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Google Toolbar

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Google Toolbar
Developer(s)Google
Stable release
4.0.1602.1060 (Internet Explorer) 3.1.20080730 (Firefox) / June 9, 2007 (Internet Explorer) June 16, 2008 (Firefox)
Preview release
5.0.2000.2472 (Internet Explorer) 5.0.20080919Wb1 (Firefox) / July 1, 2008 (Internet Explorer) October 1, 2008 (Firefox)
Operating systemMicrosoft Windows
Mac OS X
Linux
TypeToolbar
LicenseProprietary freeware
Websitetoolbar.google.com

Google Toolbar is an Internet browser toolbar available for Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox.

Google Compute

Google Compute was a separately downloadable add-on for the Google Toolbar which allowed participation in a distributed computing project to help scientific research. It started on a limited basis in March 2002[1] and ended in October 2005.[2] [3]

Google Compute enabled a user's computer to help solve challenging scientific problems when the computer would otherwise be idle. When one enabled Google Compute, the computer downloaded a small piece of a large research problem and performed calculations on it that were then included with results from thousands of other computers. Google Compute was only available for the English language version of the Google Toolbar.[4]

The effort's first, and so far only, contribution was to Folding@home, a non-profit endeavor to model the process of protein folding in order to better understand and cure many different diseases. The Google Compute homepage recommends that users wishing to continue contributions to the project download the official Folding@home client.

It is so heavily advertised on the internet because Google pays $1 per referral (every person who installs Google Toolbar to their Explorer or Firefox)

Similar Toolbars

See also

References

  1. ^ Olsen, Stefanie (March 27, 2003). "Google tests distributed computing". CNet News. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ "Support center". Folding@Home. "The Google compute program has ended."
  3. ^ "Is Google quitting the project?". Folding Community. October 22, 2005. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ Shankland, Stephen (March 22, 2002). "Google takes on supercomputing". CNet News. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)