Google showing Ads DIRECTLY in Google Chrome | Hacker News Reader

Google showing Ads DIRECTLY in Google Chrome

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53 pointssalimane31 comments

I got this a couple of days ago. It links to: http://www.google.com/chromebook/index.html

Despite the panic in the Google+ comments, there's a cross next to the ad, just click it and you don't see it again.

It's no big deal, IMO.

Edit: this is the yellow box at the top of the screenshot on the + page. I'm use the current version of Chrome on OSX, in the UK. I have no plugins / extensions.

Previously on HN: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3262124

well these are "ads" alright.. but not the google adsense type. Its just a banner of related (sister) google product. Its like the black bar on google pages. They also link to other google properties.. if you call this "ad" you might as well call the black site-wide google bar an "ad". Its just a bit more user friendly with an attached description.

I agree, I see this as Google promoting their own products - which I'm used to. Would anyone say anything if it was a promo for gmail? I doubt it.

Except it appears on, for example, the "Most visited / apps" page, where there isn't normally any content.

Agreed. yes it is on an unusual place but i guess that is what the close button is for. You close the ad once and it wont come again. Thing is that if a user likes google chrome, he/she might also be interested in chrome OS. Hence the unusual spot. Plus i am in India and I don't see it. Maybe its US only since chromebooks are not available here yet.

It's trivially easy to clicky the X and never see the ad again, but that's not the point.

Chrome doesn't serve ads normally, so when it suddenly does that's (to some people) an unwelcome change in behaviour. If Google decides that Chrome is allowed to serve me ads on my "Most Visited / Apps" page what other Google products might I see there?

And I'm someone who doesn't block ads! If I'm uncomfortable with Google suddenly changing my software to allow it to push this ad at me I can only image what the extreme anti-ad fringe is saying.

You can install an extension to skip the default Google tab page: http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/Chrome/thread?tid=2666...

Actually, people have been complaining the lack of flexibility to set the default tab page for a long time.

This is fine by me. I want Google to make money thanks to Chrome - they deserve to.

The issue is not that we don't want Google to make money thanks to Chrome, but that such behavior must be disclosed. At least, according to Google's own software principles: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3262155

Ah fair enough, I didn't see that. I wonder though, where would they disclose it that people would see it before they saw the advert?

To be fair, these aren't the "ads" this inflammatory title suggested... these are not AdSense ads displaying directly inside of Chrome, these are links to Chrome and the Chrome Store... inside of Chrome.

Just like you might find an iTunes link inside of Safari someday... or down at the bottom of your launch bar on Mac... or the Windows store in Windows 8... or the Ubuntu Store inside the Add/Remove software app.

He's not referring to those, he's referring to the top message:

> Get a Chromebook for the holidays: the computer powered by Chrome.

I think the OP is referring to the yellow bar at the top that says ‘Get a Chromebook for the holidays’.

I think Google could be testing the waters for in-browser ads..

My free sandwich has pickles in it! I hate pickles!

That ad is a pretty small price to pay for such an excellent browser. If the ads get more obtrusive then the price may be too high, but at least there are other great free alternatives to pick from (Safari, Firefox, Opera and even IE).

This is totally moronic and a complete non-issue. Why is this on the front page?

Thank you for your valuable and insightful comment. Please let us know what other moronic non-issues you don't want us to discuss on HN.

Thank you for your valuable and insightful comment.

A large portion of the community is REALLY sensitive towards this sort of thing. Also, more people can upvote than downvote.

How is it moronic?

I don't turn on my computer and get pop-ups from MS telling me to buy Office.

I don't want my life to be one long sales opportunity for someone else, I need some respite from the constant bombardment of marketing drivel.

When I first started using Chrome was this there? No.

This is a classic bait and switch from Google.

Because the title is sensationalist. Why is displaying a small non-invasive ad on the start page some great evil? How is it a "classic bait and switch from Google"? What other bait and switches have they pulled in the past? Do you think they owe you a 100% free browser on your terms?

Switch to Safari, Firefox, IE, or Opera?

Oh, boo hoo. It's not like it's a popup for a hair-loss product or whatever, it's a notice in Chrome for a Chrome like product and there is an "x" beside it.

Facebook ads come with an "X" too.

Would it be okay to see an ad for a new iPod in the System Prefers of OSX?

Jeremy Tregunna - "Has nothing to do with the fact it's a free browser, and has everything to do with the lack of choice. Also, what kind of data is google tracking in this ad? My screen resolution, how many tabs I have open, where those point at, maybe my OS & version, ... Without notice, it's just not cool. Shame Google, Shame." lol

Which version? What operating system? What plugins have you? I see several plugins in the screenshot - are you sure it isn't one of those plugins?

With what is known at the moment, I would not believe Google is doing this.

It is really an ad, no plugin or other trick. I also noticed this two days ago, I have a screenshot with it on my blog (link is on my profile, not posting it here). After a while the ad seems to be disappearing for good.

Ubuntu 11.10, Google Chrome 15.0.874.121, default plugins

I've gotten it too, and complained about it here on HN. I'm only running AdBlock and I doubt they're advertising.

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