Google's browser - Chrome beta release

OK, I see. Yeah, definitely Adobe should fix its Flash player, but a more robust browser certainly won't do any harm. What's more, there's no way to force people to update their Flash players.

I don't think Chrome can fix problems *inside* the Flash player, though; what it can do is prevent the entire browser from crashing if the plugin crashes. Which is not a bad thing IMO -- Flash has become pretty much ubiquitous, and we get lots of sometimes badly-made Flash advertising content on our browsers whether we want it or not.

PJ, I didn't post the answer from my colleague because it is exactly the same thing you wrote here.
 
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There is many reason for google to start its own browser. Especially because what MS put in IE8 namley privacy options. Turn on the privacy function and google cannot collect info to supply you with custom ads anymore. This function is also called the "porn" function. Not only this but having your own browser gives a lot of both economical and competetive advantages. MS can make sure their .NET , silverlight or whatever else works the greatest and availiable immidietely on IE and still many people use IE so it promotes their other technology. Google can do the same for all of their technology, not to mention mobile.
 
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There is many reason for google to start its own browser. Especially because what MS put in IE8 namley privacy options. Turn on the privacy function and google cannot collect info to supply you with custom ads anymore. This function is also called the "porn" function. Not only this but having your own browser gives a lot of both economical and competetive advantages. MS can make sure their .NET , silverlight or whatever else works the greatest and availiable immidietely on IE and still many people use IE so it promotes their other technology. Google can do the same for all of their technology, not to mention mobile.

Chrome has the privacy function as well. And since Google's business model is browser-agnostic by definition, I can't see how they could use Microsoft-style tech piggybacking for an advantage.

I think KazikluBey's explanation is the best so far -- Google wants to see richer, better, more complex web applications, so providing a platform suited for running them will encourage people to write them. Themselves, too.
 
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There is many reason for google to start its own browser. Especially because what MS put in IE8 namley privacy options. Turn on the privacy function and google cannot collect info to supply you with custom ads anymore. This function is also called the "porn" function.
The privacy function does nothing new. It just means that what you do isn't saved in your browsing history. It has no impact on Google's ability to serve ads, other than blocking cookies, which you have been able to do anyway for a long time.
 
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The privacy function does nothing new. It just means that what you do isn't saved in your browsing history. It has no impact on Google's ability to serve ads, other than blocking cookies, which you have been able to do anyway for a long time.

hmmmmm, so the internet is full of articles like these:



With people saying how MS's "porn" mode threatens google's business model??

talk about making a hen out of a feather in that case, I read a bunch of these.
 
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Yeah, they're making a hen out of a feather. Google decides which ads to serve primarily if not exclusively based on automatic analysis of the content of the page on which the ad is embedded. So, my photography-related website shows ads related to camera supplies, printing supplies, photofinishing services, photography courses, and so on. Google doesn't need to know a damn thing about the people making their way to the site.
 
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They have another part in the alghoritm which also takes into account what kind of links you clicked on before, previous searches, stats from mail etc etc. The google show ads algoritmh is quite complex. Not only have I been at google, but someone I know very well is working there now.

I was quite surprised when google came up with links to learn chinese! all of a sudden, even if I was not at any page related to chinese or learning. I found they had searched my gmail account and found a large portion of the mails there was in chinese, quite scary stuff.
 
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That's still fine-tuning, and I'm sure it gives them a competitive advantage. But: most people won't be using privacy mode, and it won't stop Google serving pretty well targeted ads even to people who won't. The ad selection is still primarily based on context rather than history.
 
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Screamin fast and very small and out of the way, that's my first impression. So far I like what I see, im all about the most screen real estate possible - this interface is barely there! I also like the right click "inspect element" window, where you can examine a page's code. You can even hold your pointer over sections of code, and it will highlight where they are on the page. Neato!

If you want, you can take bookmarks and put them along the top as icons on the "bookmark bar", and i did use that for like 5 mins. Sorry, im diggin the minimalism here too much to go messin w/ icons.

I dont like the constant attempts to update tho. That's just me, im a manual updater. I hate my firewall popping up every 5 mins telling me something's trying to phone home. I'll update when i feel like it, leave me alone. And as far as I see there's no option to shut it up. The "incognito mode" is a joke of course, the only thing youre incognito from is the person who sits down at your computer after you get up.

Overall, my impressions of it so far after using it about an hour or so are fairly good . It's fast as hell and has some neato little bells and whistles, while dropping the profile of a browser to where i like it - practiallly non-existent.

edit - i just keep finding cool stuff - you can right-click on selected text and launch a search. Cool ='.'=
 
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That's still fine-tuning, and I'm sure it gives them a competitive advantage. But: most people won't be using privacy mode, and it won't stop Google serving pretty well targeted ads even to people who won't. The ad selection is still primarily based on context rather than history.

Well Chrome is logging every website you visit and sending the info to google, so they can tailor even better advertisement for you. I think you vastly understate their alghoritms by what you wrote there. If I visit a website about airplanes does it mean I want to buy airplanes? probably not. However if I also visited amazon and bought a flight simulation game, can google now make the connection, I like flight simulation games? probably. If they offer me links to buy a great flight simulator would I click it? chances are much higher.

The advertisements and the algoritmhs connected to them are much more sophisticated than most people on the internet thinks.

D.S. Thank you RPGWatch for sparing us from ads :)
 
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Well this is from google: ( A brilliant move of them to make a web browser by the way if it becomes popular the benefits for google will be nearly unlimited )

In addition, some Google Chrome features send limited additional information to Google:

When you type URLs or queries in the address bar, the letters you type are sent to Google so the Suggest feature can automatically recommend terms or URLs you may be looking for. If you choose to share usage statistics with Google and you accept a suggested query or URL, Google Chrome will send that information to Google as well. You can disable this feature as explained here.
If you navigate to a URL that does not exist, Google Chrome may send the URL to Google so we can help you find the URL you were looking for. You can disable this feature as explained here.
Google Chrome's SafeBrowsing feature periodically contacts Google's servers to download the most recent list of known phishing and malware sites. In addition, when you visit a site that we think could be a phishing or malware site, your browser will send Google a hashed, partial copy of the site's URL so that we can send more information about the risky URL. Google cannot determine the real URL you are visiting from this information. More information about how this works is here.
Your copy of Google Chrome includes one or more unique application numbers. These numbers and information about your installation of the browser (e.g., version number, language) will be sent to Google when you first install and use it and when Google Chrome automatically checks for updates. If you choose to send usage statistics and crash reports to Google, the browser will send us this information along with a unique application number as well. Crash reports can contain information from files, applications and services that were running at the time of a malfunction. We use crash reports to diagnose and try to fix any problems with the browser.
You may choose Google as your search engine using Google Chrome, and you may also use Google Chrome to access other Google services such as Gmail. The Privacy Policies of Gmail or other services apply when you access them, no matter which browser you use. Using Google Chrome to connect to Google services will not cause Google to receive any special or additional personally identifying information about you.


I bet the google didn't want to include the disable feature. But of course they had to, to avoid the storm. It is MS tactics, look this is availiable by default but you can disable it, so we are not breaking any consumer or privacy laws.

I also love this line from google:

Information that Google receives when you use Google Chrome is processed in order to operate and improve Google Chrome and other Google services.
 
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Read that again, carefully. You'll find that it doesn't do what you say it does -- i.e. "log every website you visit and send the info to Google so they can target ads at you better."

Hint: to do that, they would need to get identifying information of you along with the data about what websites you're visiting. According to this, they only get the info of what you're typing into the address bar, *without* identifying information. This is an absolutely crucial distinction -- I have no problem about the former, but would be rather upset at the latter.
 
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ehhh

When you download Google Chrome or use it to contact Google’s servers, Google receives only standard log information including your machine’s IP address and one or more cookies. You can configure Google Chrome to not send cookies to Google or other sites as explained here.

*without* identifying information

You think your IP and "one or more" cookies is not enough? to identify you?

That is what they do connect the ad info to your Machine, not you as a person, that would violate all privacy policy acts.

Google are smart enough not to write your informaton is sent to google so we can provide better ads for you.

But as you notice the IP is sent, cookies are sent ( unless you disable it ) and google is allowed to store the info.

Meaning they have all the rights to and do use it to serve you ads.
 
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You think your IP and "one or more" cookies is not enough? to identify you?

The IP alone certainly isn't. A cookie is only if it's explicitly designed for the purpose. I re-re-read the text you posted, and I do not see any indication that Chrome is sending identifying information about me to Google when I'm using the address bar, in a cookie or otherwise.

That is what they do connect the ad info to your Machine, not you as a person, that would violate all privacy policy acts.

That is the conclusion to which you are leaping. It is not a fact.

Google are smart enough not to write your informaton is sent to google so we can provide better ads for you.

Yet you're 100% certain that this is what they're doing.

But as you notice the IP is sent, cookies are sent ( unless you disable it ) and google is allowed to store the info.

Meaning they have all the rights to and do use it to serve you ads.

Look, GG -- I would have no problem with you if you made a clearer distinction between what you suspect to be true, and what are actually known facts. Here you're conflating the two big-time.

It's perfectly reasonable to *suspect* that Google may want to build features into Chrome that they can use in their advertising targeting algorithms. However, you're claiming that it is a *known fact* that this is what they are actually doing -- when it is nothing of the sort.
 
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Well, I sometimes have to step a thin line PJ, I keep providing you guys with public information from the internet as I am allowed to do, from this you have to make your own conclusions. On the other hand I also know much information which I am not allowed to reveal, as you know companies has contracts that you sign where you promise to keep certain things secret. But I think it is obvious enough for everyone to pay some attention to see what is going on. I'll give you another one:

Some of the services are supported by advertising revenue and may display advertisements and promotions. These advertisements may be targeted to the content of information stored on the services, queries made through the services or other information.

The manner, mode and extent of advertising by Google on the services are subject to change without specific notice to you."
 
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Well, I sometimes have to step a thin line PJ, I keep providing you guys with public information from the internet as I am allowed to do, from this you have to make your own conclusions. On the other hand I also know much information which I am not allowed to reveal, as you know companies has contracts that you sign where you promise to keep certain things secret.

If you're under NDA from Google, or a Google partner, I'm fairly certain you're already in violation of it. In fact, every NDA I've seen even expressly forbids the signatories from disclosing that there *is* an NDA. And if you know someone who foolishly violated their NDA by disclosing such information to you, you absolutely should not be repeating it any further. So yeah, I'd say that you're treading a thin line indeed.

But I think it is obvious enough for everyone to pay some attention to see what is going on. I'll give you another one:

Come on, GG -- this has doodle-squat to do with Chrome, and I'm sure you know it. We all know that Google's business is delivering targeted advertising at users. What you're claiming is that Chrome secretly sends your every key-click to Google in order for them to store and use that information about you in this business model. As evidence you produce well-known facts about their *other* businesses and some vaguely worded phrases in their EULA and product descriptions.

In other words, you're conflating opinions with facts -- otherwise known as spreading FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt.) You don't work for Microsoft, by any chance?
 
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hehehehehe, I like your sense of humor PJ, it is good fun to argue with you. Would that I were working for MS, unfortunately MS has more or less the same methods as google, and they are adopting more of them in their IE8 ( it also sends info about what sites you visit etc to MS ) and they are already collecting much info about us. MS once charged a CC that was not given to pay for a service, but the CC given was another one. They had the CC info of other CC from a different service, I am quite sure that would be illegal.

Come on, GG -- this has doodle-squat to do with Chrome, and I'm sure you know it. We all know that Google's business is delivering targeted advertising at users.

This quotes are all from Chrome, not other parts of google business. Here is a guy with simular concerns from CNET http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10030522-56.html


If you're under NDA from Google, or a Google partner, I'm fairly certain you're already in violation of it. In fact, every NDA I've seen even expressly forbids the signatories from disclosing that there *is* an NDA.

Did I say anything about any NDA? :D
 
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