Google interface changes -- now it's Gmail's turn!

Started by Darren Dirt, December 14, 2011, 05:49:36 PM

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Darren Dirt

And the "default" is waaaaaayyyy too "spacious" (luckily you can change it between "Comfortable" and "Condensed")


But I don't like how the action buttons are just IMAGES now, I am a visual person but sometimes I prefer a 1-2 word label for my buttons, especially on a "busy" webpage!

https://support.google.com/mail/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=1357852#options :(
_____________________

Strive for progress. Not perfection.
_____________________

Mr. Analog

So far I have disliked the changes to:

-Google Search
-YouTube
-Twitter (not Google but still)
and the preview of
-GMail

It's like they want me making more clicks with fussy UI that gets in the way. On the plus side they did take some feedback that I and others offered the last time they changed Google Search (i.e. an "opt in" feature to see what things will look like BEFORE getting the changes dropped on you.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Or rather don't mess with the GUI make the SERVICE better!
By Grabthar's Hammer

Tom

Quote from: Mr. Analog on December 14, 2011, 09:27:25 PM
So far I have disliked the changes to:

-Google Search
-YouTube
-Twitter (not Google but still)
and the preview of
-GMail

It's like they want me making more clicks with fussy UI that gets in the way. On the plus side they did take some feedback that I and others offered the last time they changed Google Search (i.e. an "opt in" feature to see what things will look like BEFORE getting the changes dropped on you.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Or rather don't mess with the GUI make the SERVICE better!
What do you think about the NEW new google front page? google.ca doesn't have it yet, but https://www.google.com has it. I think its a big improvement over the old new layout. Its a lot closer to looking like the old simple front page everyone wants back.
<Zapata Prime> I smell Stanley... And he smells good!!!

Darren Dirt

Quote from: Mr. Analog on December 14, 2011, 09:27:25 PM
So far I have disliked the changes to:

...

It's like they want me making more clicks with fussy UI that gets in the way.

:cough:recentGoAwebsitechanges:cough: ::)
_____________________

Strive for progress. Not perfection.
_____________________

Mr. Analog

Quote from: Tom on December 14, 2011, 10:21:23 PM
Quote from: Mr. Analog on December 14, 2011, 09:27:25 PM
So far I have disliked the changes to:

-Google Search
-YouTube
-Twitter (not Google but still)
and the preview of
-GMail

It's like they want me making more clicks with fussy UI that gets in the way. On the plus side they did take some feedback that I and others offered the last time they changed Google Search (i.e. an "opt in" feature to see what things will look like BEFORE getting the changes dropped on you.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Or rather don't mess with the GUI make the SERVICE better!
What do you think about the NEW new google front page? google.ca doesn't have it yet, but https://www.google.com has it. I think its a big improvement over the old new layout. Its a lot closer to looking like the old simple front page everyone wants back.

I hate it, again, extra clicks.

For example: If I want to switch to image search I have to mouse over a menu and then click a link, where before I could just click the damn link. It's a totally unnecessary step.

Google had it right when there were no menus or tabs, this seems like a huge leap backward, meanwhile their search engine is becoming less accurate every time I seem to use it (how many times have you hit a link farm in the top 10 results when looking up code?)

Every search engine I've enjoyed that eventually caved in (Lycos, Infoseek, AltaVista, etc) started out with a clean interface and a search engine that "worked", then the searches got worse and the interface started getting cluttered with "features", I hate to say it but if Google can't prioritize their engine over pointless GUI changes, well the clock is ticking...

*grump*
By Grabthar's Hammer

Mr. Analog

I also want to state that, in the case of Twitter at least, some of the GUI is an improvement but the transition is always jarring if it's something you use every day particularly if the new features really don't do much at all to change the overall experience.
By Grabthar's Hammer

Tom

When I load google, that new drop down menu is shown by default, so there are no extra clicks there.
<Zapata Prime> I smell Stanley... And he smells good!!!

Mr. Analog

We must be seeing different GUIs then. The one I see has no options for changing searches or going to maps until you mouse over the menu.

Maybe I've hit some kind of experimental test batch in my IP range...
By Grabthar's Hammer

Tom

Quote from: Mr. Analog on December 15, 2011, 11:27:47 AM
We must be seeing different GUIs then. The one I see has no options for changing searches or going to maps until you mouse over the menu.

Maybe I've hit some kind of experimental test batch in my IP range...
That big drop down menu on the left is what you're talking about? The old dark grey bar is gone. The menu is shown for me when I first load google. Its closed once I make a search, but then the old links on the side for switching to images or maps is back as well, so I dunno.
<Zapata Prime> I smell Stanley... And he smells good!!!

Mr. Analog

Yeah, the menu is closed for me, like I say if I go the Google homepage (which is increasingly rare I will admit) I want to have the most common options right there in front of me immediately in order to switch modes (web/image/maps). I dunno maybe they've changed it on the version you see so that the menu is open all the time *shrug*

If they still retain a side menu AND the Google Bar they are mixing GUI metaphors which is bad enough in business apps let alone something that's used as a tool by millions.

They need to dial it back to just static XHTML. Maybe (MAYBE) still have the auto-complete in the search bar. I know it's not fancy but it works and that's what they need to focus on.
By Grabthar's Hammer

Thorin

Tom, that https://www.google.com/ does show a slightly different GUI.  What I noticed is that they're using a microphone icon as their "search" button.  At least, that's what it appears to do.  Unless they're planning to allow voice searches?
Prayin' for a 20!

gcc thorin.c -pedantic -o Thorin
compile successful

Tom

Maybe I'm seeing something completely different than either of you?

<Zapata Prime> I smell Stanley... And he smells good!!!

Mr. Analog

That's what I was seeing, but the menu was always collapsed, now I can't get it back I always see the "normal" interface.
By Grabthar's Hammer

Lazybones

Quote from: Thorin on December 15, 2011, 12:56:41 PM
Tom, that https://www.google.com/ does show a slightly different GUI.  What I noticed is that they're using a microphone icon as their "search" button.  At least, that's what it appears to do.  Unless they're planning to allow voice searches?

Voice input for search has been enabled for google chrome users for months now.

Thorin

No, I was seeing all those options in a black bar along the top of the page.  I'm also looking at it in Chrome.  And www.google.ca doesn't have the microphone icon.
Prayin' for a 20!

gcc thorin.c -pedantic -o Thorin
compile successful