July 03, 2003
Google Toolbar 2.0 (Beta)
I went over to Google Toolbar to grab the Toolbar 2.0 Beta. The one I am having on my IE toolbar is version 1.7, but too bad it didn’t has an option “Update Google Toolbar” to auto-checking latest version and help users to shift over. Instead, I heard good word about the new version, then I have to go search in Google to get where is it, and then download, install it.
What’s good about this version, even it’s beta? It has these new features:
- Pop-up Blocker: Yo! This definitely is the hot function. You could turn on the pop-up blocking by “Ctrl + mouse click” on it, turn off the blocking by simply click on it.
- AutoFill: Automatically fill in a form with the click of a button.
- BlogThis: You would find the icon familiar if you’re a blogger.com users. And of course, this is a BlogThis! function for Blogger.com. (Note: Just a reminding if you forgot Google has bought Blogger.com)
- New Option Screen: Unlike previous version to show the option as html page, the new version would pop-up a configuration window to let you configure your search preference, your personal details for AutoFill to fill-in for you, privacy options…etc. I notice there’s a new search button: Search Country, yet to know how to use it.
What’s the impact it brings? I am sure lots of people using Google Toolbar, because Opera has the Google search bar, and Mozilla has the easy access to Google search in navigation bar, to gain easy access to Google in IE — you’re left with the option to install Google Toolbar. Then now you have the easy to use popup-blocking by Google Toolbar. Considering the number of people who able to block pop-up window, you, the Webmaster of ads-heavy sites, should you still keep your pop-up Ads strategic? Don’t the rate of people seeing your Ads drop tremendously?
Who gain the benefit? If the popup Ads didn’t work, where did you think you would go to put your advertisement? Would Google benefit from this?
Anyhow, the pop-up blocking is a good implementation, the feature definitely is helpful.
July 3, 2003 08:39 PM | Computing[ Trackback URL for this entry: http://www.yowkee.com/cgi-bin/mt-tb.cgi/146 ]
If you use Opera, the need for a toolbar like Google Bar is automatically nullified... Don't you think so?
08:55 PM on July 3, 2003 · comment by yszm · #
Basically I don't use IE. My main browser is Mozilla and I encourage IE user to switch over. However, IE still hold the major market share of web browser, it's worth to keep track whatever related to it.
09:44 PM on July 3, 2003 · comment by yowkee · #
We killed popup ads, and Ads in page grows. If you have notices, some big sites nowadays use inline flash ads.
Reason:
- popup blocker cannot do anyhting about it.
- Flash ads is hard to block (u may missed some kewl flash movie if u block flash).
With the new block ads feacture, more ppl will use google, then more ppl will access google website (to see search result), and then more ppl will see and click those company links at your right hand side.. Many company will then buy google services - http://www.google.com/services/
Have you see how google benefit from that? :)
11:57 AM on July 4, 2003 · comment by LcF · #
Obviously Google would be benefit from it, with the click through, with their targetted text ads...But I'd rather think it's a feature implemented by engineer for good. And it's indeed good consider there're lot of IE users who use google toolbar.
12:19 PM on July 4, 2003 · comment by yowkee · #
I like IE and I DO like the beta toolbar.I like the old version, and I definatly like version2
03:19 PM on July 9, 2003 · comment by Smudger · #
Now if only we could get a Google toolbar for Mozilla that had all of the Google features in it - like PageRank and stuff. That'd be nice. *sigh*
11:37 AM on July 15, 2003 · comment by Chris · #
Groowe Search Toolbar (www.groowe.com) is really cool.
10:21 AM on September 20, 2003 · anonymous comment · #
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