Google’s fade-in homepage confuses
Google homepage tweaks have become common, but the latest has some folks scratching their heads.
By Andrew Heining | 10.30.09
It’s no bar code logo, but Google’s latest home page experiment has some searching for an explanation.
The search giant has always been a fan of minimalist design, but its latest trick – a google.com that loads with simply a white page, the familiar colorful logo, and a search box – takes things a step further.
The “bucket testing,” visible only to select groups of Google users (and even to select browsers – this blogger sees it on one but not another, on the same machine) has been going on since early this month.
A few variations have been seen, including a completely blank version that TechCrunch first wrote about in early October, and a more recent one that, laughably, includes the line “This space intentionally left blank.”(Were people really that confused? Were they getting to the page and leaving without searching?)
The version we’ve seen most recently opens with the sparse logo and search box, with “Press enter to search” below.
The fading-in treatment is just one of many homepage treats Google has had in store for its users recently. October 8 saw the familiar Google logo replaced with a bar code to commemorate the anniversary of the first patent on one. Before that, the site paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi on what would have been the spiritual leader’s 140th birthday. And in September, in a nod to HG Wells’ birthday, Google featured a series of cryptic UFO-themed images that had many on the Web – including your Horizons bloggers – guessing.
Did Google go minimalist for you? Have you seen a different image or message recently? Leave a comment to let us know. And be sure to follow us on Twitter – @CSMHorizonsBlog – for the latest news, rumors, and tech oddities.
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3. Tim Cohn | 10.30.09
I wrote about why I think Google has implemented the linkless page - to increase user’s attention and retention here:
http://timothycohn.com/2009/10/06/google-fading-homepage/
And about the attention wars here: http://searchmarketingcommunications.com/2009/10/27/the-attention-wars/
4. Michael E. Gruen | 10.30.09
I saw it once on Chrome in XP… I thought it was a special branding for its own web browser.
I kindof like it, actually.
5. Sue | 10.30.09
I am always upset when people enter a search term, and then fuss around on their desk looking for their mouse so they can click on search.
It seems like 30% of people need a kick in the rear to teach them that then [enter] key would work 3 seconds faster than the mouse, every time, and your hands are already on they keyboard.
6. Chris | 10.30.09
I was seeing it for a couple weeks in Firefox 3.5, XP. I thought it was awesome - it wasn’t confusing at all. It’s gone back to the old page now though.
7. Skippy2057 | 10.30.09
The first couple of times I saw the fade-in effect, I actually thought I had a slow internet connection. Duh.
I like the clean look of Google too, and I think the “effects” are not really necessary.
8. patrick | 10.31.09
I tried bing a few times but i just can’t rely on its results. I still need to check Google because Bing misses out on some important links.
9. Link | 11.01.09
Yepp, seen this running Opera 10.01 under Win7. Thought the page just didn’t fully load at first. xD
10. Noam | 11.01.09
I just got it in Chrome on XP, I got a logo, search box and the two search buttons until I move my mouse. I like.
My rationalization for it is: If you don’t use your mouse, why show you links?
I think it’s cool, not at all confusing and gives the homepage a modern, futuristic feel…
11. Kevin Oh! | 11.01.09
Just caught on to this today. Took me a few times to realize it but at first I thought FireFox was hung up, it wasn’t until my cursor was in the page that I realized the new “fade in”.
I’m thinking I like it, but too early to tell.
Firefox 3.0.15 Vista Home Premium
12. G | 11.01.09
I like the fade-in minimalist look, but “This space intentionally left blank” is really stupid.
13. John L | 11.02.09
I use Cut/Paste a lot into the Google searchbox. My hands aren’t always on the keyboard and now to press [Enter] they need to be. Before I could click [Search] or hit [Enter]. My options have just been reduced for no good reason.
If Google wants to do this, why don’t they make it changeable in the “Settings”.
Oh well, at least Bing lets me do both.
john
14. Mark | 11.03.09
I don’t like it. I go to type in my search phrase just as it fades back in. It’s distracting.
15. Charles | 11.04.09
I see the fade-in, hate it, and wish Google would stop doing it. It’s gimmicky and irritating.
16. Monika Morawska | 11.05.09
This is the dumbest “innovation” by Google yet. I am amazed that there are people who like this contender for “The most annoying feature of 2009″. I need speed and efficiency. If some people need a simple interface, let them go to google.com/for-dummies, or let google let us choose google.com/for-pros. I have just wasted 5 min. trying to figure out if my PC was hit by a virus or what not.
18. Chris | 11.09.09
To all the people saying this is minimalism at its best: there’s nothing more minimalistic about it fading in, there’s actually more going on now and it’s a distraction. I have noticed it slowing my time down as well when I’m searching many things quickly. Very annoying, I hope Google rethinks this stupid idea.
19. ishmael daro | 11.12.09
I can’t remember the last time I actually clicked on the search button and the homepage looks much cleaner now. The only problem might have been the “I’m feeling lucky” button but since typing your search into the Firefox URL bar returns the top result, I haven’t needed to use that either. I hope Google keeps it.
20. Johanna | 11.12.09
I have the fade in, and don’t like it. It reminds me of bad PowerPoint presentation nuisances. It makes me feel like something’s wrong with my browser.
Trackbacks/Pingbacks
1. Google’s fade-in homepage confuses (Andrew Heining/Christian Science Monitor) | Technology startup news GeekoPedia | 10.30.09
2. Google’s fade-in homepage confuses (Andrew Heining/Christian Science Monitor) | Technology startup news GeekoPedia | 10.30.09
4. Big Bird goes Google for Sesame Street's 40th birthday | csmonitor.com (big bird s birthday) | Today's Hot Stories | 11.04.09
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1. Kevin | 10.30.09
I actually like the clean look. It’s exactly what I need for a search engine - I just wish the results were as good as Bing.