Turning on Do Not Track in Google Chrome

The promise of Do Not Track was supposed to be that with a simple push of the button, ad networks will no longer be able to track your online behavior.

Not only is Do Not Track the opposite of simple, it also does absolutely nothing.

To illustrate, here’s how Do Not Track was implemented in Google Chrome — the world’s most-used browser, according to some studies.

Step 1: Click on “Settings”

So far so good.

Step 2: Click on “Show advanced settings”

Obviously, any user would be able to figure this out.

Step 3: Click on “Send a ‘Do Not Track’ request with your browsing traffic

Oh, right, I see it. The last privacy option. Alright, check…

Step 4: Read the disclaimer

Oh, that’s not it? Wait, what the hell does this mean? This seems to be saying that Do Not Track doesn’t guarantee that I won’t be tracked. I should probably learn more.

Step 5: Click on “Learn more”

Oh, I see. Does Do Not Track do anything? “At this time,” no.

Step 6: Close that window, and click “OK.”

Got all that? Six steps, to achieve nothing. Hooray for Do Not Track! -David

Google proves Chrome's HTML5 might yet again, this time with OK Go and Pilobolus →

Your move, Google Chrome

I prefer Google’s Chrome to Firefox, but above both of those I put all things cute and furry. Firefox has had a live webcam going with two adorable red pandas (sometimes called firefoxes) for some time now, and when they are active/on screen the cuteness is unbearable.

If there’s a Firefox extension that opens the video every time they do something cute and/or funny, I’m totally switching back.

But I would stay if Google had a sugar glider cam… - Matt

Browsers go right to Ludicrous Speed

Yeah, yeah, we get it, Microsoft. Internet Explorer 9 is really fast. It buckled its seatbelt, cancelled the three-ring circus and has gone to plaid. Its brains are going into its feet.

Alright, enough with the Spaceballs references. But the point is that Microsoft is flapping its gums about how fast its new browser is, including a recent blog post in which the company noted, “IE9 is the first and only browser to deliver full hardware acceleration of all HTML5 content.” 

Hardware acceleration means IE9 directly taps into the computer’s graphics chip to share some of the processing power normally relegated exclusively to the CPU. That allows for graphics to run super smooth and lighting quick in the browser. With hardware acceleration, you can easily watch multiple HD videos on the same Web page — not that you’d want to now, but in the future, imagine the possibilities that opens up for Web developers.

But other browsers are saying, “What do we have on this thing, a Cuisinart?” … Sorry.

In a blog entitled, “Wrong, wrong, wrong,” Firefox maker Mozilla fired back, calling Microsoft’s statement “misleading and simply wrong.” 

Alrighty, then. I guess they’re wrong.

The fact is that Firefox 4, which, like IE9 is in beta, uses hardware acceleration for HTML5 as well. As does Google Chrome 6 to a lesser extent. 

As I wrote today, the bottom line is that fast-paced innovation in the browser space is paying off for end-users. But it’s still curious that Microsoft would stake such a claim if it isn’t true.

Microsoft has yet to respond to Mozilla’s blog post. What’s the matter, Colonel Sanders? Chicken? … Sorry.

- Dave