 Desim
join:2001-11-03
Portland, OR | Advanced crap enabled ? Mine didn't chage. IT is still with the blank background. | |
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muxx
Premium
join:2002-09-26
| The way it works The toolbar loaded an entry into my registry, inside the .cab file is a valentine.dll thats gets loaded. | |
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robb0995
join:2004-02-08
Burbank, CA
| Why does anyone care? Even after reading all of these posts, I cannot imagine for an instant what would have anyone upset about this. It's cute and doesn't even remotely affect anyone using the toolbar.
However, I also can't imagine why anyone would care that google keeps track of what pages you go to, so I may not be the "broad middle" here. The persistent cookie and tracking of what things interest me will only serve over time to the greater personalization and better, more relvant service I get from this free provider.
If they make a few bucks in the process, that's even better, as there's no better economic outcome than the win-win. They benefit, I benefit, and the marketer buying info benefits because they only spend money targeting people like me who are interested in what they are advertising.
As a gay man with no erectile dysfunction, no penis size issues, and not old enough to need anti-aging hormones, I would LOVE it if marketers knew me better before sending me their ads!
Happy Valentine's Day! I'm off to pick flowers (It's always springtime in southern California!)  | |
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Tinfoil for everyone
@attbi.com
| If you don't like it don't use it. I was a little suprised when I fired up IE instead of Firebird and saw the hearts, but the ranting and raving I have seen here is just short (or past) tinfoil hat insane.
If you don't like it don't use it! You don't have a right to use Google's toolbar. You choose to use it. It is your choice.
If you are worried about what might happen then uninstall it. At the same time you do this you might want to check your OS and other software vendors are about these issues.
There is plenty of tinfoil and many caves to live in. Make your choice. | |
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Morac
join:2001-08-30
Riverside, NJ
 ·Comcast
2 edits | I still don't see it Even though I have Google's toolbar installed, I pretty much never have it displayed. I have Norton Internet Security which already blocks popups. It fact I have a few toolbars installed and only display them when I want to use them.
Anyway I enabled the Google toolbar to see what the hubbub was about and the first thing the toolbar did was upgrade itself from 1.06 to 1.07. Using Norton's Web History log I saw that Google toolbar checked the google website for updates, found an update and downloaded it. It then renamed the old "C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll" file to GoogleToolbar2.dll and copied the new file to GoogleToolbar1.dll.
After I closed and reopened my browser and enabled the toolbar, it deleted the old version (GoogleToolbar2.dll) and now listed itself as version 2.0.107 (dated 2/9/04).
I still don't see any hearts on it though and I have PageRank and some other advanced options turned on. I haven't rebooted, but I checked the registry and it isn't set to do anything on reboot.
Edit
I found out it will only change if it downloads »toolbar.google.com/valentines.cab which is listed as a promo update. I'm not sure why it downloads it on some machines and not others though. | |
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BTVSFan
New And Improved
Premium
join:2003-09-06
USA
| Re: I still don't see it I dont see what everyone is complaining about. They have the right to update their program all they want. Just because you choose to download it does not give you ownership of the program. In order for it to work correctly it must make contact with their servers. Guess what?! That is where they store the files for their program.. which is where YOUR downloaded copy of the program reads its instructions on how to work correctly and where it gets its images. So, if you dont like it, un-install it!
I wish my life was so grand that the biggest problem I had was Google updating their programs!! /sarcasm
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Stalk Me | |
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quientus
So Red Shoes
Premium
join:2000-08-11
San Jose, CA
| Dont like it? ... Then don't use it. Jesus, its just some friggin hearts. If you dont like that then don't use the toolbar. Simple as that, now, if google decided to install some spyware, then that's something to get mad about.
P.S. I dont use google toolbar. IE has one built in.
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"Genius may have its limitations, but stupidity is not thus handicapped." --Elbert Hubbard | |
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ib50MbSoon
Formerly TwoKDialup
Premium
join:2002-06-07
Coloma, MI
| www.booble.com Another Valentines Day theme... | |
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jwalker019
join:2003-11-15
Dallas, TX
| OK, now I've seen everything. . . I don't understand how some people think. When I saw the hearts, I thought "how cute!" and "isn't that cool". I still think that - how anyone could immediately jump to the conclusion that Google was "seeing how far they could go" or that there was some sort of ominous undertone to this is just beyond my comprehension. Wow. | |
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Big Time
Fuster Cluck
Premium
join:2002-10-19
Washington
| Re: OK, now I've seen everything. . . Ditto. It's like the Toolbar was staring right into their home trying to catch them running around nekkid.
Some people need to just get a grip.
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Vote for Kerry.
Yes, really. I know, I know....but it's that or 4 more years of Bush. | |
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barqsdrinker
What Can I Photograph Today?
Premium
join:2001-02-26
Apo, AE
clubs:
| Oh Good Grief!!! I'm going with the camp that believes that it is no big deal. IF you actually read the EULA, then you knew something like this could've happened. I don't think that it is the end of the world. Cute, yes; disasterous, no.
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Thanks for reading! | |
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| null
lol
Premium
join:2002-04-12
Brooklyn, NY
| Re: Oh Good Grief!!! said by barqsdrinker  :
I'm going with the camp that believes that it is no big deal. IF you actually read the EULA, then you knew something like this could've happened. I don't think that it is the end of the world. Cute, yes; disasterous, no.
who reads the eula | |
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jumperz
join:2004-01-14
Baltimore, MD | Cute my girlfriend thought it was cute...and i'm not worried one bit, i'm sure it is all in good fun. | |
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CjGaughan
Premium
join:2002-12-23
Orleans, ON
clubs: | i thought about it............ and people complaining was the first thing i thought of..lol | |
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howrman
join:2000-07-08
Philadelphia, PA |  Google makes Cookies Disappear?
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Big Time
Fuster Cluck
Premium
join:2002-10-19
Washington
| Oh the humanity! Don't like it? Uninstall it.
It's a few damn little hearts. And it's not like they were little hearts saying "brought to you by FTD".
I was amused. The toolbar stays. And as far as them using the toolbar to place .dll files on your machine and track your every move with spyware....go back to your safe room and put the foil hat back on. The toaster is transmitting your brainwaves back to the CIA without it on.
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Vote for Kerry.
Yes, really. I know, I know....but it's that or 4 more years of Bush. | |
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null
lol
Premium
join:2002-04-12
Brooklyn, NY | Google = Nazi. They do things without asking  | |
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Mysticalone
@chartertn.net | There is one problem with this If someone does manage to hack the update thing, they send you pictures to your toolbar but images can be encoded with a virus. I'm smart I don't download that stuff and help companies make money. | |
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Da22in
Buck Fush
join:2002-06-10
Charlotte, NC
clubs: | Google-ware OMG! They changed it back to normal! Oh the horror! This is the the end of the world as we know it....REPENT!
Psshh...
Privacy nazis should uninstall the toolbar and stop crying about it. | |
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footballdude
Premium
join:2002-08-13
Imperial, MO | Why? Why aren't all of you people browsing in full screen mode? The toolbar graphics are then irrelevant. I have Google toolbar and I didn't even notice that it had changed. | |
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Rhobite
Premium
join:2002-02-24
Cambridge, MA
clubs:
| A little late but... Guess I'm a little late to this discussion but I felt I had to chime in.
Google states in the privacy policy that they may automatically update the toolbar software. If users don't like that, they shouldn't be running the toolbar.
HOWEVER: The level of immaturity and bickering in this news item, and in the thread in the security forum, is ridiculous. People have real concerns about security and privacy and frankly, we have a right to be VERY jaded when it comes to any software that does something behind our backs, even if it's as innocuous as this. In any case, the people who questioned whether this was a wise move by Google absolutely do not deserve to be called "privacy nazis" and "security zealots" (as if it's possible to be too zealous in the defense of these ideals).
It's also ironic that some poor buffoon used the phrase "privacy nazi," apparently not realizing that the result of Nazism was the complete loss of life, liberty, and privacy by millions. The practice of using the word "nazi" to describe a strict person is callous. Someone who uses the word "nazi" to describe a person who is strict in their defense of liberty, is simply an idiot.
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Jimmysquid.com - I take pictures. | |
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justanutter1
@kaballero.com
| Re: A little late but... RE: Someone who uses the word "nazi" to describe a person who is strict in their defense of liberty, is simply an idiot.
1) As if you remember NAZIism...
2) As if you fail to understand there are all sorts of fanatics in this world... Fanatic liberals, aka "Anyone but Bush"... Fanatic conservatives, "That idiot Secretary of Defense"... and there are the truly intelligent... "Ms. Rice"
3) When I was a network engineer at NSWC.navy.mil, I was called a "Network Nazi" by a Jewish kid. IT WAS A JOKE. I didn't enjoy the joke as much as he did, but I did understand that it was a joke.
I suggest you get over your grandfathers issues. The Nazis are no more... We killed most of them and those which were left went into hiding. They aren't coming back and I'd as soon remember the Smallpox infested blankets Washington gave to the American Indians (my heritage) as I would remember that Hitler was a bastard... if you get my drift... | |
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Rhobite
Premium
join:2002-02-24
Cambridge, MA
clubs:
| Re: A little late but... Look, I'm not going to bother responding to you unless you bother to register an account. The one thing I'll remind you is that you know almost nothing about me, so drop the attitude.
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Jimmysquid.com - I take pictures. | |
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I want it to happen on every major holliday 
surprised me in a good way, What a cute little surprise! I don't see why people are getting so worked up about it... 
Lighten up!