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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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).
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?
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.
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
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.
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.