"Google's New Look: Why is Everybody So Upset?"
PCWorld (Jun 10, 2010)
"Google has changed its traditionally stark white homepage by slapping on a big old picture on it. It didn't take long for the blogosphere to blow up with questions and complaints. But why, exactly, is everybody so upset and confused?
"Google already has a customizable homepage: iGoogle. With iGoogle, users can add widgets, designer backgrounds, and more.
"But Google took the beauty pageant one step further and lent Google.com a high-resolution photographic background which can be customized by using 'a photo from your computer, your own Picasa Web Album, or a public gallery hosted by Picasa which includes a selection of beautiful photos.'..."
Right now, I'm using a remarkable rendering by Jeff Koons: a sort of Deco Tech floral arrangement. It's the first - and third - choice I made today: and I think I'll stick with it. For a while, at least.
As the 'opening page' for Google, that is. I use iGoogle extensively, to browse through top-picks from a variety of sources.
I was surprised, and a little nonplussed, at seeing the new 'image' background, but decided to see what it was about before going ballistic over the change.
Back to that PCWorld article:
"...For reasons unbeknownst to me, writers across the Web had a visceral (and ridiculous) reaction to the change. Most cry 'Bing rip-off!' Some even go so far as to herald this as the death of tradition...."
Oh-kay. I recognize that reaction. Looks like the kinda now, kinda wow, totally hip, with-it and sophisticated legion of bloggers don't take change very well.
Me? I'm okay with the new Google look - largely on the strength of the National Geographic stock images and that Jeff Koons graphic.
But then, I'm an old coot who's seen color television replace the hallowed traditions of black-and-white TV, cable trample on broadcast television channels, and the Information Age thrust the good old boys of American journalism into a tizzy. I even learned how to set my VCR to the right time, so it didn't keep flashing "12:00."
Good grief! I remember when transistors were new - I'm used to change. Four or five decades from now, maybe the folks having fits today over Google's upgrade will be used to it, too.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Google's New Look, Being Upset, and VCRs That Flash 12:00
Labels:
common sense,
culture,
Google,
history,
psychology,
the human condition
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Unique, innovative candles
Visit us online: | |
Spiral Light Candle | • Find a Retailer • Spiral Light Candle online store |
Top 10 Most-Viewed Posts
-
(from INKCINCT Cartoons, used w/o permission) I very seldom copy an entire post in this blog, but trying to describe this cartoon would have...
-
" Coconut crab " AbsoluteAstronomy.com " The coconut crab, Birgus latro, is the largest land-living arthropod in the world an...
-
Ploak.com Article Directory " Your one-stop source for free articles. Do you need contents to add to your web site? Or articles for use...
-
" How to Think Like an Interior Designer " Jaime Derringer, via Shelpterpop (July 29, 2010) " It takes a unique mind to perfe...
-
Before anything else, repeating from an earlier post: Google has launched a 'people finder' for Japan, in Japanese, English, Korea...
-
Update (October 11, 2010) Another article about Reaction Engines Ltd.'s Skylon: " Airplanes in Space? " Irene Klotz, Space ...
-
" Stan Lee Unveils 3 New Superheroes at Comic-Con " Underwire, Wired (July 22, 2010) " A time traveler, an unwitting heir to ...
-
" Hellgrammite (Dobsonfly Larvae) (Corydalus cornutus) " Texas Parks and Wildlife " Other Names " Eastern Dobsonfly ...
-
" 'Lost City' of Tanis Found, but Often Forgotten " Brian Handwerk, Mysteries of the Ancient World, National Geographic (...
-
Whether you call it trafficking in persons, human trafficking, or slavery, buying and selling people isn't nice. And, in quite a few cou...
Today's News! Some of it, anyway
Actually, some of yesterday's news may be here. Or maybe last week's.
The software and science stuff might still be interesting, though. Or not.
The Lemming thinks it's interesting: Your experience may vary.
The software and science stuff might still be interesting, though. Or not.
The Lemming thinks it's interesting: Your experience may vary.
("Following" list moved here, after Blogger changed formats)
2 comments:
I just went to Google and didn't see anything different. Odd.
Brigid,
Odd, indeed. Maybe Google is trying the new look with a limited number of users.
Post a Comment