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Google Stars Extension For Chrome Leaks: Hands On

Posted by timothy on from the moderation-points dept.

An anonymous reader writes "We've known for a while now that Google is testing a new favoriting service called Google Stars, aimed at helping users save, share, and organize Web content. This is largely due to multiple leaks, detailing features as well as showing off the interface in a video and screenshots. Today, Google+ user Florian Kiersch, who has done the majority of the digging behind the service, has leaked the Google Stars extension for Google Chrome."

8 of 26 comments (clear)

  1. StumbleUpon? by corychristison · · Score: 2

    So its like StumbleUpon?

    Don't we already have a few dozen clones of that? What's the benefit other than explicitly giving Google (and advertisers) your bookmark data?

    I personally don't see the value in this. Even as an advertiser I don't see the value in it.

    1. Re:StumbleUpon? by swillden · · Score: 3, Informative

      What's the benefit other than explicitly giving Google (and advertisers) your bookmark data?

      Google doesn't give, sell or otherwise provide user data to advertisers.

      --
      Note to ACs: I usually delete AC replies without reading them. If you want to talk to me, log in.
    2. Re:StumbleUpon? by swillden · · Score: 2

      Uh yeah dude, I believe you just about as much as I believe anything Google says, which is exactly zero.

      How about the Federal Trade Commission auditors? Do you believe them? Because Google is operating under a 20 year consent decree which includes regular audits of compliance with their published privacy policy.

      --
      Note to ACs: I usually delete AC replies without reading them. If you want to talk to me, log in.
    3. Re:StumbleUpon? by hobarrera · · Score: 2

      Google doesn't give, sell or otherwise provide user data to advertisers.

      No need to - they are an advertising company.

  2. "Leaked" by sexconker · · Score: 5, Funny

    Does Google really expect me to believe that:

    1: Someone uses Google+
    2: Said Google+ "user" "leaked" this feature
    3: This feature isn't just "+1" trash built into Chrome?

    Stop trying to make Google+ be a thing.

    1. Re:"Leaked" by uCallHimDrJ0NES · · Score: 2

      Whoops! Accidentally modded you down. This comment should undo that. I agree with you.

      --
      Cloudiot: A person who does not see offsite storage as a way to lose control over access to his or her own data.
  3. Googlizing favorites! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    My guess is that Google's main purpose behind Stars is to get closer to being a portal for everything people do on the web. There are three ways I can think of to access web content:

    1. Use a search engine

    2. Type directly into the address bar

    3. Click on a "Favorites" item

    Obviously, Google is a popular search engine, and so using a search engine often means using Google. Also, depending on the browser, typing into the address bar often also starts a web search, so that option also means using Google. However, at the moment, the Favorites feature is Google's rival, because it's a convenient way of accessing the web without having to use a search engine.

    But with Google Stars, you can make your Favorites list searchable, and shareable... by using Google! Now every time you access anything on the web, you'll be doing a Google search to get there.

  4. THIS!! by s.petry · · Score: 2

    I was thinking very similarly, but will phrase it a bit differently.

    Google has a "user", that has been repeatedly "leaking" information, and allowed that user to get more content for bigger "leaks"? I'm sure many users will fall for this gag, but anyone working in the tech field that believes this is a "leak" should retire and go work in less mentally challenging career.

    --

    -The wise argue that there are few absolutes, the fool argues that there are no probabilities.