New Google Search experience for tablets

Friday, July 29, 2011 | 9:01 AM

(Cross-posted on the Inside Search blog)

As part of our effort to evolve the Google design and experience, we’ve improved the www.google.com search experience on tablets. We’ve simplified the layout of search results pages and increased the size of page contents like text, buttons and other touch targets to make it faster and easier to browse and interact with search results in portrait or landscape view.

The search button located below the search box provides quick access to specific types of results like Images, Videos, Places, Shopping and more. Just tap to open the search menu and select an option to see results in one category.

For image results, we focused on improvements that enhance the viewing experience such as enlarged image previews, continuous scroll, and faster loading of image thumbnails.

This improved search experience is rolling out in the coming days to iPad and Android 3.1+ tablets across 36 languages. Give it a try by going to www.google.com in your tablet’s browser.

Posted by Xiaorui Gan, Software Engineer

Labels: google search, google search for mobile, googlenew, image search, Mobile Blog, tablet

147 comments:

Hussein Ahmed said...: It was just surprising how Roger McNamee brutally attacked Google claiming that they have no chance (yet) with mobile search (http://www.businessinsider.com/roger-mcnamee-video-2011-7).

I don't think he's right, however, maybe the valid point he raised, if we look at it differently, is that Google, despite their recent major leaps - that I really love them all, maybe its still playing safe.

It would be sad to see Google a follower. To avoid that they should overhaul everything over and over and over - think Seth Godin's purple cow, with time the purple cow will not be remarkable -any more.

So, please Google just try to go a bit more wild and deliver us new, weird, remark-able herds of cows..; July 29, 2011 at 9:23 AM
Anonymous said...: Interesting.. Can't wait to try this out on my xoom!; July 29, 2011 at 9:30 AM
gorch said...: Doesn't seem to be in effect on the iPad?

Is there a plan to do this or it it just Android powered tablets?; July 29, 2011 at 9:33 AM
mtnbikerfred said...: not seeing it yet. cleared cache. reset UA string to Android. nothing.; July 29, 2011 at 9:47 AM
Student loan consolidation said...: This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.; July 29, 2011 at 9:53 AM
Unknown said...: Guys, it says it's rolling out. You may have to wait an entire week before seeing it. Just give it time and you'll have the new UI. Complaining here does nothing.; July 29, 2011 at 9:56 AM
Unknown said...: Anyone that is not able to experience the new UI, try to clear cookies in your web browser and try, it worked for me!; July 29, 2011 at 10:09 AM
Casey said...: If we could get an os upgrade on our tablets to honeycomb we might be able to try this google!; July 29, 2011 at 10:37 AM
Kevin said...: Is there another URL we can hit to get the tablet version for non 3.1+ and ipad tablets?; July 29, 2011 at 10:52 AM
Dave P said...: Ditto what Kevin said. I run Win7 and Firefox on an HP Slate 500 but it sounds like my 8.9" screen would benefit from this.; July 29, 2011 at 11:53 AM
MaggieL said...: iPad gets this before Honeycomb? Really?; July 29, 2011 at 11:59 AM
DigiMarco said...: Are you going to roll this out on Windows Tablet PCs? Internet Explorer advertises touch functionality through its user-agent ("Tablet PC 2.0"), whereas Firefox has a "-moz-touch-enabled" CSS media query. See:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms700675%28v=vs.85%29.aspx#web-based_applications

https://developer.mozilla.org/en/CSS/Media_queries#-moz-touch-enabled

http://modernizr.github.com/Modernizr/touch.html

Thanks!; July 29, 2011 at 12:12 PM
Unknown said...: Can you please stop ignoring HP WebOS devices?
At the moment they provide a far superior experience to Honeycomb tablets. Google has to stay a universal service provider.; July 29, 2011 at 12:19 PM
Unknown said...: Amazing!!!!!!!!!!!

I have tried this feature two days ago and i was really happy. Very clean, neat and more relaxing!!!!!!!!

I love Google!!!!!!!!!!; July 29, 2011 at 12:21 PM
Unknown said...: Just to answer some comments, i have used the latest changes on iPad. Works great.; July 29, 2011 at 12:22 PM
The Fighting Consumer said...: Honestly, i hate it, looks like bing. Its slow and not productive. The search results have been dumbed down, i guess its fitting for the majority of the ipad user base.

I am pretty upset and frustrated to say the least.; July 29, 2011 at 12:36 PM
Think Aloud said...: Still way behind the Bing experience on the iPad.; July 29, 2011 at 12:43 PM
Henry Thoreau said...: I'm going to do a hijack here and ask you guys if you know why, after the Google Maps Navigation update, the backlight keeps going off/brightness drops after one minute. It's a real PITA when your driving and the light just decides to go off- just with Google Navigation.

The timeout is set to 30 minutes, and still the sucker goes dark in a minute. If you know a workaround, please do share. Thanks.

Now back to your bashing thread.; July 29, 2011 at 2:55 PM
Jurjen de Vries said...: Looks very good and clean on my samsung galaxy 10.1v
The only thing i am missing in this interface is a way to load more images. There is no page navigation or other way to see more image search results; July 29, 2011 at 3:41 PM
Roy Cortez said...: Could it be depending on type of browser your tablet used?

I tried Google.com on Opera, Firefox, and OEM browser. Nothing has change.; July 29, 2011 at 3:56 PM
Anonymous said...: Either A) isn't rolled out where I'm trying to view it form (US - CO) or B) doesn't like the User Agent on an Acer A500 3.1 tablet - I still just get the full google site (same as desktop)

Made sure Viewing Mode was set to tablet not desktop, deleted cookies, cache, still nothing :x

Oh well will try again in a few days.; July 29, 2011 at 3:58 PM
blackers said...: Cleared cache, cookies and webhistory because i was getting the same annoying ads on some websites for holidays to canada which i had searched for in google.
Now im stuck with google's "new mobile experience google for ipad", or whatever it is.
I didn't get the ipad to get the same mobile sanitised sites i get on the ipod touch and iphone. i got it so i could see the whole internet as seen on a computer. pinch to zoom and all that marlarkey... all gone. all you can do is scroll up or down. loads of white space and small text.
its all the same set type size, no chance of zoom.
and all the results seem to be filtered now as well.

just give me unfiltered results. give me back my normal google page please. and stop hijacking websites with my search data that targets adverts at me.

i dont want to be reminded i'm on an ipad all the sodding time. i know i am. just give me the normal look not something that's apparently "formatted to fit".
very frustrating.; July 29, 2011 at 5:15 PM
blackers said...: Sorry Xiaorui Gan, one last thing...
- how do you cater for accessability and disability if everything is tiny and cannot be scaled or zoomed in on?; July 29, 2011 at 5:39 PM
ElNono_ said...: Major step back for people with disabilities that specifically use pinch and zoom to be able to blow up text and read.
A family member owns an iPad for that reason alone. Goes without saying she's no longer a Google search user.
At the very least I expected an option to revert to the older interface, but that doesn't seem to be available either.
Two thumbs down.; July 29, 2011 at 6:02 PM
Kurt said...: Unfortunately, this change disables pinch-to-zoom on the iPad and locks you into a relatively small font size that isn't easily readable for people with low vision. I wish Google would either not disable pinch to zoom or allow the user to select a bigger font size.; July 29, 2011 at 7:35 PM
Kurt said...: I may have found a less than optimal workaround for the accessibility problems of the new google search results page on the iPad. If you use the Opera browser instead of the default Safari browser, you still get the old zoomable results page. Hopefully Google won't "fix" it until they make their new search results page more accessible :); July 29, 2011 at 7:46 PM
Kurt said...: A half decent workaround for the accessibility problems of the new google search results page on the iPad is to use the Google mobile search URL http://www.google.com/m. At least for the moment, this works well for the iPad's default browser.; July 29, 2011 at 8:11 PM
Tim in Scotland said...: Is there please some way to disable this new display format. I find it honestly quite awful and would much prefer the 'traditional' format. I've even had to change browsers on my iPad to one that can 'pretend' it's not an iPad.

Please let us have a choice and don't force your decisions on us.

Tim in Scotland; July 29, 2011 at 10:42 PM
chancee said...: I hate this! I don't want this bare-bones mobile version on my iPad! Reminds me of AOL back in the day... I want the real Internet! Why can't I choose to have the normal version like I use on my desktop? Like I had on my iPad a week ago!; July 29, 2011 at 11:12 PM
Tenkely said...: Looks awesome. Can't use it on my G-Slate. Any chance of you guys shaking a stick at LG to get them on board with updating this slick beauty?; July 29, 2011 at 11:53 PM
gs.675 said...: A big step backwards. I hate this dumbing down of the search experience. Google, please give me a way to have the old google search experience back. I'd hate to have to use bing!; July 30, 2011 at 1:07 AM
Rob Cook said...: I have the update. On the xoom, it shrunk the buttons and tabs down to half the size. I thought the point was to increase the size of those. So much screen with skinny black bar at the top with +Rob web gmail, and so on, so very very tiny.
The only improvement is the blue search button.

If I change the text size, it throughs the text outside of the intended field. I guess I don't like the update. I prefer the way it was. I could more easily see and tap.; July 30, 2011 at 1:07 AM
Rob Cook said...: I wanted to add that the features are okay, my big disappointment is with the shrinking of everything on the tablet screen.; July 30, 2011 at 1:26 AM
erwin said...: Clearly a step backwards for iPad users. The standard desktop view on iPad is more clear, compact, does not waste that much space, supports pinch-to-zoom and has previews. All those features are now gone. Please add a button to switch to the standard desktop layout for tablet users.; July 30, 2011 at 4:53 AM
AwayBBL said...: You should also change the size of the top navigation frame. Since it's so close to the top tabs, it's awkward, and prone to mis-clicks.; July 30, 2011 at 5:23 AM
eehans said...: What about European Xoom that is still on Android 3.0?; July 30, 2011 at 7:14 AM
By Med Kharbach, PhD said...: It is not a surprise for me , google can do much more than that but i honestly feel that Google need to work harder to improve its mobile experience especially when it comes to services like Blogger.; July 30, 2011 at 9:03 AM
kate said...: The new mobile site is at best useless and frustratingly inadequate. Google should be smart enough to know that users expect a significantly higher quality internet experience on their tablet than they do on their phone. Actively preventing users from accessing the standard and functioning version of the page is completely unreasonable. I'm forced to the conclusion that Google must only want business and traffic from desk- and laptop users.

Fortunately, my tablet has made it extremely easy to switch to Bing.; July 30, 2011 at 9:11 AM
bob said...: I find this really annoying on the ipad. The standard layout allows faster scanning of results with many more per page on the ipad screen, with the larger font I find I have to actively 'digest' or pay more attention to each line result at normal reading distance individually and am continually scrolling for more which is time consuming and frustrating. If users need larger type the pinch zoom feature is already there.

I'm sure this makes sense in terms of layout and format etc the results are nicely proportional to the page and screen area on my device but the whole point of a search function is to provide targeted and relevant results as fast as possible with minimal distraction and In that sense I find this UI just gets in the way. In theory this should be an 'improvement' but in practice I find it a hindrance. I am just commenting on how this functions on the ipad of course, it may be a blessing for somebody with a 2 inch smartphone.

So, come on google if you guys like it, use it, if some of us don't just please give us an option to switch it off!; July 30, 2011 at 9:29 AM
bob said...: I find this really annoying on the ipad. The standard layout allows faster scanning of results with many more per page on the ipad screen, with the larger font I find I have to actively 'digest' or pay more attention to each line result at normal reading distance individually and am continually scrolling for more which is time consuming and frustrating. If users need larger type the pinch zoom feature is already there.

I'm sure this makes sense in terms of layout and format etc the results are nicely proportional to the page and screen area on my device but the whole point of a search function is to provide targeted and relevant results as fast as possible with minimal distraction and In that sense I find this UI just gets in the way. In theory this should be an 'improvement' but in practice I find it a hindrance. I am just commenting on how this functions on the ipad of course, it may be a blessing for somebody with a 2 inch smartphone.

So, come on google if you guys like it, use it, if some of us don't just please give us an option to switch it off!; July 30, 2011 at 9:30 AM
dkgoaile said...: Is there an option to go back to standard google? I'm pretty underwhelmed.; July 30, 2011 at 10:19 AM
tofutodd said...: Terrible, this is for 7in tablets: the text is too large and too much white space on my iPad This is akin to a mobile optimized site on my iPhone 4, too dumbed down. Is there a way to disable it? If not bing will be my default. Google - what were you thinking? don't you know tablet users want the regular web?? That's why we bought a tablet! Mobile sites are so 2005.; July 30, 2011 at 11:17 AM
Anonymous said...: It helps me to enhance my knowledge thanks..Really you have done a fabulous job
HP LaserJet 1018 driver; July 30, 2011 at 11:22 AM
Mr said...: Utter utter rubbish, no option to go back to the proper grown up version of google like on my desktop, no option? Are you having a laugh? You know what's best for me? Better than I do? Get stuffed. Bing now selected as the search engine of choice on my iPad. I would urge anyone who knows their own mind to do the same. Do no harm my ar5s.; July 30, 2011 at 12:40 PM
bcpurshe said...: I hate this. Is there any way to switch it back? So dumbed down..I wish it looked the way it did before. Yuck!!!; July 30, 2011 at 7:40 PM
bcpurshe said...: I also switched to bing on my iPad. I hate it less Ghana the google one.; July 30, 2011 at 7:41 PM
bcpurshe said...: Then not Ghana ffs; July 30, 2011 at 7:42 PM
carefreelyn said...: The new tablet format is awful. I'm a heavy Google user. If the format doesn't begin to look more like the standard one, I will be moving to a different search engine.; July 31, 2011 at 7:19 AM
rkny said...: Seriously? No cached page links and no option to turn the kindergarten version off? Bad move guys.; July 31, 2011 at 7:28 AM
Иван said...: I have been trying to restore the google search page to the normal view since last night, and I even managed to do it somehow this noon for some time, later to disappear again. And finally I found this page, saying it is not a bug but a feature. What an awful step back for iPad users! The text is too small, the view minimalistic, and I can't pinch and zoom search page anymore! Please at least give us a choice to use the old standard view!; July 31, 2011 at 12:36 PM
synapticfire said...: For iPad users, switch to Mercury browser instead of Safari. It lets you set which browser it reports itself as being. Set it up to pretend to be OSX Safari rather than Mobile Safari.
Then the normal Google page will show up.

I hate web developers limiting web functionality for tablet users under the guise of usability.; July 31, 2011 at 1:26 PM
pengbert said...: Don't understand why GOogle disable the pinch to zoom on the search result page. iT doesn't make any sense.; July 31, 2011 at 5:56 PM
Avenir Techno Solutions said...: Its a great blog for the mobile application development.; July 31, 2011 at 11:33 PM
deep vats said...: HI i use android mobile and i face the problem and when i want to download skype in my mobile then i face error thatgoogle android application development skype not install and the mobile switch off when the installation process end. Can anyone tell the reason; August 1, 2011 at 1:30 AM
e30ernest said...: Tablets offer a unique web experience. It has more screen area than a smartphone and it also offers functionalities that can improve the user's experience more than any PC can do. The new changes look really good. Well done!

- Ernest
Mobile Applications Developer; August 1, 2011 at 2:06 AM
marc K said...: I absolutely hate it!!!!! Can't pinch and zoom. Going to start using yahoo. Google what were you thinking?; August 1, 2011 at 5:59 AM
Emma said...: I use an ipad as a netbook alternative; it is my second computer. I do not appreciate having features removed; this forces a worse user experience which has nothing to do with the capability of the hardware in question. The previous search was perfectly adequate as an iPad user.

This is also a huge step back in accessibility given that font size is now immutable. For goodness' sake at least give us a link to the desktop version - even Facebook do that.; August 1, 2011 at 6:08 AM
Unknown said...: Add me to the list of folks that DON'T like the new layout. In fact, I hate it! Please at least give us the option of using pinch/zoom, and the features available to my standard laptop.; August 1, 2011 at 9:08 AM
sarahlizzy said...: Why on earth remove the opion to use the Desktop site? Is this some sort of spiteful control freakery? Some may like the new iPad theme, but I hate it. I want my search controls and zooming back. Don't make me start faking my user agent just to do web searches...; August 1, 2011 at 11:40 AM
samircode said...: "Hi there,

I purchased a HTC Nexus One directly from Google 18 months ago.

In the last 7 months, the power button has failed twice. Both times I returned it to you for you to repair. The second time I returned it, it took you almost a month for you to send it back to me. I also experienced very poor customer service during this time (although you did offer me £50 worth of free accessories after I complained).

The power is now failing again - for the 3rd time. It doesn't surprise me, and it doesn't surprise you: this is a known fault. Within the next 2 weeks it will completely fail (I know from experience).

Now, surely you don't want a 3rd attempt to repair it? I would like a refund as I am now tired of HTC phones. They are of poor build quality, I'm sorry to say. I've experienced this first hand with 3 of your handsets, including the HTC Desire HD.

I hope you understand where I'm coming from. I don't want to be without a phone for another 4 weeks, and I don't want to be again without it for a further 4 weeks after it (ineviatably) breaks for the 4th time.

I understand that technology isn't perfect & can occasionally break down, but when it continuously breaks it is unreasonable for the customer.

So, hopefully we can get this resolved in a reasonable manner. The only reasonable resolution to this from my perspective is that you either (i) replace the device with a brand new device; or (ii) you provide me with a full refund.

If you refuse to do so, I will do the following:

1. Contact other people who have experienced the same problem & get their version of events (there are many on forums)
2. Put together a document detailing my experience (in great detail), as well as other people's
3. Send the document to the following non-exhaustive list of media organisations & watch dog bodies:

- Trading Standards (http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/)
- Office of Fair Trading (http://www.oft.gov.uk/)
- Consumer Direct (http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/Consumerrights/index.htm)
- Citizen's Advice Bureau
- BBC Watch Dog (http://www.bbc.co.uk/watchdog/gotastory/)
- Newspapers: The Sun, Daily Mail, Daily Mirror, The Times, and many others
- Popular print & mobile mobile magazines (Mobile Today, Mobile Mag, Mobile Choice, What Mobile)

I look forward to hearing from you.

Regards,
Samir (samir@codethat.co.uk)"; August 1, 2011 at 11:40 AM
Fred said...: Edit "We don't have any plans to offer an option to switch between the old UI and the new one". Typical approach of ignorance. So many people use it and suddenly a change has been made because a few developers think it looks better. Well, it doesn't look good at all and you really go back to basics, is it because the nineties are back (wap anyone?) or the servers of Google are getting old that this simple interface is used? So many space between the results, several options are gone, poor design... You should at least give the opportunity to switch back to the old UI but than you have to admit that nobody would use the new layout...so forcing is better? Unbelievable...; August 1, 2011 at 12:02 PM
Adrian said...: It's the sheer arrogance of Google that really upsets me, forcing iPad users to use their mobile version, with no ability to switch back to the original. Google seems to have forgotten they cannot dictate which search engine we use.; August 1, 2011 at 6:18 PM
rodneyw1 said...: I hate the new design. I want some way to have a choice between the new and old style.; August 1, 2011 at 9:06 PM
rodneyw1 said...: Just changed my search on my iPad to Yahoo. Won't be back to Google as long as they force the new layout.; August 1, 2011 at 9:10 PM
giunda said...: this a great blog for the mobile
play Angry Birds online; August 1, 2011 at 9:43 PM
deep vats said...: Full of information for blog and i love it and
Android Application Development thanks for sharing nice information; August 2, 2011 at 1:51 AM
Jones said...: Google for ipad is now Horrible!! Google, you lost a long time user with me.; August 2, 2011 at 5:28 AM
Richard Dixon said...: How do I change back to default search window?; August 2, 2011 at 12:24 PM
Fred said...: Why no feedback from Google here? Nobody does like the new layout. At least Bing let you use pinch-to-zoom!; August 2, 2011 at 2:33 PM
Alvaro said...: The new layout is horrendous, and it's unbelievable that you wouldn't let your users revert to the desktop version. This new design makes everything harder. I can't scan the search results quickly, I can't zoom, etc. Sadly, I'll use a different engine until this is fixed or I get to choose what layout I use. I didn't spend $600 on a tablet for google to decide it's really a cellphone.; August 2, 2011 at 11:23 PM
ito.kei said...: Please please change it back.. It's horrible really.. Who would want to use this crap.. And are you seriously calling this an improvement?; August 2, 2011 at 11:44 PM
Ann said...: I remember how much I loved google search the first time I tried it and I never was tempted to change. But this new look and feel on the ipad is horrible. I have changed my search to yahoo. I can't imagine why there isn't a way to opt out. This is totally crazy.; August 3, 2011 at 12:22 AM
mithrandir said...: It's not better, it's a LOT worse. So much that I have switched to bing. Thanks for not listening and alienating your users google. Try to add real improvements rather than revamping UI for an utterly crappy result, when the current one was fine as it was.; August 3, 2011 at 4:15 AM
amamet said...: Switched to yahoo. Thanks google; August 3, 2011 at 6:02 AM
934392268 said...: Hate the new look and how in general there's one design for desktops and another for mobiles. The reason that I have a tablet is that I want the desktop functionality with the tablet mobility. Please give option to switch between versions.; August 3, 2011 at 6:28 AM
unhappy about this said...: Only two and a half search results on a page? That is why I don't have an iphone?...I have a tablet and want it searching with many options visible. If this does not get corrected guess I will learn a different search engine.

Sort of like going to bed one night -last night and the sky getting lighter and God deciding that we now would like green sky better and blue grass.... Makes people feel better in a heat wave! I hate it that no one asked and just hijacked our tablets without option...mine is to go to bing.; August 3, 2011 at 7:07 AM
cyd said...: HATE the new format. I liked the cluttered look. It was one stop shopping. On the image page you could click on the image and get a small description. Now when I click it takes me to the page...so I am constantly back and forth. Really annoying. Also the similar feature is gone on website results. Font is too big and Ipad pinching is disabled. I'm sure there are other so called "improvements" that I would find a pain but not willing to "Google it" anymore. Off to find a better search engine. If the old format returns or an option to select it I'll be back.
GOOGLE GOOFED.; August 3, 2011 at 7:23 AM
spacepod obsessions said...: I hate hate hate this new format. please give me the choice ! off to use another browser until someone either figures out how to hack me back OR google gives me a choice.

please please give a choice. please.; August 3, 2011 at 7:39 AM
pete said...: Hate it, why can't it be turned off?; August 3, 2011 at 8:10 AM
j990 said...: This is the worst "improvement" google has forced on the user yet. Stop messing with my web experience yahoo is beginning to look good again.; August 3, 2011 at 8:44 AM
ChrisShone said...: Awful, I can't believe you can't switch back.
Won't be using google on any machine until they fix it.
Even made me hate my iPad for a minute or two!; August 3, 2011 at 11:17 AM
paolotvl said...: another unnecessary update. What's the point of having a hi-resolution display when these geniuses keep enlarging the graphic??? if I can't get back the old look, I'll use a different search engine. What is this?? Easy-reading graphic for grandma?? Talking about a waste of time and resources seeking innovation at all cost... Never change what works, change whatever doesn't work!!!; August 3, 2011 at 12:34 PM
spacepod obsessions said...: thank you to the user who suggested "For iPad users, switch to Mercury browser instead of Safari. It lets you set which browser it reports itself as being. Set it up to pretend to be OSX Safari rather than Mobile Safari.
Then the normal Google page will show up."

i am now using MERCURY rather than SAFARI for google.com & voila, i am back to "my" old beloved google.

is there any way to tell Safari 'hiya, i am OSX Safari"?!

i am kind of crazy excited - google.com was not the only site switching to iPad2 stupid lately.

hellooooo mercury!; August 3, 2011 at 12:35 PM
paolotvl said...: Best message ever?? switch your search engine to yahoo, bing etc. They'll get the message.; August 3, 2011 at 12:36 PM
readyfreddy said...: The new format is absolutely ridiculous. This is the grim face of monopoly.; August 3, 2011 at 12:51 PM
hooley said...: How do I turn this off? iPad is not an iPhone! Rubbish changes. WHY CAN'T YOU LET US CHOOSE?; August 3, 2011 at 3:32 PM
hate it said...: Hate it. Want the option to use the older interface. Can't pinch zoom on a tablet..what the heck. Cant change fonts either...thats nuts. Looks like a bigger waste of space now than what it used to be.

You make yahoo and bing look like great options now and I hate that because I have used google a long time.; August 3, 2011 at 3:33 PM
tedg said...: I switched to Bing on my iPad. I hope that Google will give us back the old interface.; August 3, 2011 at 4:24 PM
cyd said...: Hurray, was able to get the old google back by changing browsers. No more Safari for me. No need to change settings on ipad either. Hopefully it will stay this way "google improvers"; August 3, 2011 at 5:24 PM
preacher said...: It's awful on the iPad come on give us the option to revert it's a dumbed down version, it takes longer to scan hate it not happy as anyone found a way of reverting; August 3, 2011 at 6:02 PM
Laurie said...: I agree that the new Google for iPad is awful. I want to be able to zoom. Can't read the results screen! I've switched my default search to Bing.; August 3, 2011 at 8:19 PM
Daisymoonbeam said...: Add me to the list of new google format haters. Will most probably change to another search engine now. What a shame. I WAS a true Google fan until now; August 3, 2011 at 9:26 PM
not happy said...: What is wrong with you people? How can you force this junk onto us without a "Turn it the Hell Off" option. I want to uninstall everything google from all my computers, that is how much I hate it.; August 3, 2011 at 10:01 PM
daveyboy said...: Utter rubbish new format. Easily two to three times worse on an I-pad than it was before. I will be joining the legions of people switching away from google as my search engine as a result.

It's hard to believe you actually tested this on an I-pad and then sat in a meeting and went 'yes that's so much better than it was before'; August 3, 2011 at 10:30 PM
giunda said...: Very clean, neat and more relaxing!
I love Google! :D
well come free gun games; August 4, 2011 at 12:20 AM
goldfish said...: It looks like Windows Vista - ugly, childlike, geeky. I absolutely hate it.; August 4, 2011 at 1:02 AM
cavedaschi said...: Search bar when iPad is horizontal is too big and when putting the cursor into the search box the keyboard appears momentarily then disappears. Can only use google on my iPad on portrait mode. This is ridiculous. Change it back or improve it. This version of google for iPad is ridiculous.

Ronschi; August 4, 2011 at 5:09 AM
oni said...: I hate it! I'm using a different search engine.good job guy another water down internet experience. Maybe try giving user a choice next.; August 4, 2011 at 9:57 AM
Fred said...: Still no feedback from Google? As many of you, changing to BING until the old view is back. It's just a big step back with the current mobile Google version. Back to the 90's! Thanks but no thanks Google, hello Bing!; August 4, 2011 at 10:12 AM
blackers said...: I posted a comment earlier in the list...
I feel compelled to reply again.

Come on Googleplex... check your BLOG and do the maths.
At least 8 out 10 replies hate this tablet 'improvement'. They are all iPad users I bet.
Reverse. Reverse. Reverse. Give us the normal Google search results that work.

I keep asking myself why would you want to limit our results?
Why would want to reduce useability?
Why would you want to remove iPad abilities given to us on high from the Jobsmeister himself? (two finger Pinch to zoom)

Is the Google experience on Android tablets that bad you have to downgrade us all?

I know what you're probably thinking, 99 or so replies... everyone else is not complaining. What's the problem?

Well there's two things to note there, either the others don't know how to complain, or think they've done something themselves to mess with 'Google'. Silence does not mean acceptance.

so we have, 99 blog replies...
80 against, 19 for the new change.
assuming a 50:50 like or dislike response, gives us a calculated error or +/- 5%

therefore 80% +/- 5% dislike it.
Dislike it.
Dis it.
Me no want it.

Get it? Well reverse it.

We all await your reply.; August 4, 2011 at 2:12 PM
Fred said...: @Blackers, you are correct. Many of my friends use an iPad and don't know how to complain or they just switched to Bing. The fact that they don't complain doesn't mean they don't care. No they also cannot understand it (Are you serious about this interface? they ask. Yes guys, this basic look is what you get! No?) but as they don't use it so intense , they use now Bing instead. For some the pinch-to-zoom is important which is still possible at Bing. I cannot understand that Google just did this...blows me away from a company which pretends to be on top of technology. Again, thanks but no thanks Google! Total ignorance!; August 4, 2011 at 4:18 PM
Fred said...: See this feedback from Paul Wilcox - Google employee in http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/Google+Mobile/thread?tid=4dd6c755875268f0&hl=en

Paul wrote:

Y'all may be interested in the post I just made on my original announcement thread:
http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/Google+Mobile/thread?tid=1665024e657094b0

Short version: we're working on adding a link to switch back to the desktop view. Stay tuned to my original announcement thread for further details.

Thanks for your passionate feedback everyone!

I still would recommend to post your feedback here, Twitter and the Google forums.; August 4, 2011 at 4:30 PM
joe said...: I hate the new google! Pleae give us the user the option to switch back to the old view! Untill then its another search engine or tara that runs as a desktop so you dont have to put up with all the " better" tablet sites!; August 4, 2011 at 6:27 PM
GM said...: jailbreak your ipad. Install UA faker in SBSettings and you can spoof a destop browser and go back to seeing the desktop version; August 5, 2011 at 5:00 AM
Rhaomi said...: What happened to the Google cache links? I'm sorely missing this extremely useful feature, especially since there's no way to turn off the "iPad version" of search.

Nice how there are "+1" buttons on every result even though I don't even use them, though. :/; August 5, 2011 at 5:42 AM
Peter said...: The new iPad google layout is terrible. Will switch from safari to another browser and if necessary search engine as well.

Give us an option to switch back to the original layout!; August 5, 2011 at 6:21 AM
Steven said...: used the the new search makeover several times in the past 2 days. Hated the results layout and look. I'm not stupid - don't dumb it down for me. Actually binged for the first time instead and was pleased with the results. Please don't continue to force me to support MS and give me the option for 'classic' search results!; August 5, 2011 at 7:05 AM
karmabird said...: Found this thread using my NEW search engine -- Bing. I'll search with bing or yahoo occasionally to see if Google brings the BETTER, previous version back as an option. (Coke Classic, anyone?); August 5, 2011 at 8:01 AM
susanspurs said...: I hate this new Google for my iPad No cache, no pinch and stretch, horrible layout and no way to go back to the full version! Progress - I don't think so! Google please take note. I have now switched to Yahoo after using Google for ever.; August 5, 2011 at 2:58 PM
susanspurs said...: Meant to say that I thought I had messed up Google on my iPad and I spent ages and ages trying to work out what I might have accidentally done wrong, without success. Then I YAHOODED (not googled) and found this thread and realised it wasn't me! I wonder how many others are doing the same?; August 5, 2011 at 3:17 PM
I Hate said...: Come on Google, listen to the evidence against this change. I totally concur that this is utter crap. Google, you need to listen carefully to these complaints and at least give people the option to revert to the desktop version. It's obvious that ipad and smartphone users will leave Google in droves if this isn't rectified. I have switched to Yahoo, who must be rubbing their hands together with glee at all their new customers, Bing likewise. Ultimately, if it aint broke don't try to change it. Someone's poor decision at Google needs to be overridden and thrown out.
Best,
Alan; August 5, 2011 at 3:28 PM
cyd said...: No Google Team responses to the publics dislike for this new format? Is anyone there? Bueller...Bueller...; August 5, 2011 at 5:01 PM
KMScudder said...: New Google search unfriendly to the vision impaired! No pinch to zoom makes search hard to use. I am constantly amazed that companies working with such a flexible technology are so blind to the needs of people with low vision.; August 5, 2011 at 7:13 PM
Chris_S said...: I hate this also. Wasted a bunch of time trying to find what setting changed, even accused my husband of messing up my iPad. Can't believe this was done on purpose.; August 5, 2011 at 7:18 PM
曙霏 said...: 我真的不喜歡這箇更新訊搜網站，請讓我們復還就的好不好!!!未來我將用別的搜索網站了…

What on earth possessed you all to do this to tablets? Google was just peachy for me until you did this horrible update.
NO CACHED feature??? FAIL.
Preschooler giant text layout? FAIL.
No pinch zoom? FAIL.
Lack of OPT OUT??? FAIL and KILL.

Sorry boys and girls, for the first time in 10 years, I'm switching to Bing. I do ALL my searching via tablet and this is just unusable... Call me when you give us an option for Google Classic again.; August 5, 2011 at 8:13 PM
Claudinha said...: This sucks, please bring the old viewback!; August 6, 2011 at 12:53 AM
TDC said...: Come on google, let US choose how we use the iPad, I want my desktop version option like there in on Google Maps.

Let US choose.

Te new look destroys the usability of a once great search function; August 6, 2011 at 1:39 AM
WPlummer said...: a big thumbs down from another iPad user who misses the pitch-zoomability of the results! I never thought I'd ever be saying this, but I'm switching to Bing.; August 6, 2011 at 4:17 AM
JW said...: I am another 1 to agree this new search format SUCKS. Give us an option.; August 6, 2011 at 8:39 AM
*Akilah Sakai* said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; August 6, 2011 at 9:46 AM
HawaiiMongoose said...: The new mobile search results page is awful, awful, awful, awful. I'm gone to Bing until a toggle is added to switch back to desktop view. ALOHA.; August 6, 2011 at 11:19 AM
Andy B said...: These "improvements" suck. Bring back the old version.; August 6, 2011 at 12:43 PM
ellieah said...: Can't stand the new google layout on iPad. Ive used google search engine for years but I'm now looking for a new one. I'm just giving mercury a go, if that's no good I think I may go to yahoo ! Come on google give us an option to choose what format we prefer .; August 6, 2011 at 4:46 PM
S.A. Wesley said...: Absolutely loathe it!!!
Being disabled I use the iPad as a desktop/laptop replacement. And now you've gone and made it look horrible, and incredibly, less functional. Hate Jobs all you wish Google, but making iPad users suffer is bad business mojo.
Off to google a new engine and be done with this craptastic version.; August 6, 2011 at 11:04 PM
MarkieDSade said...: Earth calling Google... Are you there, Google? It seems you are so far away removed from your users!

The new search results layout is so difficult to use on an iPad. It dumbs down the experience as if i am using a device with a tiny screen. I am not! Do you still think tablets are just oversized mobile phones without the abillity to place a call?

When you hear this, do your iPad users a favor and revert to the previous search results layout. And if you really feel confident that iPad users eventually are going to see the light and use this horrible abomination of a layout, present an option to use the new layout. Check how many iPad users do use it and you have your answer how well spend your money is on this project.; August 6, 2011 at 11:53 PM
ianc435 said...: This new format sucks. Cannot look up searches quickly. Probaly going to try another search engine. You guys need to keep it original. One look per page. Faster and easier to use. I don't want to scroll at all. Change this back; August 7, 2011 at 7:07 AM
susanspurs said...: Bought Mercury yesterday - it works fine and I've got the old Google back. Also you can have ten tabs open and there is no need to keep switiching back and forth between pages as you do in Safari. Lots of other features too and all for 69p! And it seems faster than Safari. Go for it.; August 7, 2011 at 10:26 AM
mramex said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; August 7, 2011 at 11:07 AM
mramex said...: This new layout is complete crap, I love the old google layout it was one of my favorite things about the search engine. Please offer us the option to choose the format we would like to experience or you will be forcing many of us to go elsewhere for search.; August 7, 2011 at 11:11 AM
esqcapades said...: It's terrible. Have switched to yahoo. Google search now useless on my iPad. Too few results, dumbed down, no cached results. Can't use the iPad as intended with pinch and zoom.; August 7, 2011 at 11:32 AM
Swarn said...: www.glbradio.weebly.com
chk it to get access; August 8, 2011 at 12:40 AM
Destiny said...: The pictures are outstanding! However, I do not have much idea regarding Tablets. I am fond of mobile phones rather. That is why not asking for the specifications. Thanks for the post!; August 8, 2011 at 6:59 AM
vlaam said...: HATE the new format. Specialy on the image resultspage you could click on the image and get a small description and a reference to the sourch before you actualy opend the webpage with the image. Now,after the slightist touch, it takes me directly to the page without the option of opening it in a new tab! Also the zoom is not longer possible on my ipad, it was so easy to enlearge images for a better preview.... These things must be basic options! Untill these old features return I'll have to use Bing, brrrr.... Normaly I love Google, but now :-(; August 8, 2011 at 10:02 AM
robotron said...: Jedi Master Yoda says: "Sucks the big one, this upgrade does!

Where are the advanced search options? Where is sort/filter by date?

Funny that while Apple is making OSX more like the user experience of IOS devices, Google thinks their experience should be different.

This is just plain arrogance and stupidity.; August 8, 2011 at 11:03 PM
ellieah said...: Ok, ive tried mercury, yahoo and have now settled on Bing ! Once google give us the old version back on iPad I will swap back.; August 9, 2011 at 9:53 AM
Fred said...: Hate the new design and hate the fact that Google is not providing any feedback on all the negative reactions. From an IT perspective, I cannot understand this massive step back in functionality.; August 9, 2011 at 5:16 PM
paolotvl said...: what I really find annoying and unacceptable is that a third party can decide how my damn ipad works without having the possibility of switching back to the non-retarded version of Google. And why can they disable the pinch-zoom feature??They shouldn't even have the possibility to do so. I switched back to yahoo, and I will install mercury browser. I can't stand how Steve Jobs and his followers who always promoted freedom and innovation are imposing this kind of stuff on people...; August 9, 2011 at 9:24 PM
TechMartPlus said...: Thanks .... nice post ! Congratulations on this fine compilation and many thanks for thinking so highly.I just came across your page in my travels and want to congratulate you on a well-assembled post .Thanks for putting it together for everyone!.
classifieds; August 9, 2011 at 11:22 PM
Anonymous said...: i had tried in my tablet for this google
new UI. but i was unable to experience the new UI, then i tried to clear cookies in my web browser and then checked, now it works.

James - mobile app developer; August 10, 2011 at 3:15 AM
KlikHier said...: "We don't have any plans to offer an option to switch between the old UI and the new one".
That's awful. The original classic version works great with the iPad. Then Google decided to bring out a nerved version. Which may be improvement on small screen devices or for less advanced internet users. As all the comments mention: It's very annoying for most of us to have the functionality circumcised. It's not an improvement, but a major step back. Worst of all this is that you don't even consider offering an easy way to revert back to the classic site. This is just evil.
Let us users decide for ourselves instead of forcing us to use this so called improved mobile version. Isn't the search filter bubble enough already. Now you think you also have to force how we users use our device. I have enough of this. Switching to DuckDuckGo.; August 10, 2011 at 10:43 AM
Gaurav said...: Looks very good and clean on my samsung galaxy 10.1v
The only thing i am missing in this interface is a way to load more images. There is no page navigation or other way to see more image search results..

android developer; August 10, 2011 at 10:33 PM
Brickerhaus said...: It's interesting how google doesn't care about service or quality of service. They view this problem through an engineers eyes. Their perfection is not good enough for you I guess. It is shame. My nexus one is one steaming pile of shit. Do they care? NO!!! I have problems with deleting apps even from the SD card because google upgrades their apps and doesn't allow you to move them to SD ( even after promising that ability at I/O 2010), or hold a gun to my head for me to use Facebook or twitter apps even though I would rather use tweetdeck. Now they are making a decision to force a new design on you just because you have a tablet, even though you have a FULL FUCKING WEB BROWSER. Google has now become the titanic, too big to turn. And google will sink because their arrogance will be their demise. They are monopolistic. They are doing evil by not listening to their users.; August 10, 2011 at 11:55 PM
zoedie said...: nice,,,; August 11, 2011 at 1:45 AM
Location-Based Marketing said...: I got it so i could see the whole internet as seen on a computer. pinch to zoom and all that marlarkey... all gone. all you can do is scroll up or down. loads of white space and small text.
Location-Based Marketing; August 11, 2011 at 4:19 AM
katkin100 said...: I have to say I am extremely disappointed with this change. I am partially sighted and really like the iPad for many accessibility features including the ability to zoom in on webpages. Not being able to use this feature renders Google useless to me on the iPad and also makes it impossible to browse for websites that I don't know the address for. I use Google all the time on my PC but I will now have to look for another search engine to use and see if I can reconfigure the search box in safari to use another search engine.

Apple have put a lot of effort in to making their devices accessible and this has gained them a large following in the visually impaired community. It is a bitter blow to find that Google has undone this hard work by rendering the default web browsing/searching options useless!

There should be an option for people to use regular Google rather than being forced to this mobile version.; August 11, 2011 at 10:58 AM
blackers said...: Hello...
I've been following the progress (or lack of progress) with this tablet-google-search change over last few days... see earlier posts.

It's annoying because I'm using an iPad. I too hate the change.

I was searching for the news looking for media stories that relate to people not wanting the change and found an interesting link.

Maybe Google doesn't want the "reverse reverse reverse" to happen because it wants to keep tablet users in neat little boxes for advertisers...

text directly taken from a different google blog (details below)...
"...tablet users can experience an optimized version of Google Search designed to maximize the screen real estate of a tablet..."

"... here are some ways in which you can make use of AdWords account features to review and manage tablet ad performance:
....the ability to target tablet devices in Campaign Settings, offering greater control over specific tablet device types and the ability to target specific types of tablet users."

"All campaigns targeting tablet devices will show on this new tablet-optimized search experience."

Really... screen real estate?
tablet ad performance?
Do iPad users think we're going to get old google back now? when google ad revenue is at risk?

It's also weird that with the link below, the "new google seach experience for tablets" is called "new google search ads experience"...
notice the spelling of ads - as in adverts.

Things to make you go hmmm... search for the google blog with these words.

new google search ads experience

if the link disappears, I've taken iPad screen grabs.
Not that i'm paranoid that this email will be "removed by author"

Blackers; August 11, 2011 at 4:58 PM
blackers said...: http://googlemobileads.blogspot.com/2011/07/new-google-search-ads-experience-for.html

this is the link; August 11, 2011 at 5:00 PM

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