Google Toolbar v.4
SpecialSauce writes "Google's gone and released v.4 Beta of their toolbar. Updates include: customizable buttons, smart search box, a bookmark feature that's tied to the users google.com account, and a send to SMS/Blogger/gmail button." Doesn't look like the mac version is updated yet, although the shared bookmarks thing creates unholy lust in my heart. Now if only it would allow you to search multiple search engines like Firefox's built in search.
It's bad enough they can trace your quasi-anonymous browser. At least they have to work for your identity in that case. I'm not willing to make it any easier for big brother than it already is.
Installing works fine, but it's gone when I restart the browser, and there's no sign of it in the View->Toolbars menu. Bummer :(
As someone who has grown up in a country which was behind the Iron Curtain I can tell you that this is more effective in seeding discontent than showing the results. I am rolling on the floor laughing if this is the consession made by Google to the Chinese. The Party has scored an own goal. Several times. I am still laughing... This definitely made my day...
Baker's Law: Misery no longer loves company. Nowadays it insists on it
http://www.sigsegv.cx/
I'd love to see Google start to aggregate comparisons of articles. I believe they have this power and it would be very nice to see it implemented.
My most basic description (of a very difficult process, I'd gather), is to have the Toolbar offer an "Originality" rating. If the article is not like any other article, it is rated 100%. If the article is available elsewhere, it is 0%. You should be able to click the rating and be taken to a Google site that lists the similar articles in date format -- who posted first?
This might also work to aggregate comparisons of items, or reviews, or something of the sort.