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Google Tricks
From: David Farber <dave () farber net>
Date: Wed, 02 Mar 2005 07:16:47 -0500
------ Forwarded Message From: "John F. McMullen" <observer () westnet com> Date: Wed, 02 Mar 2005 00:36:54 -0500 (EST) To: johnmac's living room <johnmacsgroup () yahoogroups com> Cc: Dave Farber <farber () cis upenn edu> Subject: Google Tricks
From Time Magazine --
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1032364,00.html Google Tricks By ANITA HAMILTON Look out, surfers: there's a wave of controversy headed your way over the latest version of the Google Toolbar, a popular Web browser add-on that attaches a search box and an extra row of buttons onto Internet Explorer. The new version (available at google.com) includes a feature called AutoLink, which can transform plain text on any Web page into a link that sends users to a related site for more information. AutoLink, though still in beta, has many Web watchers crying foul because it gives Google--not users or publishers of sites in which links are embedded--the power to decide which sites it sends you to. How does it work? Say you are scanning a list of restaurants online and want to check the location on a map. Instead of copying and pasting the address into a mapping site, you can click right on the address and view a Google-branded map that shows you where the dining spot is. The AutoLink feature directs people to Amazon for books and to Carfax for cars. The problem is that while AutoLink can save time, some say it gives the search company too much control. "Google is inserting links on people's Web pages," says Danny Sullivan, editor of Search Engine Watch.com At least one retailer, barnesandnoble.com has blocked AutoLink by adding coding to its site that overrides it. Google says it is not receiving any revenue for sending people to Amazon and Carfax. What's more, since users have to click the AutoLink button on the toolbar each time they want to activate the new links, "it is a user-elected feature," says Marissa Mayer, Google's director of consumer Web products. Mayer says the company plans to give users more say. The map feature allows people to select Yahoo or MapQuest, though Google Maps is the default setting. When Microsoft instituted a similar feature, called Smart Tags, in Internet Explorer back in 2001, the company faced such a strong backlash that it dropped Smart Tags from Windows XP. Mayer says Google is unlikely to remove AutoLink but the ultimate decision will be based on public feedback over the next few months. Copyright 2005 Time Inc. *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. The 'johnmacsgroup' Internet discussion group is making it available without profit to group members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information in their efforts to advance the understanding of literary, educational, political, and economic issues, for non-profit research and educational purposes only. I believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml "When you come to the fork in the road, take it" - L.P. Berra "Always make new mistakes" -- Esther Dyson "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" -- Arthur C. Clarke "You Gotta Believe" - Frank "Tug" McGraw (1944 - 2004 RIP) John F. McMullen johnmac () acm org johnmac () computer org johnmac () m-net arbornet org johnmac () tmail com johnmac () echonyc com jmcmullen () monroecollege edu johnmac () alumni iona edu ICQ: 4368412 Skype, AIM & Yahoo Messenger: johnmac13 http://www.westnet.com/~observer BLOG: http://johnmacrants.blogspot.com/ ------ End of Forwarded Message ------------------------------------- You are subscribed as lists-ip () insecure org To manage your subscription, go to http://v2.listbox.com/member/?listname=ip Archives at: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/
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