By adblocking extensions I mean browser extensions that block ads from loading/showing up, and also, to certain extents, tracking analytics, which should be a large part of Google’s business model.
And companies like those have the reputation to restrict third-party options that affect their profits.
Are attracting/keeping the Chrome’s userbase more important ?
Are there “rules” preventing such behaviors ?
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Netscape Navigator used to be The Browser (It was included on your software disk from your ISP – most notably AOL) but Microsoft turned their eye on the browser market. IE had unfair market advantage because it was on every Windows PC as the default browser and Microsoft employed practices to discourage manufacturers including other browsers. Netscape Navigator over the years died but was resurrected in Mozilla Firefox. Firefox was multi-tab and addon king long before Chrome started making it’s mark. Apple meanwhile went proprietary with Safari and 5 years later Google followed on to create Chrome (also WebKit).
Chrome had to target the techie and anti establishment Firefox’s users and get them onboard while simultaneously getting the non techie and heavily corporate IE base to move over.
Firefox is still very much there and still an incredibly good browser with regular feature updates. Chrome has fought very hard to get it’s market share from Firefox and part of that has been not only allowing addons for the techie users but becoming the addon king in terms of Browsers.
It’s a delicate balance that Google transverses with maintaining good security, providing feature updates, making money for itself with advertising, maintaining dominance in the mobile phone market and making sure all the while that they don’t let the techie crowd get away from them – and adblocking addons are key to that.
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