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Argh... Google image search changes!!
http://www.x404.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=9853		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  steve74 [ Thu Aug 05, 2010 7:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Argh... Google image search changes!!
I hate it, hate it, hate it!!!

Google have recently (I noticed it last week) changed the way their image search works. Where once you'd get 15-20 images to a page, with the page links at the bottom, now you just get a long scrolling page - you see the page numbers inbetween the groups of thumbnails, this is what would have appeared on each page in the old style of image search.

OK, you can click the link at the bottom of the search results called "Switch to basic view" to see search results in the old style, but you have to do this every time as, frustratingly, there doesn't seem to be the option to save Basic View (the old style) as the default.

The first few rows of thumbnails load OK but as you scroll down, things gradually grind to a halt and you just get grey blank thumbnails. I've asked around, and it seems I'm not the only one getting problems with search results either baulking or failing to load. Maybe it works better on Windows browsers?

If Google are using us to beta test this new option, they should at least offer a preference to make the old style the default. Makes searching for images a pain. Hopefully, they'll sort it out soon if this is going to become the only option.

Anyone else noticed this? Or does it work OK for you?
Author:  EddArmitage [ Thu Aug 05, 2010 7:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Argh... Google image search changes!!
I don't know what you mean, but in IE6 it seems to be much the same as it always was.
Author:  steve74 [ Thu Aug 05, 2010 7:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Argh... Google image search changes!!
EddArmitage wrote:
I don't know what you mean...


Your link above gives me this (note the grey thumbnails)...

Image

As I scroll down, the thumbnails are all grey - after a while the browser gives up trying to load them in - I suspect it's Google's servers struggling to cope with having to load all the thumbnails in on one *long* page.

As you roll over the thumbnails, you get a larger version pop up in front of it...

Image

...clicking on that gives you an overlay of the image over a tinted version of the page it's contained in, to get to the full size image you then have to click through to the "Show full size" link...

Image

It's just so convoluted, the latter bit does work in a crap sort of way, but not if the thumbnails don't load in the search results page to start with.

Same thing happens in Safari and Firefox on Macs at work and at home, so I don't think it's just confined to a particular browser, computer or internet connection. It's just rubbish, I wish they'd test these things properly before rolling them out, especially as there's no way to permanently switch it back to how it used to be!
Author:  tombolt [ Thu Aug 05, 2010 8:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Argh... Google image search changes!!
Yup, I noticed it a couple of days ago and me and one of the designers here had a massive rant about it this afternoon. It certainly looks better, but the old way is actually better for searching for an image. Style over substance yet again.
Author:  steve74 [ Thu Aug 05, 2010 8:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Argh... Google image search changes!!
Yes, in terms of usability, it's a step backwards IMHO.

There's at least one extra click involved to get to the full size image, time consuming if you're searching through hundreds of images. Much quicker the way it used to be. I'm trying to find a way to give Google feedback, as I'll really tell them what I think of it!

After that, Flickr is my next rant, they gone and changed the way that works now, making it harder to post images in forums. I managed it in the end, but it's much more complicated than it used to be, took me ages to find out how to display the different sizes (now hidden behind an "Actions" icon in a popup menu). Why the hell can't they leave things alone if they work perfectly well?!! They call it progress, I call it a pain in the @rse!
Author:  Paul1965 [ Thu Aug 05, 2010 9:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Argh... Google image search changes!!
New version is annoying and is, as mentioned above, a step backwards in terms of usability.
Author:  Fogmeister [ Thu Aug 05, 2010 9:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Argh... Google image search changes!!
I prefer it and find it easier to use.

It's also easier to find that image that you first saw but decided to keep looking until you gave up :D
Author:  Linux_User [ Thu Aug 05, 2010 9:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Argh... Google image search changes!!
Paul1965 wrote:
New version is annoying and is, as mentioned above, a step backwards in terms of usability.


+1
Author:  Fogmeister [ Thu Aug 05, 2010 9:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Argh... Google image search changes!!
steve74 wrote:
As I scroll down, the thumbnails are all grey - after a while the browser gives up trying to load them in - I suspect it's Google's servers struggling to cope with having to load all the thumbnails in on one *long* page.

For me the images are grey for less than .25 seconds and then all load.

Most of the time they are loaded before they come into view.

I suspect it's probably a slow internet connection or browser causing that.

I've gone down to "page 22" and they all loaded pretty much instantly.
Author:  Fogmeister [ Thu Aug 05, 2010 9:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Argh... Google image search changes!!
As far as I can tell it's now more about the pictures (as in what you are searching for) than the site it came from.
Author:  Linux_User [ Thu Aug 05, 2010 9:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Argh... Google image search changes!!
Fogmeister wrote:
As far as I can tell it's now more about the pictures (as in what you are searching for) than the site it came from.


Which is a bit naughty really, especially when you consider copyright implications etc.
Author:  steve74 [ Thu Aug 05, 2010 10:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Argh... Google image search changes!!
Fogmeister wrote:
I suspect it's probably a slow internet connection or browser causing that.

No, not the connection. At work it's an 8Mb connection and at home I regularly get 10Mb+ - other sites load in an instant. No, it's just crap coding - they really should have beta-tested this more before forcing it on people. It's rubbish.

Fogmeister wrote:
I've gone down to "page 22" and they all loaded pretty much instantly.

You're lucky! I think it also depends on what you're searching for as well, but i just think it's the fact that you're requesting too many images from Google's servers at the same time. Maybe this will improve as pages are indexed and cached, I dunno.

I'd be reasonably happy if they at least gave us a preferences setting so that Classic View was the default mode, rather than having to click the "View in Classic mode" at the bottom of the page each and every time. To push out an "upgrade" without at least giving people an option to revert back permanently is, in my opinion, a mistake.

I've added my feedback (click link at bottom of image search results page), and also vented my frustration on Google's forums - lots of others aren't impressed, clicky... not that it will do any good, but at least it made me feel better!
Author:  cloaked_wolf [ Thu Aug 05, 2010 10:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Argh... Google image search changes!!
I hate it as well.
Very slow on the iphone.
Author:  l3v1ck [ Fri Aug 06, 2010 8:45 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Argh... Google image search changes!!
Just been on Goole images (on my PC), I can't see any differences at all.
Author:  EddArmitage [ Fri Aug 06, 2010 8:47 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Argh... Google image search changes!!
IE6 doesn't do that. It's too old and useless! I was going to post a screenshot, but can't at work.
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