Google Scr__s the Pooch!

Apparently Google just launched a new "feature" that automatically adds a BING-like "background" image to the Google home page.

They seemed to have forgotten that many people (especially system administrators) use the Google home page as the default page - because it is devoid of all the usual crap. This is done largely to avoid graphics and java-heavy content that does not display well under RDP sessions, VNC, Citrix sessions, low-resolutions, slow refresh speeds, - as well as just as a personal preference.

Under the current implementation, users must logon with a Google account to disable the feature. Meaning that users (again with system administrators being a component) have to have Google account to disable the feature.

It was bad enough when they added the client-side scripting for the drop-down search suggestions.

Now any users interested in finding relatively "plain" search page will have to resort to lesser-known independent sites.

All of this is, IMH(f)O of course.


[edit on 2010-6-10 by EnhancedInterrogator]

It seems .com companies either do this, think way too much and change things that are working, or start charging for services that use to be free.

Except craigslist, they make enough money, and don't do dick. Why change anything! lol

I agree this is a stupid move and simplicity was what made Google popular in the first place. I also think the results have also been steadily getting less useful over time I'm not sure why they keep messing with what worked fine.

Unfortunately there isn't a real alternative that's any better.

I'm going back to clusty.com. Lean, mean, unobtrusive, non-intrusive.

What about ask.com? I've used it for five years and it works great. I haven't used Google since.

Do a Google search for ... "Google Pooch" like this ...

www.google.com...

... and special ATS thread will appear on the first page.


[edit on 2010-6-10 by EnhancedInterrogator]

Man! What the hell's going on with Google lately?!?

First we find out they're selling specific search terms to Corporations like BP ("oil" "spill"), and now they're screwing up the only reason people go there and/or are attracted to it in the first place?

I'm sure it won't last, as I'm also sure every Tom, Dick and Harry's couch is shaking in torment as we speak. They'll figure out their mistake when their shares start plummeting, and fix it. I think it's obvious they want a boycott just as much as BP...or they're testing to see if we will subject them to it (i.e. testing us).

Death of a Giant: I used to recommend Google everywhere I went (last decade and a half or so), but as of late, I've just reprogrammed all my local start page's search boxes to either Bing or Startpage.com.

I hate to say it, but good riddance to them, as I've taken all I can take from everywhere else; I'm sure as hell not taking it from some egotistical meaningless search provider when there are others sooooo much better.

When I do a "Search", I want all possible results for a damn reason! And I'm sure they know exactly what reason I'm talking about.

I noticed this last night and what really bothered me was when I logged in to my google account and chose a pic from my own pics, it stated that is was going to save it in MY online blog on blogger.com. It mentioned a Picasa account and I have no idea wth that is. I do have a blogger account but wth do I have to load my pic to there as well so I can have it as my google background? I try to keep my blog anonymous and I don't want pics of me on it!

Who uses Google anymore?

Scroogle Scraper
Startpage
Clusty

With all the saving and tracking they do...

try scroogle
it is a google scraper that delets its logs
so no central srutinizer


www.scroogle.org...

oops ya beat me Havoc
works well though



[edit on 10-6-2010 by Danbones]

[edit on 10-6-2010 by Danbones]

Looks like Google reverted to the previous blank/white back-ground!
I'm putting this one in the WIN column for now!

[edit on 2010-6-10 by EnhancedInterrogator]

I get a white page with no background image. However there is text at the bottom which says "Change background image".

When I go to Google.com it redirects me to google.co.uk and it is the normal page, but then if I stay on that page and change the URl back to google.com next time it redirects me to .co.uk it sometimes shows the background image.

TBH although it does look pretty good I think that this is a mistake on their part. As people on here have already said, part of the reason for using google is because it is plain and uncluttered. That said it doesn't bother me too much as I search from my toolbar anyway most of the time, so I rarely see the home page.

-Cauch1

Yep, Google has ruined Youtube, and now they ruined their search engine.

It's probably some new suit thinking to make some 'changes'... Always one of those morons. Well, it's been nice knowing you Google. You will soon go the way of Yahoo and AOL. Into Obscurity.

News Source

Fourteen hours into a 24-hour experiment with background imagery, Google's home page is once again stark white. Design guru Marissa Mayer confirmed that Google was ending the experiment early due to what she called a "bug," which erased a link underneath the search bar on google.com that explained why Google's famously spartan home page had taken on a colorful look. Apparently many searchers on Google.com Thursday morning missed the company's blog post Wednesday night, and were confused and annoyed at the change, turning "remove google background" into the seventh-most-popular search on Google Thursday. Last week Google announced that it would begin providing its users with the option of setting their own background image behind the home page, but last night it forced an image to appear for all users signed into a Google account to highlight the feature. That didn't sit well with many grown used to Google's clean white design, especially when Google's explanation of why it was forcing this look vanished from the home page.

lol

they changed it back.

a lot of people probably complained, now it is back to white.

I think they were just trying to promote their new feature, where you can put your own picture in the background (with an account).

Originally posted by theuhstuf
lol

they changed it back.

a lot of people probably complained, now it is back to white.

I think they were just trying to promote their new feature, where you can put your own picture in the background (with an account).

You would have to be seriously stupid to open an account with Google because they already know your every move and anyway i don't want an email from a bleb at Google trying to blackmail me because i go to porn sites or download torrents.

Google has become Big Bros big brother and they force you to except a cookie unless your happy with ten results a page which takes you to page three just to get past the pay to click links they put at the top of the page.

Time we gave the smaller providers a go and that does not include Bing who given the chance will make even google look like the good guy.

FYI - if you use the beta ssl google page, it's the same plain white page we all know and love.

google ssl

Google looks like it always has on my end

Anyways, google has never really bothered me, but I know there are alot of paranoid people, especially here on ATS, and a great, privacy oriented search engine is actually Start Page.

From their privacy page:

PRIVACY

Startpage Protects Your Privacy !

Startpage is powered by Ixquick.
The only search engine that does not record your IP address.

Your privacy is under attack !

Every time you use a regular search engine, your search data are recorded. Your search terms, the time of your visit, the links you choose, your IP address and your User ID cookies all get stored in a database.

The identity profiles that can be constructed from this cloud of information represent modern day gold for marketers.
But government officials, hackers and even criminals also have an interest in getting their hands on your personal search data.
And sooner or later they will...

Originally posted by At0mZer0
Except craigslist, they make enough money, and don't do dick. Why change anything! lol

I always wonder how sites like craigslist make money.
They don't have any pop up ads or banners. So how do they make money?
(I am not knowledgeable in this area)