How to use “system_indicator” in the manisfet of a Chrome Packaged App?

Question

I\'m trying to create a Chrome package App with an icon in the system menu bar as explain here : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QhhfR33Y28Yqnnoa_Sl3fnZK_mKtwt4dZe6kNyJ_

Answer 1

The hangouts app uses a "panel" type window to achieve its behaviour, see Abraham's answer on How to build an chrome extension like Google Hangouts. Essentially, when you open a window, add type="panel" parameter:

chrome.windows.create({ url: 'https://mobile.twitter.com/', type: 'panel' });

Regarding the error you mentioned, this is because you are using the Beta Chrome build, and it has realised that the feature is not available in this version, and is advising you that you need a dev channel or trunk release. Find out more about Chrome release channels here: http://www.chromium.org/getting-involved/dev-channel

Answer 2

The system_indicator was an experimental API partly introduced in the dev channel, but was later removed, as the Chrome/Chromium team deemed it too costly to maintain across all platforms. The entire history of this API is available at issue 142450.

In other words, as for now, there is no API for a system tray icon.