I was surprised yesterday (November 14, 2005) to hear Google's move to make the previously pay metrics offering called Urchin free with the change of the name to Google Analytics. I really do not know why Google's move would surprise me. It shouldn't. It just seems like Google has a project underway relating to every aspect of the Internet and life, so that they can continue to release a new product every other week, forever.
I found Google Analytics grand once I got past the idea that by participating I was enabling Google easier access to traffic information related to my blog, thus Google is watching. Though I began to realize Google already has similar access in a different format with Google Sitemaps, Adsense and Search result metrics. So I guess the new analytical offering just ads another item to Google's arsenal of information. Does it bother you that Google is watching? Or am I just being overly sensitive to my online freedom and privacy?
To see some other perspectives from the blogosphere on the new Google Analytics offering check out these posts on Roblog, Geekzone, netgeek.com, A Different Perspective and Jesse Newland.
