Google Instant

ford prefect

Can't get enough of FH
Joined
Aug 27, 2006
Messages
1,386
I have just permanently signed out of Google because Google instant is actually incredibly annoying.

For those who don't sign into Google, basically when you have a Google account it now performs the search as you type in the search box. Sounds like a good idea, but is actually really irritating. I daresay they will force it on everyone sooner or later.

Google Instant
 

FuzzyLogic

Kicking squealing Gucci little piggy
Joined
Dec 24, 2003
Messages
1,437
Also it doesn't auto fill when you type porn ;)

You can also switch it off if you're signed in, but I agree, it's somewhat annoying :|
 

Litmus

Resident Freddy
Joined
Dec 30, 2003
Messages
1,577
In what way is it annoying? I think its quite good
 

ford prefect

Can't get enough of FH
Joined
Aug 27, 2006
Messages
1,386
In what way is it annoying? I think its quite good

Everything about it - it is nearly as annoying as google web history. My browser stores my search history, I don't need google to do it for me.

As for instant, I don't know about you, but my life isn't so busy that I need google to save 2.5 to 5 seconds every time I search. I'm simply not that manic. Not only that but its buggy too - in firefox for example, it occasionally does an image search for no apparent reason. As I touch type I look at the screen, and it is just really annoying and distracting to watch search results change as you type.

Yes it can be turned off, but why is it on by default? Come to that why is search history on be default? - bah!
 

dysfunction

FH is my second home
Joined
Dec 22, 2003
Messages
9,709
I don't have this and I'm always signed in...

edit: oh yes i do but only after I have done my first search.
It is not active when I am on my iGoogle home page...
 

nath

Fledgling Freddie
Joined
Dec 22, 2003
Messages
8,009
I quite like it, and I understand them activating it by default because no one would know it exists otherwise. I expect if there's enough of a backlash it'll become opt-in though.
 

Raven

Happy Shopper Ray Mears
FH Subscriber
Joined
Dec 27, 2003
Messages
44,616
Its very nearly as pointless as google wave.

They should stick with android and basic, does exactly what it says on the tin search engines. Making something that works perfectly fine into something piss annoying is a sure fire way of losing top spot in an extremely fluid industry.
 

MYstIC G

Official Licensed Lump of Coal™ Distributor
Staff member
Moderator
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Joined
Dec 22, 2003
Messages
12,362
It won't become "Opt-In" imho as it's a defining feature. I'm still a bing fan though tbh, I find google still tends to have way too many "buy it" links languishing in its results.
 

PLightstar

Part of the furniture
Joined
Dec 29, 2003
Messages
2,103
Been using it all day and to be honest, it doesn't effect me either way. I can see why they have done it but I can't say its a good/bad thing.
 

Zenith.UK

Part of the furniture
Joined
Dec 20, 2008
Messages
2,913
I had to go into the settings to turn it on (my account is locked down tighter than a nun's virginity).
In the 2 minutes I tried it, I found it annoying and distracting in equal measures.
I've turned it off again.

It almost as if Google is schizophrenic. Android search and particularly voice search work quite well, but it seems as if Google are trying too hard with the desktop search. I never hit the main site anyway, I always use the search bar in Firefox.
 

caLLous

I am a FH squatter
FH Subscriber
Joined
Dec 23, 2003
Messages
18,426
Never encountered this as I use the address bar in ff with a keyword so I never actually go to google.com until it's listing results. I'm on dialup, every little (in this case one less page to load) helps. :\
 

Zenith.UK

Part of the furniture
Joined
Dec 20, 2008
Messages
2,913
If you want to disable Google Instant on your machine (even if it is enabled in your preferences), add the following 2 lines to your HOSTS file.

HOSTS file location: %SYSTEMROOT%\system32\drivers\etc\HOSTS

127.0.0.1 clients1.google.com
127.0.0.1 clients1.google.co.uk
 

MYstIC G

Official Licensed Lump of Coal™ Distributor
Staff member
Moderator
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Dec 22, 2003
Messages
12,362
I find it unlikely that option wouldn't break something elsewhere.
 

Zenith.UK

Part of the furniture
Joined
Dec 20, 2008
Messages
2,913
It hasn't so far and I use a number of Goo's services (Mail, Picasa, Docs, Maps).
 

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