Google Homepage Redesign • Hacker News Board

Re: Google Homepage Redesign

#21

Post by fname » Thu, Sep 17, 2009, 10:43 AM UTC

eh...

You don't have to use the keyboard shortcuts, you can hover over the logo and will see an arrow appear... You can cycle through search engines that way as well.

Re: Google Homepage Redesign

#22

Post by roundsquare » Thu, Sep 17, 2009, 10:54 AM UTC

fname wrote: post #21

eh... You don't have to use the keyboard shortcuts, you can hover over the logo and will see an arrow appear... You can cycle through search engines that way as well.

Is it just me, or is that arrow barely visible?

The colors are sorta nice, but I shouldn't have to be told there is an arrow to realize it.

Re: Google Homepage Redesign

#23

Post by onreact-com » Thu, Sep 17, 2009, 12:12 PM UTC

As I almost never actually look at their homepage using Google from toolbars or browsers directly this is of marginal interest.

Re: Google Homepage Redesign

#24

Post by JimmyL » Thu, Sep 17, 2009, 12:15 PM UTC

Skeuomorph wrote: post #4

apsurd wrote: post #2

Uh no. Not everyone on the planet is die hard web two point oh bleeding edge geeeeeeeniusssses like us. There is no context. I don't know what I am supposed to do. Why is there no submit button? I'm supposed to magically realize that enter = submit? Not everyone knows what google is. It is quite absurdly annoying to assume our "above average" knowledge of the internet is a common trait. Please someone add a link list…

Yes. In the real world, 8% surveyed (by Google) in Times Square knew what a browser was. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4MwTvtyrUQ&feature=playe... Now try explaining difference between URL bar and Search bar in Safari, Firefox, etc... Give up yet? I wonder if that survey relates to why Google decided the OS should be the browser, so people might actually use Chrome. ;-) Best mantra for web design isn't "Web 2.0", i…

>> Now try explaining difference between URL bar and Search bar in Safari, Firefox, etc.

Exactly.

My mom, who is in her early sixties and is considered to be very proficient in how to use the Internet among her peer group, can't seem to get that there's a difference between the Google search box and the address bar - she just searches for "cnn.com", clicks on the first result, and gets there. And when you think about it, this is a fine process for her - she doesn't understand/care about the way the internet actually works, but she has a routine (punching it all into google) that always gets her near where she's trying to be.

She also can't get her head around that hitting Enter submits a form - she'll type it in, and then click on the search button. 100% of the time.

Re: Google Homepage Redesign

#25

Post by fname » Thu, Sep 17, 2009, 12:30 PM UTC

roundsquare wrote: post #22

fname wrote: post #21

eh... You don't have to use the keyboard shortcuts, you can hover over the logo and will see an arrow appear... You can cycle through search engines that way as well.

Is it just me, or is that arrow barely visible? The colors are sorta nice, but I shouldn't have to be told there is an arrow to realize it.

I agree... It took me a while to notice it too before I clicked it and the logo changed.

Re: Google Homepage Redesign

#26

Post by gaustin » Thu, Sep 17, 2009, 12:49 PM UTC

Simply too much space between the logo and the search box.

Re: Google Homepage Redesign

#27

Post by fara » Thu, Sep 17, 2009, 1:00 PM UTC

Info button, at the right bottom of the page! I found it looking at the source before noticing it was on the screen. usability--

Re: Google Homepage Redesign

#28

Post by RyanMcGreal » Thu, Sep 17, 2009, 1:00 PM UTC

ErrantX wrote: post #19

enomar wrote: post #3

Are you sure this is just a Google homepage redesign? Click the little i icon in the bottom right corner. Click the Google icon to turn it into a Wikipedia, YouTube or Twitter search engine. Try the ^2 and ^3 keyboard shortcuts too.

well there's a usability failrue right there - I didnt notice it at first :)

Classic mystery meat navigation.

Re: Google Homepage Redesign

#29

Post by andrewparker » Thu, Sep 17, 2009, 1:33 PM UTC

JimmyL wrote: post #24

Skeuomorph wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes. In the real world, 8% surveyed (by Google) in Times Square knew what a browser was. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4MwTvtyrUQ&feature=playe... Now try explaining difference between URL bar and Search bar in Safari, Firefox, etc... Give up yet? I wonder if that survey relates to why Google decided the OS should be the browser, so people might actually use Chrome. ;-) Best mantra for web design isn't "Web 2.0", i…

>> Now try explaining difference between URL bar and Search bar in Safari, Firefox, etc. Exactly. My mom, who is in her early sixties and is considered to be very proficient in how to use the Internet among her peer group, can't seem to get that there's a difference between the Google search box and the address bar - she just searches for "cnn.com", clicks on the first result, and gets there. And when you think about…

I've heard that roughly 30% of Google search are searches for domains, just like this cnn.com example.

Re: Google Homepage Redesign

#30

Post by philippantoni » Thu, Sep 17, 2009, 3:05 PM UTC

As some already pointed out, this isn't really a "google homepage redesign," but just a clean, simple startpage for a variety of search engines. I know you've got to figure it out at first, but once you do it works I think.