Friday, February 18, 2005

Google Tool Bar BETA



When O when will google stop with the inventions, google seems to be on roll these last few months with one new site after another when will it stop?

What's new
SpellCheck
Check your spelling whenever you type in web forms
WordTranslator
Translate English words into other languages
AutoLink (US only)
Turn street addresses into links to online maps

More features
Search with Google from any web page
Block annoying pop-ups
Automatically fill out forms for faster online shopping

But wait there is more at 1st glance this may seem like a good idea but if Microsoft ever tried this we would be up in arms, the google toolbar has a new feature called Autolink that turns non-linked content on Web sites into hotlinks back to Google properties and other sites.

Steve Rube writes....

In addition to addresses, it will also add links for ISBNs, package tracking numbers, and vehicle identification numbers. This all has Greg Linden a bit spooked. I agree. How come nobody is crying foul here? Remember all the heat Microsoft took over its planned Smart Tags feature a few years ago?
Why are we willing to let google do something we would never let Microsoft do? What is it about google that makes us think of it differently than Microsoft?, could it be the illusion of choice, we choice to use google. We don't chose to use Windows or Office, we are forced to use them as there is no alternative. There is alternatives to MS we are just lazy and choice to stay with them.

We all know we are stuck with the Devil, but better the Devil you know after all did any one ever sound cool in a film asking Luke to come over to the light side?

Dan Gillmor thinks....

Now Google, using its own growing clout, is doing something similar with its latest "Google Toolbar" for Internet Explorer on PCs, says Search Engine Watch. No, Google doesn't control the operating system, and if I understand this correctly the feature isn't turned on by default (please correct me if this is not the case). Moreover, it only works with certain kinds of terms, and you have to explicitly download the toolbar in the first place. And, of course, no one has to use this -- one more reason to choose Firefox as your browser, anyway.
I total agree that it is people choice but people some times, we are so used to putting up with crap we say, "you know what i don't care if they spy on me it does this one cool thing I can not live with out so I will put up with the rest." This is the wrong attitude to have, I say it's time to move on get FireFox and be done with it.

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