The Google Browser

Chrome, is the new project that Google is working on, set to deliver a new browser that will take advantage of the media rich internet.

I am a little intimidated because as of today, Google is able to track my search patterns and tries to deliver advertisements that it thinks I might click on. You have my word that I have NEVER clicked on even one, intentionally anyways. But now with a dedicated Google browser, how deep is their view into my browsing habits? While many books and theories out there suggest that people are irrational and can be directed to move in a certain way (and marketers thrive on this notion), I find it hard to imagine that Google and it’s data driven analysis of my searches makes my browsing and Internet experience any better. While it is undeniable that Google opened up the Internet through search, I am not so sure it improves or customizes my search experience.

In any case, as a one-trick pony, what is next for Google? How long can they continue feeding off of their ad revenue and funding these pursuits? Or is there nothing to be worried about?

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Indian Free Speech Costs Career

I recently read about Rahul Vaid’s arrest because he created an “I hate Sonia Gandhi” group on his Orkut profile and used profanity to express his opinions about the lady of Italian descent. Many people have blogged and commented about how Google was wrong in providing the cops his IP address, which doesn’t sound particularly unfair to me. Google was just adhering to a request from the enforcers of the law, thats all.

What is SHOCKING to me are the scare tactics that the Indian police and judiciary are using on folks who have every right to express their thoughts. Heck, if that were possible, then most of the Indian and international blogosphere will have to be eliminated because they express opinions of people and many a times, those opinions are not exactly positive!

This is definitely an attack against free speech. I know a thing or two about it. While the Indian police force has a hundred other things to do, they choose to spend their time going after one individual who had something negative to say about another person. Would they have gone after Rahul if he had written smut about you or I?

I think we both know the answer.

Here is a link to the story.

Here is a discussion board on the topic.

Here is a blog post on this issue.

Gmail and Google Pranks

Oh well ..

“Google does April Fools’: ‘Custom time’ and a Mars trip”

Wonder how many people fell for these funny pranks!

Google April Fools Joke

Are you one (of possibly millions) that fell for this trick? It is April Fools Day people, come on! Google prank

But of course, you might think this is a prank too, but sorry, apparently they’re dead serious about it.

What else are they going to do with that pile of cash and two kids in-charge?