Google plans to make more changes to Google Search

Martin Brinkmann
Oct 7, 2009
Updated • May 21, 2018
Google
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Google's latest changes to the company's search engine were not welcome by all users. The increase of the font size was a shock to many who used to work with the same search engine layout in previous years.

Some users were apparently that irritated by the change that they stated openly that they would switch to another search engine if Google would not undo the changes immediately.

Soon userscripts and Firefox extensions were created that would bring the font size back to the old size.

Users who have been in shock then might want to stop reading at this point because it could get worse. for them.

Techcrunch was the first to write an article about Google's new experimental homepage which only displays the Google logo and the search form on the page initially. No buttons, no other links.

Those links only become visible when you move the mouse in the window. Take a look at the video to see how the new Google search page could look like in the future:

Users with eagle eyes notice that there is no Search button at the end of the form and no I'm feeling lucky button either. It somehow does make sense from a usability standpoint.

Many users simply type the search query and hit enter on the keyboard to perform the search. Since they do not move the mouse at all for this operation, they do not need the links on that page. Anyone moving the mouse maywant to click on the links or use the mouse to perform the search and that's why the links are displayed only if the mouse is moved.

It still could be very confusing for users, and it is very likely that many will call tech support to ask if something is broken. You can also visit the custom search page if you want a barebones search interface.

Update: It appears that Google did not implement the change after all. If you visit the main Google website today, you see all page elements including links at the top and bottom right away without having to move the mouse first.

Summary
Google plans to make more changes to Google Search
Article Name
Google plans to make more changes to Google Search
Description
Google tested an experimental search engine layout in 2009 that would only display the Google logo and the search box but no other page elements until the mouse was moved. The company did not make the change, however.
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Publisher
Ghacks Technology News
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Comments

  1. paulus said on October 8, 2009 at 1:29 pm
    Reply

    When i tray to start up the link in your page http://www.google.com/custom/
    i get the answer that the page is no longer present?

    1. Martin said on October 8, 2009 at 2:12 pm
      Reply

      Ups, you need to use it without the last /. This is the correct url http://www.google.com/custom

  2. Transcontinental said on October 8, 2009 at 7:42 am
    Reply

    Google is becoming hysterical. Here we’ve moved our Web/Image/Video searches to Exalead, much better, takes the users’ preferences into consideration. I don’t know what’s going on over at Google’s headquarters but really looks like the company is getting mad, they’re movin’ around everywhere excited like a virgin!

  3. Jack said on October 8, 2009 at 2:12 am
    Reply

    Who cares, I use scroogle.org for my anonymous google searches. I don’t care what the logo or font looks like, I just want accurate anonymous search results.

  4. djevrek said on October 7, 2009 at 10:27 pm
    Reply

    I notice this change in the morning on Google Chrome in Linux Fedora … I notice this just once, when i first time open Google web page

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