Google Dumps Google Toolbar For Firefox

Google has been doing some major housecleaning: The web giant announced Wednesday that it would be shuttering Google Labs, an online incubator of experimental products. Thursday, Google alerted its users in a brief blog post that it was effectively phasing out its Google Toolbar for Firefox, a feature that users could install in their Firefox browser for easy access to Google.com, Gmail, sharing, and other services (See screenshot below).

Google wrote, "While Google Toolbar for Firefox works on versions up to and including Firefox 4 only, it will not be supported on Firefox 5 and future versions."

The company attributed its decision to stop developing the tool to improvements in the Firefox browser, noting, "For Firefox users, many features that were once offered by Google Toolbar for Firefox are now already built right into the browser."

Since taking over as CEO of Google earlier this year, Google co-founder Larry Page has attempted to refocus the company and put more support behind key initiatives. He said in a recent earnings call, "Greater focus has also been another big feature for me this quarter -- more wood behind fewer arrows," adding, "Focus and prioritization are crucial given our amazing opportunities."

Though Google recently launched several major new products, including Google Wallet and Google+, the company has also been on a shuttering spree. Google announced this year that it would be closing Google Video, Google PowerMeter and Google Health, and also pulled features such as estimated travel times on Google Maps and realtime search results that pulled in tweets.

What Google products are you afraid will be phased out? What do you think will be the next one to get the axe? Let us know in the comments below.

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Comments

[Christopher Evans]

03:24 PM on 08/14/2011

I really don't understand why can't you get google tool bar for google chrome ? WTF is going ON GOOGLE DUDES ?

[Dan Vasquez]

02:25 PM on 07/28/2011

I always have both browsers installed because sometimes a page just doesn't function well on one or the other but a page never fails on both browsers. Plus If I have to use Windows I refuse to use their browser.

[Dan Vasquez]

02:08 PM on 07/28/2011

Google and Firefox are both built on open source software, so it's no big deal. If Firefox developers what to incorporate Google features, they can because they have free access to the source code. That is why Firefox already has the Google features they like built in.

[RezidentBivrip]

10:04 AM on 07/24/2011

Google Chrome > Firefox > Internet Explorer... I'll stick with Chrome :)

[Nick Wood]

03:56 AM on 07/24/2011

Good riddance. I've always hated being inundated with pushy installers attempting to install 50 different useless toolbars on my browser. Google would be better served using that development time on something different -- like Google+!

[mildredrose]

03:32 AM on 07/24/2011

At the risk of sounding slightly ignorant, but at the same time unbiased, I see Google’s decision to close their Labs as having both a positive and a negative aspect. http://bit.ly/ruCoUe http://bit.ly/ruCoUe

[frenchfrog]

07:19 PM on 07/23/2011

I only use Google Chrome now and I love it. IE abd firefox are old news.

[Enzo Ferrari]

04:37 PM on 07/23/2011

Get rid of Google Instant !
I am tried of having to go to the preference page every time I need to search and turn it and filtering off. Instant and filtering should be optional, not default.

[campbell30]

07:48 AM on 07/23/2011

If Google can maintain their quality and genius that makes them Google, then with or without their Labs the outcome should remain seamless to those on the outside looking in. http://bit.ly/ruCoUe

[BoFo]

06:41 AM on 07/23/2011

Most toolbars are useless and really only benefit the companies that own them because they result in multiple, automatic web hits to their respective sites.

[AronScon]

12:41 PM on 07/22/2011

I love my Google Toolbar, it's the only reason I haven't switched to Chrome. I like the page rank tool, the link to view Google's Cache snapshot of a webpage, but the one thing I can not live without is Google Bookmarks.
My entire Internet life is stored in Google Bookmarks.
Ironically there is now way to add Google Bookmarks to the Chrome "toolbar" (Chrome doesn't actually allow toolbars, instead it's called the Bookmark Bar) There are ways to add current Google Bookmarks but you can't add new bookmarks from the Chrome Bookmark Bar, You need to open Google Bookmarks in a separate tab and from there it's just a mess.

Frankly, when I read this, I was shocked. What can it possibly cost Google to update a toolbar to the next version of Firefox. This must be a snub at Firefox and it's just childish, petty and as usual totally inconsiderate to the end user.
Google I'd like to wish you a Great Big F You!

[jo smith456]

09:57 AM on 07/22/2011

IOW, it doesn't make sense to be adding enhancements to a competitor's browser...

[G Kay]

09:16 PM on 07/22/2011

Exactly... Having a Google toolbar on a competitor's browser means that Google is encouraging the use of these browsers. But on the other hand, Google will lose the people whom are only used to work on Google's competitor browsers.

[Rynox]

09:24 AM on 07/22/2011

Chrome. It's beautiful.

[sve]

09:22 AM on 07/22/2011

Goodbye unexpected innovation and discovery. From now on we will look for whatever other people are being successful with and copy as fast as we can. After all, it worked so well for Microsoft chasing Apple all these years, and we want to be just like them.

[deans2cents]

08:54 AM on 07/22/2011

And the ready built firefox tools r much better.....