What the (censored) did Google just do?

[the8thark]

And it does not work anymore that way. Cause now google starts searching as soon as you type in the first letter. So you don't get your search by typing in what you want and press enter. It automatically searches for you letter by letter as you type in and editing the search ad you change what you type in the search field.

So pretty much the I'm feeling lucky button is there but in practice you can never actually use it.

From another of my posts on the forum. But I wanted to ask why would google :
1. Do this in the first place make searches automatic as you type in each letter?
2. And secondly if that's the case why leave in the search and I'm feeling lucky buttons? As with this change you never get to click on those 2 buttons anyways.

Well I just found out it's an option called "instant searching" You can have it on or off. But they put it on without telling me. And I was like huh? why do that?

 

[dtravis7]

I started noticing that a few weeks or so ago. At first I thought it was something in Safari but it does it in other browsers also. Not sure what they are up to.

 

[Doug b]

Yeah, I'm not a fan of this either. Nor am I a fan of the way the image search works anymore. I don't like how: 1) Every image shows up on ONE huge page and 2) How when you hover over an image, it gets enlarged. There was absolutely NOTHING wrong with the way things were before and I kind of resent them thinking that they need to get all "fancy" to try and compete with the likes of Bing or whatever.

If I wanted something like Bing, I'd USE BING.

Doug

Edit: Quick fix for now if you want a permanent way back to the old search method on any browser without auto search or the stupid image hover thing. Copy this into your address bar (no quotes of course) :

"http://www.google.com/images?q=radiohead&hl=en&complete=0&sout=1&prmd=ivmcnb&source=lnms&tbs=isch:1&ei=VmywTKuMIcaAlAfVvZjlDw&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&ved=0CBUQ_AU&biw=840&bih=452

Replace the word after the "q=" to anything you want. I chose Radiohead because well.. you can figure that out.

Now, for Firefox users ONLY and a WARNING: It is not known if this work around has any effect on how FF renders other websites, so use at your own risk. I've only just started using it this way and have yet to come across any issues. If I do, I'll list them here. And if anyone else does this mod and has any issues, please let us know.

1- In the URL bar type about:config

2- Search the setting named general.useragent.extra.firefox (its default value is Firefox/3.6.10 in my case).

3- Right-click => Modify.

4- Clear its value and click OK.

That's it. Google will have reverted back to its basic search regiment !

Doug

 

[Audio.Trench]

Yeah, I'm not a fan of this either. Nor am I a fan of the way the image search works anymore. I don't like how: 1) Every image shows up on ONE huge page and 2) How when you hover over an image, it gets enlarged. There was absolutely NOTHING wrong with the way things were before and I kind of resent them thinking that they need to get all "fancy" to try and compete with the likes of Bing or whatever.

If I wanted something like Bing, I'd USE BING.

Doug

I agree with you 100% on this.. The image search sucks using my Dell with only a GMA-4500HD.. As does most other flash-based stuff.

I want the old Google back!

 

[dtravis7]

Yeah, I'm not a fan of this either. Nor am I a fan of the way the image search works anymore. I don't like how: 1) Every image shows up on ONE huge page and 2) How when you hover over an image, it gets enlarged. There was absolutely NOTHING wrong with the way things were before and I kind of resent them thinking that they need to get all "fancy" to try and compete with the likes of Bing or whatever.

If I wanted something like Bing, I'd USE BING.

Doug

Thanks Doug. I am still waking up! That Image Search changed about the same time as what the8thark mentioned. Drives me crazy. In Safari I had an Ad Blocker on and with it enabled it beach balled trying to show all those pics and took forever! Turning off the Safari Ad Blocker sped it way up, but I am still not happy with it. It was much faster and more useable before.

I have really never used Bing for an Image search. If that is how it works, then I won't bother.

 

[Doug b]

Look at my revised post guys!

Doug

 

[MacDude121]

The first time I used google with instant... I kinda freaked out. I thought my enter button was stuck down or something... then after 10 minutes I found the stupid little instant button thing... Are people getting too lazy to hit enter or click (Search) now?

 

[vansmith]

You an turn Instant off by going to Settings > Search Settings (from the Google homepage).

 

[dtravis7]

You an turn Instant off by going to Settings > Search Settings (from the Google homepage).

I was coming back to post this but looking more for one that turns off that image search. That is the one that really bugs me. The Instant I can take or leave and as van stated, is easy to turn off right in google settings. I want the image one off as it plays havoc with my iMac G5/Safari with the Safari Block running.

Can you find an easy one for that one Van? You do I will owe you for life!

 

[XJ-linux]

I just went back to Dogpile. Google search is bloated anymore.

 

[vansmith]

Can you find an easy one for that one Van?

Unfortunately not. This is the best I can do.

 

[the8thark]

The first time I used google with instant... I kinda freaked out. I thought my enter button was stuck down or something... then after 10 minutes I found the stupid little instant button thing... Are people getting too lazy to hit enter or click (Search) now?

I see your point. But when I realised what was happening I though this:

With this instant search then Google could in theory track our partial searches. Cause cause anything you type in (in instant search mode) would be sent to the Google servers and translated into a search. So this is why I do not like Google. I feel it's a infringement in my privacy. I don't want Google to have information like this from me. I do not trust Google with it.

 

[Doug b]

Unfortunately not. This is the best I can do.

The first way I listed is a lot easier. It gives you back basic Google and all you have to do is bookmark that page. And the Firefox trick I listed has been working a charm as well.

Doug

 

[vansmith]

What I posted does the same thing your post does - adds the "&sout=1" bit to the URL. Your URL was needlessly long - it only had to be "http://www.google.com/images?q=radiohead&sout=1". That's much easier to remember if you don't have your bookmarks available.

Your Firefox method changes the useragent string which is a terrible way to fix that problem. Why should you have to change your UAS just to view one page?

 

[MYmacROX]

I don't mind it at all. Hasn't even entered my mind that it would bother anyone until I read this thread. Oh well, it's fine by me.

 

[6string]

You an turn Instant off by going to Settings > Search Settings (from the Google homepage).

Ahh, that's better!
Van, you're the man

 

[the8thark]

You an turn Instant off by going to Settings > Search Settings (from the Google homepage).

Thanks Van. I said in my original post you can have it on or off. I worked out how to turn it off. So people would know by reading my post. But I just didn't say on the forums how to do it. And you did .

 

[Doug b]

What I posted does the same thing your post does - adds the "&sout=1" bit to the URL. Your URL was needlessly long - it only had to be "http://www.google.com/images?q=radiohead&sout=1". That's much easier to remember if you don't have your bookmarks available.

Cool, didn't actually see that. Thanks.

Your Firefox method changes the useragent string which is a terrible way to fix that problem. Why should you have to change your UAS just to view one page?

Just curious, if it's not affecting anything other than fixing the image search issue, what's so terrible about it ? I mean, if it's not breaking anything else ? That's why I asked others to list any issues they might encounter if doing that. Thus far, I've had zero issues since yesterday. Granted, I haven't been on the computer all day.

Doug

 

[1991-C4]

Well I just found out it's an option called "instant searching" You can have it on or off. But they put it on without telling me. And I was like huh? why do that?

Does Google normally consult you when making changes to their software?

With this instant search then Google could in theory track our partial searches.

This is not theoretical at all! Google Chrome has been doing this since day one. People from Google have even testified before congress in conjunction with terrorist activities specifically because they do track what people are searching for.

If you search for "how to make an atomic bomb", no one will probably notice. But if a certain IP address is searching for stuff like this and nothing else (not even porn!), that is sure to raise a few flags somewhere!

 

[vansmith]

Just curious, if it's not affecting anything other than fixing the image search issue, what's so terrible about it ? I mean, if it's not breaking anything else ? That's why I asked others to list any issues they might encounter if doing that. Thus far, I've had zero issues since yesterday. Granted, I haven't been on the computer all day.

I only say that it is a terrible way because it can adversely affect your browsing experience. Let me give you an example: If I change my user agent in Opera so that it identifies as IE, I can't load Gmail (I get an ActiveX is disabled error). If I change it back to Opera's UAS, Gmail loads perfectly fine. So although that specific example may not happen for you, you may encounter issues elsewhere. Your choice may be more problematic as well (I can't be sure) since you changed it to nothing.