Gmail Notifier being dropped

Just got an email, notified by notifier LOL, that Gmail is to drop the use of the Desktop notifier and I should install chrome. I should coco. Any workarounds for getting a desktop notification of gmail mail in the inbox without installing chrome. I have enough browsers. Is it possible to add my gmail account to Windows 8 mail (app) so I get desktop notifications that way?

Yeah, the mail app has a built-in profile for Gmail.

Sorry I can't resist but..... Disgraceful behaviour from google again, trying to get people to switch to its products by using sheer underhand tactics!

You can add googlemail to something like thunderbird or the full MS Outlook using IMAP i think?

Doesnt seem to notify me on the desktop have added gmail to the app, others do.

Added Gmail to windows live mail, what a pain.

Ah, just come here to post about that very thing. Neither of Gmail's two nominated alternatives appear to replace the exact same lost functionality. The Gmail checker Chrome app looks as if it only tells you how many unread e-mails you have. That's not exactly what I want to know: I want to be alerted when a new one comes AND get a sneak preview of the title and who it's from - so I can see if it's something exciting or important I want to read right away, or just promotional blurb. Like the notifier does now, in other words.

Gmail Desktop Notifications sounds as if it might be more like it, but then I see it only works if you have Gmail already open in your browser. If I have it open in my browser anyway, then I don't need alerts about it. The whole point of Notifier is you needn't have a Gmail session open for it to work. It discreetly monitors it, when you aren't.

Really fed up.

T.

You could try something like Poptray.

Still working today (2nd Feb). I thought the plug was being pulled on 31st Jan?

I know I shouldn't get my hopes up it's had a reprieve. Probably just means they're phasing the switch-off.

Have you found a replacement you're happy with?

T.

I added Gmail to my Windows Mail and Win 8 mail app, not ideal but better than nothing.

Hmmm. Not a solution for me, as I don't use either of those, and no intention of starting, just to get my Gmail notifications.

Will have to look for a freeware replacement. When I Googled, there seemed to be a few candidates. Just curious whether you - or anyone - found one you tried and liked.

Of course, the ones most similar to Notifier may also stop working, because presumably they use whatever functionality Google is about to switch off.

T.