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Gator Will Replace Ads On Sites
Bill Dimm writes "This CNet article says that a new version of Gator, a browser plug-in for managing passwords that also can display pop-up ads for competing products when you visit web sites, is being developed that will launch its own ads over top of the banner ads on the sites you visit. The software achieves wide distribution by bundling (much like TopText) with file-sharing utilities, with over 18 million installations of the current version claimed on their web site."
As long as the user knows what he's installing on his system, there's nothing illegal about it. If I downloaded a program that disabled banner adds when I visited a web site, would that be illegal?
As long a the user knows what's happening when he's intalling the software, the competitors have nothing to say.
Think like a man of action, act like a man of thought.
The only way i see to make money is subscription based services. However, we've had years of the web giving us free things (news, p0rn, warez, linux, whatever) I dont think most people will take too well to paying for content
IMHO, the only effectave ad's would be those that took over a users computer for a period of time (like an ad on tv) But, I for one would not stand for that...When i use a computer, i do more than one thing at once, and i dont like ads telling me where to look....
Banners, I can stand...popups/popunders I'll get used...The only reason I dont block them is to send a message to the people who buy the ads "I'll look, but I wont click"
The opinions in this post are ficticious. Any similarity to actual opinions, real or imagined, is purely coincidental.
If websurfers knowingly understand what Gator does and install it, than those complaining don't have a leg to stand on.
If I want to build a device that puts a Coke poster in front of my TV every time a Pepsi ad comes on, there ain't nothing Pepsi (or their ad company, or the channel that sold them the airtime) can do about it. Similar examples work for radio as well. The key is that the switch is done in my domain. This is not like putting a big ol' poster in front of a billboard on the interstate, because that isn't in the viewers domain of choice.
Gator is giving away this device. Sure, I don't get to decide if it will be a Coke poster or a 7-Up poster -- but I do get to decide if a poster will be displayed at all or not. I also have the ability to move the poster or get rid of that particular poster altogether if I so choose.
So, why should netspace be any different from meatspace?
This all hinges on if consumers understand exactly what Gator does and consent to it. The bundling presents an additional problem that I suspect they will lose, but thats for another post.
Support a few technologists in Washington.
We all hate ads, but remember, the ads you see help pay for the pages you see.
Gator, on the other hand is a complete and total leach. They are selling advertising on other peoples content without compensation.
With Mozilla nearing 1.0 and Konqueror looking more awesome by the second, everyone should expect this type of 'ad warfare' to come to Linux/UNIX soon.
The truth is that I am *amazed* it has taken this long to happen. About 2.5 years ago I was working for a company that implemented this. It would have been a great ad revenue stream. Unfortunately the company was fucked and nothing ever happened.
The only way for companies to combat this is to deploy an 'electronic warfare' counter-attack against gator.
The sites would deploy a plugin which would detect gator modifications an remove them.
Of course this means that gator would detect it's detectors and remove them too.
The result would be an 'ad cold war' which would only leave users as victims.
This is similar to the toner wars from Diamond Age. If you don't abide by the rules expect to get into a fight...
Kevin
the joke is, it dosen't uninstall even when you press uninstall, it still leaves its dlls active in the system, commet cursor does the same damn thing. The only way to get the damn thing out of your system is to use ad-aware or hunt the dlls down yourself (can be difficult sometimes)
Free Techno/Jazz/DNB/MI Music by guys obsessed with monkeys!
Personally, I was amused by the flash ad for a whole 15 seconds. Then I tried to play the video. But I would've had to "upgrade" from netscape 6 to 4.7.
/etc/hosts - or doing the windows equivalent right now), the more of this kind of thing we'll see. That is, assuming there's not enough good-quality free software to make adware redundant. One of the cute things in this article was the vague implication that bannerjacking = theft. Wonder what that same lawyer thinks of me getting the benefit of a site while blocking its ads myself? Or better, refusing to buy a key for my copy of Opera, but blocking the site that sends me the ads that are supposed to pay for me?
You're quite right, advertisers don't understand linux (yet). But the closer it gets to attracting non-technical users (the folks who wouldn't dream of editing
I'll be going off on a tangent here, but it's relavent in regards to advertising in general. Here's what I want to see as a consumer and I think the increased benefits for both the consumer and advertiser make it worth the while.
I'd like a way to fill out a universal advertisement interest topic list. It would consist of thing such as the following:
Ok, so that's my list . I'm sure we all would have our own, and they'd change from time to time. In addition to this sort of thing, I wouldn't mind having the sites I visit / shows I watch known. Of course, you'd better have a clue as to what that means. I may visit a site and see it's crap and close it, and if anything, that should count as a *negative* viewing, not a "hit". Same with TV. I'd love it if real 99% accurate ratings were known.
My point with this isn't that I want ads. However, at this point, they appear to be a necessary evil for both TV and websites. If I have to see them, I'd prefer seeing things that interest me. I wouldn't even mind having my interest/info shared with my mailing address (although, without my name), as that costs the advertiser money and I usually sort through it on my way driving so it's lost time anyway.
It's amazing. MS propose Smart Tags and the rebellion against them is world-shattering enough for even the great Microsoft to back down. The major argument made against them is not so much that Microsoft will (at least initially) control the changes that you see. No, it is the fact that they are adjusting the page you see when you surf, and it is no longer what the original web site publisher wanted. This, apparently, is Sacrilege.
And yet, this lot come along with something else that lets you see alternatives when you browse a web page and suddenly it's OK. Rejoice, /.ers, for extra information as you surf is a Good Thing!
Don't you think that's, well, just a teensy bit hypocritical?
If you disagree, post your argument. (-1, Overrated) isn't your personal censorship tool for views you don't like.
Go for it in small claims court. They'll have to send somebody, and just hearing them explain it to the judge would be worth it.