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Seems with the new toolbar going from beta to final they decided to push it onto all desktops.
Don't do this Google! Huge no-no! Can't you see all the flak Microsoft is taking for their automatic system update proposal? Don't touch my system without a warning and the ability to opt-out!
I was so surprised a company like Google would do an action like that. Very un-Google like.
I liked the old toolbar and I don't need any features in the new one. The old toolbar had a more compact layout since the search web button was integrated.
Now I have to rip out the v2 and reinstall the old one while blocking the auto-update.
Update google toolbar now:yes/no
or
Important security update to google toolbar - install:yes/no
or just something to let me know it was done. I can see everyones point of view but communication is important!
Mabye silly, inefficient or otherwise unpragmatic, but vox populorum regere--the voice of the people rules. ;)
Jordan
If so, I could give a rat's kiester whether or not the thing auto-updates.
My toolbar has never worked correctly since downloading version 2.0. So I do without..
1) COURTESY AND RESPECT
I hope it isn't inappropriate to note here, but I find it offensive when people exhibit such wild mood swings and hurl epithets at any company. Putting "scumware" and Google in the same sentence, IMHO, is disrespectful, especially on the front page of WW.
2) RESPONSIBILITY
For the most part, Google has done a decent job replacing dense legalese with more comprehensible English info. I think it's a bit unfair for folks to holler at Google when they fail to read plain-English FAQs.
3) CATERING TO POWER USERS AND NON-GEEKS
I agree with the sentiments expressed by some in this thread that it would be both smart and polite for Google to improve its communications on this topic. Choices would be great, too. In particular, I think it'd be cool if Google added an option as follows to its toolbar preference screen:
Toolbar updates
- ALWAYS UPDATE: Always update my toolbar automatically to the latest version (default).
- ASK BEFORE UPDATING: Notify me when updates are available.*
* NOTE -- If critical updates are made available, you will be given the options to upgrade or uninstall your Google Toolbar
Additionally, it'd be nice if Google sent an e-mail upon browser update-availability.
4) Security before choice
As others have noted in this thread, the Internet has become infested with those who are too busy, too ignorant, or too callous to patch their systems which suffer from security vulnerabilities, and this negatively impacts everyone. It's akin, IMHO, to seatbelt laws; sure, it cuts into "liberties," but if I have a choice between the libertarian approach and ensuring that people maintain better control over their vehicles in accidents (saving lives... possibly MY life), I'll choose the latter.
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Could Google have communicated this issue better initially? Yes. But I believe the larger fault lies with those who scream and hurl epithets whenever they feel technically slighted.
I think it's a bit unfair for folks to holler at Google when they fail to read plain-English FAQs.
So, I suppose it's okay for my friends to walk in to my house without knocking first, any time they want, although I told them that they are welcome in my house?
Anyway...
I reinstalled the Toolbar and here are the steps that I went through.
1. I click on the link to 'toolbar.google.com'
2. In the above page, I saw the link to 'Terms of use', I click on it...to read it this time and guess what, no mention of automatic update/upgrade of the toolbar.
3. So, I click on the button 'GET THE GOOLGE TOOLBAR'...a pop-up with the title 'Choose Your Google Toolbar Configuration - Web Page Dialog'
In it, says...
PLEASE READ THIS CAREFULLY
IT'S NOT THE USUAL YADA YADA
So, I read it carefully this time. I couldn't find anything in regards to automatic update/upgrade of the toolbar.
However, the closest it say about automatic update is this...
By using the Advance Features version of the Google Toolbar, you may be sending information about the sites you visit to Google. This is needed to make services like PageRank(TM), and other features that update automatically, available to you.Bold mine
Maybe, I'm just naive but my understanding of the 'other features' automatic updates is just like PageRank where the updates takes place at Google side, server side as oppose to client side. But nowhere it says that it would automatically update the toolbar in my computer(client side) for every new version that would come up. Nowhere!
4. So, I followed through, click on the button chosing 'install with advance feature'.
5. Installed through ActiveX
6. Redirects to page [toolbar.google.com...] which say Congratulation....[my insert ->(victim #######)]
7. Looking good, looks like Google Toolbar was successfully installed in my computer
8. At this point...what are the chances that I would go back and look for the FAQ about the toolbar? I don't see anything wrong(aside from my previous knowledge that it slows down my browser significantly), I could start playing with it.
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So, where at this steps that I was informed that Google would update/upgrade the Toolbar automatically(without my consent)? Maybe, I miss something?
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Ahh...the FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) are synonymous to 'help files' but just like any help files....it's always after the fact.
In this case, suddenly the toolbar upgraded itself automatically. Now, Im surprised, search this forum and behold...it's in Google Toolbar FAQ...thanks for pointing that out...a little too late for that...[my insert ->(my system crash and along goes all my important files with it)]
Weird though...because all my other softwares, including my fire wall, anti-virus, and all other very expensive softwares always asked or remind me if there is any new version or security update.
Hmmm...should I let Google mess around with my system...I don't think so!
The security and health of my computer is my responsibility and mine alone.
Toolbar updates
- ALWAYS UPDATE: Always update my toolbar automatically to the latest version (default).
- ASK BEFORE UPDATING: Notify me when updates are available.*
* NOTE -- If critical updates are made available, you will be given the options to upgrade or uninstall your Google Toolbar
ThatAdamGuy: IMO you did a much better job of explaining the point I was trying to make in #51. Thank you.
Maybe they have the legal right to auto-update, thanks to the fine print in their TOS, but they have no right to inflict damage through the negligence of their programmers.
[edited by: mayor at 3:34 am (utc) on Aug. 24, 2003]
MOST IMPORTANTLY: SILENT, STEALTH, AUTO-UPDATES are a big NO-NO
Any product that updates itself needs to give a PRIOR WARNING with an OPT-OUT and a notice afterwards that it has updated itself. It's not just polite behavior, it's a must to cover yourself with your large power/admin userbase. Putting this in the product's control panel (settings) is a big plus.
It was absolutely bad thinking for Google to choose a stealth mode for updating.
Does Google have the right to auto-update their toolbar? Of course.
Are auto-upates a good feature for the bulk of novices? Of course.
Does Google tell us SOMEWHERE that it will happen? Yes, but not careful enough.
Is it told to us somewhere where we don't have to carefully search for it, despite the warning about the non-typical yada yada?
A BIG NO. Google is much more worried about us understanding the privacy issues with the pagerank, and I understand that, it IS a more serious issue. However the auto-updates should be the next big warning in that text. It's not.
So you mean that it is inappropriate that people here tell the truth about the fact that the Google toolbar is scumware/spyware? I can think of no more appropriate terms given the lack of an opt-out.
