iGoogle Users Irate About Portal's Changes 321
bhhenry sends in an InformationWeek report on a recent unannounced change in the iGoogle portal. Quoting: "Google insists that its revised iGoogle personalized home page generates better 'happiness metrics' than the old design, but a vocal group of users isn't happy about the changes." The recent change introduces what Google refers to as "canvas view," which the Official Google Blog claims "... makes iGoogle a more useful homepage and a better platform for developers." Unlike the last major change made to Gmail, there is no option to revert to the old version of iGoogle. iGoogle users are reporting that widgets and themes are broken, Gmail attachments don't work, and valuable screen space is wasted. The Personalizing Google section of Google Groups is full of thousands of complaints about this sudden and unannounced change. Many posters have have stated that they are using the Canadian or UK version of iGoogle or even moving to NetVibes.com to get their preferred layout back. It seems that Google and Yahoo are moving in lockstep in springing forced changes that users hate.
google.com/ig (Score:5, Interesting)
I would be one of those unhappy about the change - tabs migrated from top to the left side (*). It added nothing new to the page while added something (occupying precious screen space) what I do not like.
Overall the change is bad. It is bad mostly because it is not optional. I spent half of an hour to try to put my tabs where they were before, but found no such option.
And since most of the Web sites are still not wide screen compatible, resizing my window wider is really annoying: on other sides I start to see more of the empty side bars. And it's not that on google.com/ig the space is occupied by something I need...
It's not the end of the world, but the change is bad.
(*) Also I think left-handed people would have preferred the tabs on right side of page. But you can't move them, you can't remove them.
the change was announced (Score:5, Interesting)
Google was even asking for beta testers.
I think the new iGoogle has some problems, but it's generally better than the old one. I don't think Google should have switched over yet.
Better than Facebook (Score:1, Interesting)
Better than it was, but still some improvement to be made. Back when they force beta tested it I really hated it particularly because of the lack of the story expand and a contract option but they replaced it now so I am much happier but there is still room for improvement. At least they are listening in putting back features and making it more adaptable as they hear the complaints unlike those bastards at facebook.
Why different for different computers? (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Don't forget Apple (Score:3, Interesting)
A nit: It turns out you don't know what AJAX is. It's Asynchronous Javascript and XML. Javascript is significantly different than Java.
so instead of just having http links that one can click, there are javascript callbacks that retrieve updated page content without reloading the whole page.
It's actually not all or nothing. Progressive enhancement means that you can treat it as either a hyperlink or a button to trigger JavaScript.
Example: When you reply to my comment, if you've got tabbed browsing turned on, you should be able to middle-click on the "Reply to This" button and open it in a new tab. Or you can simply click on it, and it will expand inside this page, which I find much quicker and more useful.
It's also not just hyperlinks. Example: I recently discovered Gmail's keyboard shortcuts. (Press ? in Gmail for a cheat sheet.) Even if these were real hyperlinks, I'm guessing you're still going to need Javascript to bind those hotkeys.
it breaks functionality in cases where you intend to get completely new pages.
It sucks when that happens, but that's not the AJAX itself. That's when people decide to not provide both options -- or use clever tricks like hash-links. Take Gmail -- your current location is appended to the URL, so if you want to open something in a new tab, it will reload all of Gmail -- and then go to exactly where you wanted.
Re:stop whining, it's free (Score:5, Interesting)
It's a free service. You get what you pay for.
It's ad-supported, you are paying for it.
Re:I quite like it. (Score:2, Interesting)
The stuff that I find really bizarre is people who whine about screen "real estate". I mean, the top third of the screen is dedicated to a one-line text box.
Yes exactly, so further reduction of the already limited usable screen space is NOT desirable. Or to go with your way of thinking, you are already paying taxes on your income, why should you care if they take 20% more?
Gmail secure? (Score:1, Interesting)
Is this new iGoogle Gmail gadget using https when opening my emails?