Google has launched it's own URL shortener service known as Goo.gl. Right now this feature works only in two of it's services, Google Toolbar and Feedburner.

A little more info about Goo.gl from the Google blog:
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/...e-toolbar.html

They claim the following benefits:

* Stability: Google's scalable, multi-datacenter infrastructure provides great uptime and a reliable service to our users.

* Security: As we do with web search, shortened URLs are automatically checked to detect sites that may be malicious and warn users when the short URL resolves to such sites.

* Speed: At Google we like fast products and we've worked hard to ensure this service is quick. We'll continue to iterate and improve the speed of Google Url Shortener.

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They claim the following benefits:which are attributes of the new server, not a shortened url ---

S O ---- not real exciting to me

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I am very concerned about Google. I have used the toolbars for years, with minimum options enabled- no problem. Then came their "Google Notifier"- an auto updater. Update a toolbar? No thanks- I disabled it, took it off of startup. But it keeps reappearing.

I disabled and stopped the Service, took it off of Startup. From time to time, I check my Event Viewer and Startup Tasks. On one day, I saw 15 'Information' entries for gusvc. This is the update Service!

Their latest is Google Quick Search. So what this amounts to is constant connecting to, from or by Google. Is this the price we pay for using "the World's Greatest Search Engine"?

I am one who want control over what runs on my systems but I don't like these frequent connections for processes I've turned off!

There has been talk in the past insinuating the Google is running spyware. Doesn't this enforce that?

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would appear to be approaching that point.

I'd like to think this is information farming (noting where & what you search and read) and not spyware/privacy breach
ME TOO!
For that reason, I disdain all toolbars, even tech-101's tool bar.
If I can't find a subject of interest, then there's an organization issue on the site,
or fumble-fingered-senility has set-in :gulp:

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One does have to wonder though what information was 'farmed' 15+ times when the process was suppose to be disabled!

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