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Wall Street Journal [online.wsj.com]
Reuters [today.reuters.co.uk]
[edited by: engine at 11:28 am (utc) on Aug. 22, 2005]
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Google Desktop uses the same cookie as Google.com and other Google services. If you enable Advanced Features, the Google cookie will be included in the information sent to Google. We may be able to make Google services work better by associating this information with information from other Google services you use and vice versa.
Now why the hell do they want to relate my offline information with online activity and vice versa. Isn't this similar to what DoubleClick unsuccessfully tried to do a few years ago?
Now why the hell do they want to relate my offline information with online activity and vice versa. Isn't this similar to what DoubleClick unsuccessfully tried to do a few years ago?
Or visa versa; do a lot of searches relating to apple computers online, then when you search for "apple" on your desktop, it will prioritize the computer-related hits over the "apple a day" quotes or nutrition articles.
Some features, including personalized news, involve sending details of its users surfing habits back to Google. Google said no personally identifying data is transmitted, and users can opt out.
Google Desktop 2 [desktop.google.com]
There are some new options with optional features, I'd imagine the conditions would need to agreed to.
[edited by: engine at 11:31 am (utc) on Aug. 22, 2005]
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Soon you can wear special air-conditioned hats free by G, only they have live feed cams and gps in each one. Heh.
Google is the mother of all data and it gives them so much power. Truley amazing. Over time the company will be able to venture into so many different businesses based on the data it has collected from all of these types of services. Even if they were told to get out of the SE game they would be able to make it in so many ways.
Go G, wish it was my company :o)
Someone here said a long time ago that Google had no chance against MS in the OS enviroment (Imagine the resources needed to do so). What I think is that Google doesn't want to compete against the OS, but rather concentrating in making a desktop to run on top of the OS and making the MS desktop uninteressting, possible? I bealive so, they don't need a lot of ressources to do so, and they have a hughe costumer (fan) base...
I'm thinking right now in Linux, how you can choose between KDE or Gnome.
What I also found interesting is how they called it side bar, isn't windows vista going to have a sidebar too?
Google keeps impressing me and keeps the web talking, incredible how they do it...
Regards
Steven
Google said no personally identifying data is transmitted, and users can opt out.
Okay, so no personally-indentifiable data is transmitted. But if it uses the same cookie as Google Personalized Search, Gmail, AdSense, AdWords, etc., then it would be very easy for them to tie that non-personal transmitted data with the personal information provided to them with when signing up for other services.
I can get all those same features through Firefox extensions. Thanks Google, but I'll pass on this one.
All the features except desktop search - I use other software for that though.
There's a checkbox next to "Enable advanced options" and if you click on the advanced options link, you can learn more:
By using advanced features, you may be sending information about web sites you visit and non-personal usage information to Google.The web sites you visit are used to make some features of Google Desktop available to you. For example, in order to personalize the news shown in the Sidebar, Google Desktop sends information on the news pages you're visiting. This does NOT tell us who YOU are. Non-personal usage data, including crash reports, is used to help improve Google Desktop. [...]
Google is moving beyond "Coke Classic" - the basic experience of searching the Web through the browser for which it is known. In ways not always apparent to the user, Google is seeking to control more of a users' computer experience, the way Yahoo, Microsoft and America Online do
I have to agree, and I see this as making it also much harder for internet marketers to analyse traffic patterns. Knowing that a vistor came from Google is no longer of practical help in developing a coherent strategy. If the "google" visitor could have come from a web, a desktop, a TV or a mobile phone, then surely marketers need to start developing different ways to understand their user behaviour.
At the moment, we simply have CPA from Google vs CPA from other sources to help in marketing strategy, but now the information stays with G in this regard as to whether we should alter creative to suit phone users - or PC users or whatever. We need Google visitors sorted by source (other than Adwords vs non-adwords). But I doubt Google will have the incentive to supply THAT free opf charge.
Over time the company will be able to venture into so many different businesses based on the data it has collected from all of these types of services.
Even if they were told to get out of the SE game they would be able to make it in so many ways.
If the "google" visitor could have come from a web, a desktop, a TV or a mobile phone, then surely marketers need to start developing different ways to understand their user behaviour. ....... But I doubt Google will have the incentive to supply THAT free opf charge.
Even though this is blatant spyware, I bet the spyware blockers will not flag or block the advanced features from being activated. They would not want to risk retaliation from GG and get delisted.
Even though this is blatant spyware, I bet the spyware blockers will not flag or block the advanced features from being activated. They would not want to risk retaliation from GG and get delisted.
I agree that it is the very definition of spyware, but I don't agree that the blockers will "let it through". Some may, but spyware is a vulnerability issue and certainly a responsible blocker will see this in such a way I think - enough to at least make it an option to block.
But in the long run, Spyware - as a concept - is here to stay under another guise. You want Google's stuff for "free"? You "pay" for it in information and being served ads that scarily know your every move.
Big Brother is in your head and he knows what you are thinking HAW HAW HAW! (Theme tune to Twilight zone in background)
Great place to run Adwords - but how could that be targeted? Kind of tickles the imagination doesn't it?
Google should let us pick the folder that e-mail come from.
I've now removed the e-mail panel.
Paul
Check out the Adsense Sidebar Status Plug-in!
Great place to run Adwords - but how could that be targeted? Kind of tickles the imagination doesn't it?
Presence.
It more than tickles the imagination though - it's a no-brainer, google have to do it.
They better buy RIM before MS do.
TJ
Twice I've had to go into the actual page before it would give me the latest numbers.
For the rest it's just great. I added the system monitor plug-in just to keep an eye on things.
The stock prices are handy. It will take a while to get used to it but my first impression is congrats Google.
With regard to Google and privacy issues - the difference is the level of trust you have that if they say they are not using the info individually then I, for one, believe them.
The conspiracy element will be polishing their aluminum foil hats.
BBC writes:
The revamped software will suggest web links, personal documents and images that might be relevant to whatever someone is doing with their computer.
Implying that the toolbar is actively engaged in two way communication with G as a person works.
Not even my wife gets that level of information about me.
WBF
Nope, Google gave up on that a long time ago. They noticed there was more money in becoming the worlds biggest affiliate program.
and those with their heads in the sand will do what?
don't worry: what your searched for, is safe, unless the government (from the local Sheriff to the FBI) asks Google for it, or Google gets hacked. Plus what's the big deal, if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to worry about. Look on the bright side, what you really want is at #1 now, instead of #3. Privacy is a small thing to give up for such huge improvements. ;)
I was worried that the new MS search bar would help MS eat into Google's market share. Now I'm sitting back with a big smile on my face.
(But it's finally to start bothering with RSS.)
I've using this for 30 minutes now and I can definetly say that this requires atleast a 17" monitior, else desktop gets too crowded.
I've using this for 30 minutes now and I can definetly say that this requires atleast a 17" monitior, else desktop gets too crowded.
Lol, I have the sidebar on my secondary 17" monitor, that way my fatty 19" can have WinAmp/Trillian where the sidebar would be.
If you're doing web stuff then what in the world are you doing without a second monitor?! ;)
