Browser Becomes Billboard

MikeKD writes "Citing a desire to 'enhance the user experience', United Virtualities is 'preparing to introduce a product [called Ooqa Ooqa] that will allow advertisers to automatically change the appearance of Web browsers, usurping some of the functions built into popular browsers...', according to an MSNBC article--and all this supposedly without downloading any additional software. UV says a lot of sweet things about being able to turn it off and allowing the web sites to customize the degree of intrusion (from reverting to normal form when leaving to retaining the rebrand even after leaving), but does anyone think advertisers will restrain themselves? Not I." Friends don't let friends use browsers susceptible to this.

Comments

Ooqa Ooqa?

[ShaunC]

What it does is bad enough, but what it's called is even worse. I think some of these dot com companies might do a little better if they didn't spend all the VC money on crack for the marketing department.. :)

-s

Re:Ooqa Ooqa?

[mr. phantastik]

I keep thinking of Oompa Loompas. And the fact that its the nickname for the co-founders daughter...well...

Oompa Loompa doopity doo, we're going to change your browser for you...

Re:Ooqa Ooqa?

[poot_rootbeer]

OH I GET IT!

"Ooqa ooqa" is just "eboo eboO" rotated 180 degrees!

Re:Ooqa Ooqa?

[Bob McCown]

Having your name attached to annoying advertising methods can't be good

Yea, I bet Carl Coldcall and Berny Bulkmailing are really fuming...

an analogy if you will.

[RestiffBard]

wouldn't this be similar to say you're watching friends and while you're watching someone enters your house and paints your television pink, puts a sign on top of your tv that says buy tampax, and replaces your remote with a tampax branded remote?

Re:an analogy if you will.

[maX_]

reminds me of my friend's Forest Gump impersonation:
"Life is like a box of tampons, there's always strings attached..."

Re:an analogy if you will.

[Raunchola]

"...puts a sign on top of your tv that says buy tampax..."

Puts new meaning to the "Tampax was here" slogan, doesn't it?

Re:an analogy if you will.

[cybermage]

but how do you change the volume or turn it off???

Simple: To increase volume, don't take out trash. To lower volume, buy flowers. To turn off, don't wash for a few days.

Uh oh...

[slipkid]

Is this going to affect my Bonzi Buddy??!!

Imagine the opportunities...

[Schlopper]

I just __CAN'T__ wait to see the latest pr0n ads..
Wonder what we'll be clicking on to close the windows?

Gives a whole new meaning to 'pop-ups'.

Re:As a betatester..

[Tackhead]

> Well the cofounder is probably from earth. He could even be Jewish as shoshkele is a hebrew nickname for susan.

Thanks. As of today, and for the first time in my life, I can find some sympathy for the Palestinians.

Re:From the article

[CJ Hooknose]

If Satan had a daughter named Hell, I suspect he would have called the underworld something else.

If you check your Milton, you'll find that Satan had a daughter named Sin, and he banged her, and they had a son called Death. Taking this metaphor a little further, Business had a daughter named Greed, and together, they begat a brood called "Pervasive Idiocy", "Pointy-Haired Boss", "Dot-Com", and "RIAA". Nothing to see here, move along.