Didn't see this mentioned anywhere else... Supposedly starting yesterday, Google is prefetching the first search results for Firefox users: http://www.google.com/help/features.html#prefetch Although I tested it and it doesn't seem to be happening when I try it.
It starts downloading it? Does that mean it automatically opens the screen or just loads faster when you click on it?
They sure understand one thing, that what we used to call the Search Engine Wars are now the OS Wars, that is for sure
So if the link is using some tracking method, you have been counted as a hit even if ya don't click? That's a pagewiew for the advertiser no matter how ya slice it?
It is the first organic search result, they could code that not to count or do whatever they will with it, but if they have a cookie in your box they can tell if you click or not, right? They are not talking about paid advertising, just the first search result.