Google has closed the download page for the WebAccelerator and is no longer accepting new users. Google says it has reached capacity, and, no doubt, the company is also retrenching after a tsunami of criticism. Stefanie Olsen at CNET has posted a hard-facts summary of WebAccelerator—its features, purposes, drawbacks, and risks. ONe intersting point: Google's spokesperson claims that the purpose of WebACcelerator is to free up user time that might be spent searching Google; in other words, to squeeze greater ad revenue out of the finite number of person-hours that exist in the global Google marketplace. Maybe that's part of it. But it seems undeniable to most observers that WA's main purpose is to build a more detailed and far-reaching behavioral profile of its users.
Google WebAccelerator Beta Closed
Reader Comments
(Page 1)2. I downloaded it, but saw no difference (I have broadband), and that, coupled with the privacy concerns, I uninstalled it.
Perhaps one day, they'll make it better, and I'll reinstall it, but for now my internet connection is not slow enough to warrant it.
Posted at 4:42AM on Dec 19th 2005 by Matthew
1. I have saved over one hour in one week surfing with the Google Accelerator. I really like it. I've got a review post up on the technology at:
http://thomashawk.com/2005/05/ive-saved-one-hour-in-one-week-with.html
Tom
Posted at 4:42AM on Dec 19th 2005 by Thomas Hawk