log in, chat is gone.
AND GOOD RIDDANCE!
What an obnoxious interface ...
Posted by Jon | February 15, 2006 7:50 PM
Posted on February 15, 2006 19:50
ahhh, relief without evening having to update all of my computers. thanks.
Posted by kwc
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February 15, 2006 7:52 PM
Posted on February 15, 2006 19:52
They seem to have toned this down. (On my Windows work machine on Firefox) The popups only show up when hovering over "quick contacts" in the chat box, not everywhere.
Posted by David Ely
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February 27, 2006 1:54 PM
Posted on February 27, 2006 13:54
That's good. I've heard person after person complain about this behavior. Now if I could just figure out why GMail keeps crashing my Firefox.
Posted by kwc | February 27, 2006 2:00 PM
Posted on February 27, 2006 14:00
Are these comments getting to Google? For such an outstanding company, how can Google be so juvenile with this damn chat popup? One would think that the minds that created the many genius functionalities of Google would be mature enough to realize that many users are about more than "chatting". To have that cursed popup block my view so frequently is enough to drive me away from gmail. Such a function should be an elected option, not the default. Please pass this on to Google.
Posted by Dr. Elizabeth Vaughan | February 12, 2010 3:41 AM
Posted on February 12, 2010 03:41
Hey check it out... you don't have to install a script to wipe it out... Here is a link to directions on how to disable the email notification that pops up simply by un-checking a check box in the google chat or talk settings http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/gmail/thread?tid=6a389881682d5d50&hl=en&fid=6a389881682d5d50000491fa6763ba9f
Hope that helps you!
Posted by Nick the bear costume guy | October 6, 2010 3:40 PM
Posted on October 6, 2010 15:40
I've found if you disable the "People Widget" in your settings, the hovering pop-ups go away... but so do the cute little faces. If you can live without a visual reminder of what the Amazon.com logo looks like, this is a simple way to clean up the interface.
Best,
JP
Posted by JP | November 2, 2011 9:03 AM
Posted on November 2, 2011 09:03