Google Autocomplete Disappearing: Is This Happening to You?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around issues users are experiencing with Google's autocomplete feature and changes to the image search interface. Participants express frustration with the new dynamic features and layout changes, questioning the usability and functionality of these updates.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants report that the autocomplete feature disappears after typing a few characters, leading to a blank page.
  • Others express annoyance with the dynamic behavior of Google's image search, describing it as jumpy and difficult to navigate.
  • Several users criticize the overall direction of Google's web development, suggesting that excessive use of AJAX has degraded the user experience.
  • One participant shares a workaround to revert to a classic layout for image search, although it requires repeated action.
  • Another user mentions issues with being redirected to a specific regional Google domain, expressing frustration with the lack of control over this behavior in different browsers.
  • Some participants discuss changes in navigation methods between pages of search results, noting that previous shortcuts are no longer effective.
  • There are mentions of browser-specific behaviors, such as how certain mouse actions can open new tabs in Firefox but not in Opera.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally express dissatisfaction with the changes made by Google, but there is no consensus on the effectiveness of proposed workarounds or the overall impact of these changes on user experience.

Contextual Notes

Some participants reference specific browser behaviors and settings that may affect their experiences, indicating a dependence on individual configurations and preferences.

lisab
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Recently I've been having trouble with google.

I start to type my search term, and it starts giving suggestions (the autocomplete feature). Then, when I've typed about 3 characters into the search box, the page goes blank - the autocomplete suggestions disappear, and whatever I've typed in the box disappears too. Very annoying!

I use Chrome.

Is this happening to other people?
 
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Google is starting to irritate me. They're adding features that annoy me. Their image search is so dynamic and AJAXy, it behaves all jumpy and jittery, popping up stuff or zooming or adding stuff at the bottom or whatever - when all I want to do is look at the images.
 
DaveC426913 said:
Google is starting to irritate me. They're adding features that annoy me. Their image search is so dynamic and AJAXy, it behaves all jumpy and jittery, popping up stuff or zooming or adding stuff at the bottom or whatever - when all I want to do is look at the images.

Oh I hate what they've done to the images search! Sometimes I can't get the cursor to the search box to type more words to refine my search, because it's 'stuck' on one of the pictures. Also annoying.
 
I hate the new Google pages.

When did web development come down to throwing together as much AJAX as humanly possible?
 
lisab said:
Oh I hate what they've done to the images search! Sometimes I can't get the cursor to the search box to type more words to refine my search, because it's 'stuck' on one of the pictures. Also annoying.

Yes. Way to make the internet seem like it's 1995 again, Google.
 
http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/Web%20Search/thread?tid=5c4cc2fede82d16c&hl=en
 
Last edited by a moderator:
From that link, this works nicely

For all browsers: One way to get the classic layout back is to scroll all the way down once the image page loads, and then click "Switch to basic version". Unfortunately, this won't be saved along with the other preferences and will need to be done each time you want the results in the classic layout.

###

For all browsers: Another method (a bit simpler if you can memorize a few characters) is to append the string "&sout=1" (sans quotes) at the end of the URL of the page with the new layout and then hit Enter. This will also need to be done every time.

However the new lay out is fine, the annoying problem is, is that the page is hot. It keeps flashing orange for attention in the toolbar, stumping the user.

The bright site, no more unavoidable redirecting from google.com to google.nl. Yay. :-p
 
I have to update that, Explorer-9 is happy to let me escape from google.nl to google.com however Google chrome keeps me enprisioned in google.nl mercilessly. No matter what you try, it always directs back to .nl
 
  • #10
Not sure the exact issue, but to stop it auto-searching, perform a search and then next to the search box it says "Instant is on".

Click that and choose "turn off" and it will stop jumping about all over the place and go back to the old search style.
 
  • #11
Up to now I could use left click-right click in fast succession to jump to the next page of results (under Opera), that wa making use of some nextpage meta or something like that. Now I have to scroll down and click on Next.

If it ain't broken, don't fix it. ^&*(&*^%!
 
  • #12
Borek said:
Up to now I could use left click-right click in fast succession to jump to the next page of results (under Opera), that wa making use of some nextpage meta or something like that. Now I have to scroll down and click on Next.

If it ain't broken, don't fix it. ^&*(&*^%!

Didn't know you could do that.

That combination in Firefox with my particular mouse opens a new tab.
 
  • #13
jarednjames said:
Didn't know you could do that.

That combination in Firefox with my particular mouse opens a new tab.

It can be configured somehow in the browser, there was a moment when I knew how to do it in Opera - but what I was using was a default. Now it is not
 
  • #14
Does Opera have an about:config page?
 
  • #15
jhae2.718 said:
Does Opera have an about:config page?

Yes.
 

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