Google Search Options has changed

Some may or may not be aware that the Google search options have change for some (all?).

A thread was started in freechat, and then I realised not all will see it. Excerpts from said thread:

camieabz

They've moved the search option to the top (e.g. images) and now requires 3+ clicks instead of 1 to see specific images. Also in javascript.

Have sent feedback. Suggest you do likewise if you don't like it.

DavidFinbarr

Tried Google and was the old one, refreshed a couple of times the new one appeared.
Refreshed again, and back came the old one.

I agree it's a backward step.

camieabz

Well the cookies/cache clear worked for a couple of hours.

Some possible solutions:

Rich Anton Jr.
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11:08 AM (2 hours ago)
Below are two scripts which bring the side bar back. Hope this helps.

Google Search Tools Back (http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/152796)

Googlifix (http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/152777)


To install using chrome

Download the script you want
Open your extensions chrome://chrome/extensions/
Drag the userscript .user.js file and drop it to the page above (your extensions page)

john.gallowayLevel 1
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11:27 AM (1 hour ago)
Brilliant. at last something sensible - and presumably not from Google.

works a treat with Firefox too, one you've installed GreaseMonkey
(https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/greasemonkey/)
it is interesting to note that there was a significant rejection of the sidebar when it was originally introduced.
(cf http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/google-sidebar.html)

think the moral of this story is that you should always give people the choice.
especially when the tools to 'customise' your look and feel are relatively easy to manipulate.
after all, why shouldn't I be able to lay out my screen the way I want it, not the way some designer thinks it should be.
John

I haven't tried either. I'm looking to see Google's response to the complaints.

I spent a little time reading about it at the weekend. It seems Google have been 'experimenting' for the mobile device market. The jist of many complaints is that mobiles are fine, and give them their version, but mobiles don't create content, so much as view it. With three clicks instead of one for country search, large images etc, and Google completely removing the option to search a specific image size, it's a backward step. Some are threatening to move to Bing (no better) as a protest.

You can probably find google group discussions on the subject if you want to add your comments.

Glad to see your post!
I did do a search a few days ago to see if anyone had mentioned this.
At first I thought I had a display problem with IE

I don't like it at all - not user friendly.
I was hoping they'd give the option of using the old version!

Apparently there's a Facebook compalin page / protest thing.

I'm not a Facebook user, so can't see it, never mind link to it.

I don't use it either - nor Twitter ...not likely to either.
Never mind - hopefully, the message will get through.

I'll try using a different search engine in the hope lots of others are doing the same and they notice.

I think choosing a different search engine is probably the best thing you can do as I doubt very much Google cares about the opinions of individuals but does care about traffic levels and market share.

No skin off my nose. I will just go back 10 years to when I always included UK as a search term to give priority to local sites.

With Firefox I use Stylish with this

Now I'm back the having the side bar.

I just did a search (using Yahoo ) for Google changes, and found this:
http://productforums.google.com/forum/#!msg/websearc...
I added my own protest - hopefully they'll see that many people don't like it and give people the option.

I see Yahoo has a UK only one click option at the top. Not tried it much yet though for searches or images.
Will take a look at Bing too.

I don't use Google to be honest, but I thought I would have a look to see what yo was on about and I still have no idea what you are on about.

If people want to use a different search engine, then try Duck duck go.

Google used to have a sidebar on the left where one could click on 'Pages from UK only' (or not, depending on what was being searched for).
Now, there's a bar at the top that requires three clicks in two different places to get UK only.
They didn't keep it simple!
Just having the option to use it either way would help.

Apparently there's been changes to the images search too - but none that I've missed using.

Interesting:
Bing needs two clicks for UK only (narrow by region>UK only)
Yahoo Search - I can't see a UK only option, but by searching from Yahoos normal homepage: http://uk.yahoo.com/ , there is the option for UK only - just one button at the top.

How it performs as a search engine in comparison to Google remains to be seen, but I'll give it a try.

In reply to a post by TrishaH:

Google used to have a sidebar on the left where one could click on 'Pages from UK only' (or not, depending on what was being searched for).
Now, there's a bar at the top that requires three clicks in two different places to get UK only.
They didn't keep it simple!
Just having the option to use it either way would help.

Apparently there's been changes to the images search too - but none that I've missed using.

I see, it been a couple of years or more since I have used google search engine, I used Scroogle and bing for a while,, bing was better for UK stuff, but now I found duck Duck go, i use that all the time even on my mobile phone, not that I use my mobile phone for surfing that often.
DDG, don't store your searches.

most of google dev on their websites in the past few years has been backwards.

They love to change interfaces for the sake of it, youtube a prime example.
80% or so of major google updates seem to have a feature regression, eg. now on google search can no longer toggle https on off, and youtube also have feature regressions.
Even when no feature regression useability gets compromised eg. now on google search to search for only videos requires more clicks.

This https toggling: When would this be useful?

It's almost like even though my screens are getting much larger (have 2 x 27" IPS attached to this computer) a lot of websites seem to be reducing the content shown on screen instead of increasing it.

This latest move by Google is just unnecessary on desktops.

In reply to a post by camieabz:

freechat

Is that place still alive and festering?!?

In reply to a post by SamsonUK:

Is that place still alive and festering?!?

Yes, and yes.

to turn it off?

also now cant disable autocomplete, which is a privacy issue on shared machines.

there is a url however that doesnt force autocomplete which I now use.

https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?complete=0&hl=en

Edited by Chrysalis (Wed 05-Dec-12 08:14:03)

In reply to a post by SamsonUK:

It's almost like even though my screens are getting much larger (have 2 x 27" IPS attached to this computer) a lot of websites seem to be reducing the content shown on screen instead of increasing it.

This latest move by Google is just unnecessary on desktops.

In reply to a post by camieabz:

freechat

Is that place still alive and festering?!?

yeah I noticed the same its to cater for all these smartphones and tablet gimmicks.

In reply to a post by camieabz:

Yes, and yes.

I do miss watching the melt downs, there were some interesting characters in there, probably because they weren't allowed out side in real life!

I see my youtube has reverted back to the old interface, I guess the enforced beta test was deemed a failure.

Something that's bothered me for a bit. I have several deleted vids in my favourites section. Youtube shows them as deleted with the greyed out icon, but in the playlist edit or video manager section they disappear. I can't seem to find the way to delete them from the list.

the new interface which I refered to as beta, basically when set uploads only for subscriptions kept showing what they subscribed to , set favourites etc. instead of just showing new videos posted by who you subscribing to, a complete mess, so not surprised you have found issues also.

The older interface not perfect either, eg. have to change from highlights to everything on every time load the browser and site again but at least it only shows uploads instead of all other activity.

I wish Google would revert back ...or at least give an option.
There's 27 pages of protests on the Google forum, but Google don't seem to have much to say!

I changed my home page on IE to Yahoo - it's only 1 click for UK only, but still getting used to it for results. If the search results aren't brilliant, I do use Google, but with reluctance.

I think they the worst of all major internet companies in listening to feedback, all their products shout an attitude of we know best and stifle customisation.

The google search page is a crazy design, it uses about half the width of the page and then has a more pull down menu instead of using the full width so not need the pull down menu.

I recently had a website go live. It took about a week for said site to appear on the first page of Google hits when searching for the site name (it shares said name with another domain suffix). After that it's second on the first page.

Bing...several hours after...top hit.

Google proponents would probably say Bing isn't all that good on that basis. I say the advertiser that gets you top of the shop is best. Perhaps that's the difference between the search engine purists and the sales gurus, or the difference between the productive users and the less technical, non-productive users. Google is aligning itself for a particular market, due to the rise in mobile devices (and I suppose the future of 3G and 4G).

In that sense, Google is fast becoming a non-techies medium (or a less-techies one?). The point is to search and generate revenue, not to provide content providers with free access to free tools etc. I can see that if I step back. However, we still come back to the point:

What happens when the content providers can't use Google without a massive reduction in productivity?

They will go elsewhere. If Google had any sense, it would have a 'providers' interface, with customisation, adsense, analytics, adwords and all the other Google gizmos. Oh, and the easiest of search functions.