|
funcrunch.org |
funcrunchphoto.com |
Search habits - the funcrunch files


| Jun. 11th, 2010 12:15 am Search habits Google unintentionally created an uproar today when previewing a new feature that displays full-screen background images on the Google.com home page. I was surprised at the reaction as I almost never go to the main Google home page to search. I use the location bar in Chromium on Ubuntu to enter my search terms directly, and when I used Firefox on the Mac I hit Command-K to enter my query in the search box. I'm curious about my friends' search habits in this regard.
Edit: And of course after laboriously creating and posting the poll I realize I left out my own preferred option in the first question, so those who search the way I do should choose "Something else" I suppose (since I can't edit the poll itself apparently).
On my desktop computer, I primarily search by using:
The google.com home page
6(40.0%)
The igoogle.com page
0(0.0%)
My browser's built-in start page
1(6.7%)
Bing, Yahoo, or another search engine
1(6.7%)
Something else (explain in comments)
7(46.7%)
On my mobile phone, I primarily search by using:
The google.com home page
5(33.3%)
The igoogle.com page
0(0.0%)
My phone's built-in search page
0(0.0%)
Bing, Yahoo, or another search engine
0(0.0%)
Something else (explain in comments)
6(40.0%)
I don't have a "smart" phone
4(26.7%)
My opinion on background images on Google.com:
I didn't even know about this
4(25.0%)
This is not a tickybox
0(0.0%)
8 notes - Make notes  | |

 | From: | obadiah |
Date: | June 11th, 2010 07:48 am (UTC) |
---|
| | | (Link) |
|
I found the full-image and thought it was way cool.
However, usually I use the "Google" bar at the top of Safari -- both on my Mac and my iPhone -- so I rarely see the nifty things Google does.
Sometimes I stumble across 'em, however, like I did with the full-page image. Also, today the Google logo is a tribute to Jaques Cousteau, on the occasion of what would have been his 100th birthday.
As obadiah said, I use the Google bar in Safari on both my Mac and my iPhone. I think the new feature is fine if you like that sort of thing, and I have no intention of taking up more bandwidth by using it.
ditto obadiah & hot_turkey, I use the search window in the browser bar, either Chrome or FF.
I use the upper-right browser search field in the frame... almost never go to search pages for entry.
 | From: | elgecko |
Date: | June 11th, 2010 05:33 pm (UTC) |
---|
| | | (Link) |
|
On the iPhone I use Safari's built in little search oval. For some reason I never do that on desktops. I generally set start page to the google home page, and then go from there, and I have quick-search enabled in the address bar for all else.
The big issue for me about the background image fiasco is that you Can't Turn It Off. I HATE changes that you can't put back.
You can turn it off now, though - just not during the preview, which they cut short early due to outrage from citizens such as yourself. :-)
 | From: | elgecko |
Date: | June 11th, 2010 05:37 pm (UTC) |
---|
| | | (Link) |
|
Right, but I had already switched to the elgecko.org hosted google start page. =)
I use the Google bar in Firefox.
|
|