insidious Google in the background
This morning when I unlocked my workstation I was greeted with a bizarre background image:-
At first I thought I was the victim of a prank by my workmates, but no - it was a browser window that I must have left open yesterday. It was the Google homepage. I guess it must have refreshed all by itself. It's quite a cool picture, actually, even though it does a complete 180 on the famous Clean Homepage ethos.
There was a message and link, asking:-
I'll let the lack of a full stop slide for now. The link takes you to a page where you are invited to create your own background image for your Google homepage. It announces:-
All you have to do is:-
Oh, I get it. If I do not like this new background image, I can put my own on there but only if I sign in.
As I write, the background image has changed. I suppose they have it set to refresh with a new image every so often.
I actually find this one distracting and it obscures what text thereis on the page. But it's okay - I can change it, if I let Google track my every movement.
I'm not opposed to sharing information that Google can use for marketing in return for an optional piece of functionality or an enhanced user experience. Not in principle, anyway.
But when it is forced on me like this, I don't like it.
==
Related article at the Guardian:-
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/blog/2008/oct/28/google-mobilephones?CMP=twt_gu
At first I thought I was the victim of a prank by my workmates, but no - it was a browser window that I must have left open yesterday. It was the Google homepage. I guess it must have refreshed all by itself. It's quite a cool picture, actually, even though it does a complete 180 on the famous Clean Homepage ethos.
There was a message and link, asking:-
Curious about today's homepage? Add your own background image now
I'll let the lack of a full stop slide for now. The link takes you to a page where you are invited to create your own background image for your Google homepage. It announces:-
Google has more to offer when you sign in to your Google Account. You can customise pages, view recommendations and get more relevant search results.
All you have to do is:-
Sign in to personalise your Google experience.
Oh, I get it. If I do not like this new background image, I can put my own on there but only if I sign in.
As I write, the background image has changed. I suppose they have it set to refresh with a new image every so often.
I actually find this one distracting and it obscures what text thereis on the page. But it's okay - I can change it, if I let Google track my every movement.
I'm not opposed to sharing information that Google can use for marketing in return for an optional piece of functionality or an enhanced user experience. Not in principle, anyway.
But when it is forced on me like this, I don't like it.
==
Related article at the Guardian:-
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/blog/2008/oct/28/google-mobilephones?CMP=twt_gu
10/6/2010 9:18 AM
| Comments [6] | #Computing and Internet
