Google Homepage Size Over Time

And, correspondingly, a plot of Google homepage HTML file size divided by average internet speed vs time, so we wouldn’t have to compare the two curves in our heads.

Re: Google Homepage Size Over Time

#5

Post by tnuc » Sat, Oct 13, 2012, 4:22 AM UTC

dmix wrote: post #2

The important thing is iGoogle was killed off.

Not yet, another year. http://www.google.com/ig

Re: Google Homepage Size Over Time

#6

Post by 27182818284 » Sat, Oct 13, 2012, 4:24 AM UTC

I always enjoyed this interesting story:

One vigilante sent Google an anonymous email every so often just listing a number, like 37 or 43. Eventually Mayer and her colleagues figured out it referred to the number of words on the Google homepage—the implication being that someone was keeping track, so don't screw up the design

– The Google Story

Re: Google Homepage Size Over Time

#7

Post by jnazario » Sat, Oct 13, 2012, 4:26 AM UTC

would be interesting to compare this to world wide typical and average bandwidth availability.

google used to prize page load times for their search landing page. i wonder if the increase is coming about because they recognize they can indeed get away with it and maintain their performance goals, or if they re-shifted priorities and/or acceptable values for load times.

Re: Google Homepage Size Over Time

#8

Post by mitchi » Sat, Oct 13, 2012, 4:27 AM UTC

It gets cached so it's okay.

Re: Google Homepage Size Over Time

#9

Post by paulsowden » Sat, Oct 13, 2012, 4:33 AM UTC

jnazario wrote: post #7

would be interesting to compare this to world wide typical and average bandwidth availability. google used to prize page load times for their search landing page. i wonder if the increase is coming about because they recognize they can indeed get away with it and maintain their performance goals, or if they re-shifted priorities and/or acceptable values for load times.

Perhaps also the page is tee-ing up for even faster results page access, by way of instant search.

And I haven't checked, but perhaps most of the k weight comes in after the page has rendered, in which case it wouldn't negatively impact perceived load time.

The page is also more featurefull than it used to be when in the logged in state.

Re: Google Homepage Size Over Time

#10

Post by MikeCapone » Sat, Oct 13, 2012, 4:40 AM UTC

Maybe it's psychological, but I feel that since they shifted to SPDY the encrypted version is more responsive despite the bigger size.