Greetings,
If anyone has installed an application or updated software recently on their computer, I'm sure they have come across this unexpected question: "Would you like to install the Google toolbar to your internet browser?". It seems like everything from Java updates to registry scanners have this option built in to their installation process.
My beef is not necessarily with the software developers who take in the extra cash for allowing Google to provide this service, but rather with Google themselves. It is the mere saturation of the option across all things internet. I come across this at least once every other week and each time, I make sure to uncheck the option (as it comes conveniently prechecked and ready to go). Granted, it's not that bad of a service, I'm sure, as it's only meant to make things easier search and browsing wise, but why is there such a continuous presence? It is that beneficial to have the ability to add this bar on every new download? I bet Google gets a decent turnaround simply from the people who just click "next" and don't bother to read through directions, simply because they are not expecting excess options. Google claims that they include the toolbar option on downloads in order to keep up with competitors like MSN or AOL or Yahoo who include similar options for their users. However, I don't see these competitor's offerings nearly as much as I do Google's.
I think what bothers me the most is that this toolbar is something that one wouldn't search for autonomously, and I'm only aware of its existence because of the fact that it is stuck in an altogether different application. What this translates to is that this application is spam or spyware of some sort. Even if it is not (which it isn't at all, really), that is the vibe I get; which is why the small white box always gets its black check mark removed upon appearing on my screen. What follows from this experience of unchecking is that in every instance that this toolbar option appears, I get reaffirmed in my opinion that it is some sort of spam tool that I should be avoiding. I would think that this is a scenario that a well-reputed company such as Google would like to avoid. Personally, I find google to be a very trustworthy and handy site, as I am a fond user of Gmail, Reader, Blogger (as you can see) and even have the search site as my homepage. There is just this annoying spammish toolbar that is always lingering right behind the next download, and with every computer literate person knowing that spam = bad, it immediately puts a negative blemish on the Google reputation.
This all being said, it won't really affect my use of Google or its many applications, but it makes me stop and ponder things from it such as emails and offers a bit more sternly.
On a sidenote, I read an interesting article the other day about how once you post a blog entry, it immediately gets scanned, filtered, and processed (among other things) by bots or programs that provide information to advertisers, marketers and other companies. Here's the link:
http://www.wired.com/special_multimedia/2008/ff_secretlife_1602
This may be broken, but it's interesting nonetheless. I had no idea that every blog entry goes through this process of what I would call 'publication'. It's not just your close ring of friends/admirers/haters that read your blog posts. It's the entire interwebs that does it!
