Microsoft Gives Google A Rasberry - Let’s Hope
Seems Google’s a bit cranky about the Microsoft’s New IE Browser default search setup.
“The new browser includes a search box that is typically set up to send users to Microsoft’s MSN search service. Google contends that this positions Microsoft to unfairly grab Web traffic and advertising dollars away from its competitors.”
Considering that Goog is trying to snake into Dell’s computers with Google phone home stuff, I have to ask wth is Google smoking?
Bob Kaufman, a spokesman for Dell, the world’s leading personal computer maker, said his company is evaluating Google software that PC customers could use to search both the public Web and for local information stored on their PCs.
So that we can continuously improve Google Desktop, the application sends non-personal information about things like the application’s performance and reliability. Google Desktop may also send information about the websites you visit to Google in order to enable certain features, such as Personalized News, in Sidebar.
I wonder if it’s setup by default to phone the data home to goog? Anyone know? I won’t let this thing touch my computer so I can’t test it myself.
Note: This website information is not personally identifiable; however, you can choose to prevent Desktop from sending this information to Google by disabling Advanced Features in your Desktop Preferences.
Spyware is software that reports on your activities or gathers personal information about you and sends it via the Internet to third parties without your knowledge or consent. Google Desktop is installed only with your explicit consent. And unlike spyware, Google Desktop does not send personal information to Google or any other third party. Please see our software principles for a discussion of spyware and other malicious software.
Really? I consider *anything* phoning home *any* info about my activities and what I’m doing online spyware. And I don’t think it’s just me. Dell better be smart about this. Cause I for one am gonna be *mad as hell* if I have that crap on a machine I spent a few grand on.
And let’s not forget google is now the default home page for firefox.
New Microsoft Browser Raises Google’s Hackles
The market favors open choice for search, and companies should compete for users based on the quality of their search services,” said Marissa Mayer, the vice president for search products at Google. “We don’t think it’s right for Microsoft to just set the default to MSN. We believe users should choose.”
Marissa Marissa Marissa?
Wil:
May 9th, 2006 at 1:08 am
I think it’s silly to complain about Microsoft doing it when everybody’s trying to make the same sorts of deals. But I suppose it’s all part of the game.
My guess is that if Google Desktop Search ends up on all new Dell machines, the default will be set so that the software sends info back to Google. Personally, I don’t consider this kind of thing spyware, as long as everything is out in the open, and it’s easy for the user to turn it off, either by changing preferences or deleting the software from their system.
For me, it comes down to being honest about what’s happening, and about whether the information going back to the mothership is being used in ways that will make MY life better.
Terry:
May 9th, 2006 at 7:24 am