GMail

[Daniel T]

Ok, what's all this I've heard about GMail? On a show called MoneyWise that I was watching(I have no idea why I was watching it), they mentioned this whole GMail thing. They seemed to be saying that it was some kind of scam that violates people's privacy and steals their money. I wouldn't expect this from Google. Could someone tell me wut's goin on? Thanx,
-Dan

[GusVenditto]

A few days ago, Google announced it has a new service in development -- it's free email and they'll try to do some things differently, like thread messages instead of list them all chronologically.

they also let it be known that context-sensitive ads would appear on your inbox, the same way a context sensitive ad appears when you get Google results (or sometimes, even when you look at a page at this forum).

Obviously, this could freak out someone who may see a Viagra ads showing up next to a "dear john" email from a former girlfriend (I'm assuming "weak perofrmance" is the context of the breakup here... you get the idea)

For those of us who know Google doesn't need to have a little green man reading their email in order to figure out how to deliver context-sensitive ads, it seems pretty silly to be worried.

Then again, I probably wouldn't use my real name if I signed up for gmail -- just to be safe

[AdamGundry]

You can find it at https://gmail.google.com/. It looks interesting, but there's some concern over privacy implications (http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=internetNews&storyID=4752459&section=news).

Adam

[Aronya1]

Something I read recently suggested that one concern was the possibility Google might be inserting those ads into your outgoing mail. Not only would they be trying to target YOUR shopping habits, but also those of the people you send mail to or receive it from.

[iKwak]

Great promotion skills.