Google might think, that we are blind. Or they need more Conversation-Rate - i don't know...

It helps focus the eye on the key element of the page. As you see from the example the search box and logo dont fade in as these are critical to the page but the rest is secondary to the page. I see what they trying to do but wrong page to trying on. Would work better on Yahoo homepage as there is a load of distracting content.

I don't really see the point to it, myself. But I guess it looks kinda cool.

I miss seeing the search and feeling lucky buttons. Thought initially my PC was messed up when this feature showed up. Don't like the "fade" search page, feels incomplete?!

I think it's fuggin cool. Although apparently I'm the only one in my office who's seeing it.

I was freaking out when the I Feel Lucky button was missing. I use it all the time. Google doesn't seem to be going out of its way to get my opinion, but if they wanted it, it would be to put the thing back the way it was.

Has Google realized what happens when using an unstable connection, the fade just hangs? Are there any options to remove this script on a user basis?

On a slightly similar topic, I am wondering why most of the Google’s interfaces always look like they were created by amateur artists, don’t get me started about load time, you can do wonders with a few kb gif files and a couple of gradients.

Has Google realized what happens when using an unstable connection, the fade just hangs? Are there any options to remove this script on a user basis?

On a slightly similar topic, I am wondering why most of the Google’s interfaces always look like they were created by an amateur artists, don’t get me started by load time, you can do wonders with a few kb gif files and a couple of gradients.

I think Google should host a home page redesign competition; I am talking about adapting the minimalist approach with some modern day design techniques.

Flame me all you want but there is no reason why you cannot properly align content in html so that your cross browser capable with a little love.

PS I am the one who invented the sporker, a spoon, a fork, and chop sticks all in one.

Flame me all you want but there is no reason why you cannot properly align content in html so that your cross browser capable with a little love.

I hate it, I often paste text into the search box and then click the search button. I don't want to be fumbling around for the keyboard to press enter!! That's so 1990's !!

The fade is contradictory with the fact that most of us like the simple ease of the page. No banners and flashing lights, I hit home and there it is, one block to type what I want. Now I have to take the extra time to mouse over. Yea, I know, how impatient we have become but really, I don't want to be toying with the glitz

Dammit, I had it but now it's gone.

Bring back Google Fade!

Don't like it at all. :(
Bring back the old style.
This is useless, I like to have the options there all the time. Fade in on navigation is just a stupid kids idea.
Leave google homepage alooooone!

thought something was wrong with IE8

There's a lot wrong with IE8, DeWayne. A real browser is called FireFox.

again:

There's a lot wrong with IE8, DeWayne. A real browser is called FireFox.

oohh! pretty pretty, shiny shiny!

I hate it. Completely pointless. It's still doing it on Google Australia.

I thought I had a virus. Maybe they should have posted something on the Google.com homepage that they are "experimenting".

thought my page had stopped loading or something. as i dont use my mouse until i have results, i didnt know that it was a mouse-prompted fade in >.

Its to make it look streamlined. Don't move your mouse and you will just be able to search and get on with your life. HAHAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shite-have to wait around for the buttons to show up, completely pointless-still happening on Google UK.

i think the idea behind it is great. I suppose a faster page load time is expected since fewer things have to be loaded initially but the page looks incomplete so it would be a good idea to place a text like "Enter search phrase" inside the text box. Because really, a webpage with no text intuitively looks incomplete.

im proper pissed at this ive just spent countless time downloading .net fixes running spyboot spyware updating windows defender reinstalling avg running scans ect thinking my machine was messed up only to find bored google programmers are just playing around, remove the stupid code and inform people when your making idle changes

Google outage causes millions of people loss of business and delays in search. Breaking News, Google homepage has an error that does not display the search buttons. People from all over the world complain and are choosing an alternative search engine as it is not clear that the new Google compels users to revert to the keyboard enter key.

It's back. I hate it when Google keep playing around. There's nothing wrong with the way it is. Leave it.

Competing with Bing's fade crap.

So many times we just open up the browser and start typing in to search - Google likes to make the things SIMPLE that look simple, that work amazingly simple and fast and productive, and still to win so many people to switch because they keep it simple. They have lost "Search" button as well which I do not really need anyway. If you for instance go on yahoo.com - you will be blinded by all those banners, links, news, this and that - whole 9 yards of what - information that is not needed - you just want to search when you go to search engine - that is the point behind this and I totally get it. I hope they keep this as an option so I can enable it once they determine to put back old Google page.

HATE GOOGLE FADE! IT WAS FINE! Y R U MESSING WITH SOMETHING THAT WASNT BROKEN?!?!

I don't like the idea that Google can arbitrarily decide how to design or arrange my homepage. It's also ridiculous that they have eliminated the "google search" and "I'm feeling Lucky" buttons. What is even more exasperating is that they make it virtually impossible to contact customer service or seek answers or help of any kind. I finally called their home office and pressed "O" and stated my issue only to have the person be totally unaware of what Google is doing. He put me on hold and I have now been waiting 24 minuites without anyone returning to the phone. How immensely arrogant!

What is wrong with you? It's Google's homepage, not yours, so it is theirs to change. Plus, are there really people who use their keyboard to type in a query and then user the MOUSE to click search? Or have people just forgotten what the Enter key does?

Personally I really like the effect.
My friend cookie is jelous lollololololololololol.
I would like it at home. Is there a way to get it even if google decide to remove it?

Well I guess its kinda weird... I was like errr... wheres all the links? lol
12-6
Cloud

From a design aspect, I think it's pretty cool. From a user's perspective though it's not necessary. A simple way would be to have an option in the google preferences to turn it on.

Yeah, this happens on mine too, it doesn't really bother me. I can't see it being a problem unless you're in such a hurry that you can't pass up on the seconds it takes to fade in, before pressing the links. I think it looks fairly nice.

it's annoying as hell, more seconds wasted. Christ, either they are sitting around twiddling their thumbs wondering what to do, or they did it just for attention. I think they should be focusing on things that aren't pointless (to me haha) like giving 'video' a decent overhaul instead of hacking bits over the top of it like they have been, somebody's loooooosing enthusiasm

Switched back to Firefox home page

I hated it enough to search for a way to turn it off. Fortunately it's as easy as deleting your google.com cookies. I hope if this experiment is advanced to the standard page that there is still a way to turn it off. It's an irritating bit of needless HCI distraction.

Its not for design aspect like most are thinking. If you haven't noticed (achive.org it) google hasn't really shy'd away from thier design in many years(since they first launched really)

Observation of Change:

In the past google added a couple of features such as instant focus of search box on load and then focus on search box on key down. This allows a user to use the keyboard to search with fumbling with the mouse to press the search box to type.

With that said, google added this "Fade-In" feature not just for design aspects - really it doesn't make since for design perposes. Its actually for bandwidth conservation. As you all may or may not know, google gets the highest internet traffic. I estimated several thousand Terrabytes of data a day. Anything they can do to lower bandwidth consumption will save money in the long run.

For instance, if you notice when you go to the page, until you mouse over the text doesn't fade-in. Simply if google was your home page you could just open IE or Firefox or whatever and just type away without fiddling with the mouse. Same thing if you type in the URL. But when you move your mouse in, the text fades in. And its not using some spiffy DHTML effect, it using AJAX. This means the text was never really there like it would have to be with a DHTML effect. The text is dynamicly loaded in real-time from the server without reloading the page.

Will Google benifit from this? Thats what I guess the experment is for. Sure, the text loaded is only 10KBs if that much at all. But take into account 1.5 Billion Page views a day then that amounts to a wapping 15 Terrabytes of Bandwidth! If people were to just start typing without mousing over, they would save loads in bandwidth a month. Bandwidth that could be used for videos, images, ect.

However the Server Side Code to process this transaction of the Fade-In cost some bandwidth too. Almost in a way if everyone moused over and faded in the text and never just typed away then Google would actually be wasting bandwidth.

Thats just my synopsis of it all. These are not facts from google, just my professional observation.

Hate it, looking at Bing for now

It did actually make me use Bing for the first time today.

While I don't care about the lack of buttons, I find it thoroughly infuriating that it fades in.

I'm guessing this is a branding technique to put Google deeper into our psyche, but I don't see the point. If we are already Google fans, why is this necessary? I just find it plain annoying that I need to wait to get into g mail if I am on a public computer. Please change it back. Thanks.

I'm guessing this is a branding technique to put Google deeper into our psyche, but I don't see the point. If we are already Google fans, why is this necessary? I just find it plain annoying that I need to wait to get into g mail if I am on a public computer. Please change it back. Thanks.

Seems to have gone today here.
To be honest I found it distracting and pointless.

I've been using it for a few weeks now, and I really like it. It isn't obtrusive at all because it fades in before you can even get the mouse to where a link is, and I enjoy the extra white space. I've always liked Google's simple homepage, but it has been getting outdated.

As usual, Goodle developers do nothing by halves. The fade-in feature is not just a waste of time. It's a complete and utter waste of time. Seriously. Have you run out of things to work on? No matter though - there are plenty other search engines to choose from that aren't as annoying.

Regarding the essay written above by Steven Malone... You are completely wrong. This does not save bandwidth. It isn't using AJAX. The text is downloaded upon the first load, it just isn't displayed until the mouse is moved over the screen. Load the page and view the source yourself to see it. I hope web pages aren't your profession. By the way, this fade "feature" sucks.

Google writes, "This is just a test and a way for us see whether our users will celebrate an even simpler search interface."

Sorry to be a party pooper Mr. Google, but I don't feel like "celebrating" this "simpler" search interface. Hey, if you wanted to make it even "simpler" how about having a completely white screen that never shows anything. Then the user can use the web browser to actually go to a search engine that does what the user wants it to do.

FFS! I wish thy'd stop putting it changing it! They keep introducing the fade, taking it away, bringing it back... and now it's back with ugly text underneath saying "Press enter to search" - why not just keep the buttons? Google's obviously got new people working for them because they'd never do anything so stupid this time last year.

Google has finally joined Microsoft. Their levels of cluelessness are now equal. For example, Microsoft introduced their ribbon menus without a way of reverting to the original, thereby hindering their most experienced users, adding hours and hours of lost time and frustration for them. Google, in an attempt to (look cool? mimic Microsoft's cluelessness? fill in the blank here... it's impossible to tell what they were thinking) has changed the simplicity of their main page to fade in for no apparent reason and have thus joined the ranks of clueless developers grasping at straws with changes that confuse instead of clarify. But far worse, they don't bother to estimate the impact on their experienced users and assume that what they are doing won't really impact anyone, do not notify users, nor give them the option to chose the change or reject it.

Congratulations Google - you've made it; you're officially f*cked up in the eyes of the public.

I thought it was a bug! By coincidence I had upgraded my web browser just when Google made this "fade" change, so I figured it was some stupid web browser bug.

After a little investigation I find out it's not a bug, it's a "feature"!

But it's a pointless feature. Sure, 5-10 years ago it might have been eye-catching, but today what with flash animation, ajax, etc. it's just a yawn.

Google seems to have forgotten that the reason people go to their page is not for visuals but for search. If Google wants change then how about some new search features, like say: WizardSearch or SuperSearch or something.

thinking the fade effect is a bug is just retarded, obviously it's on purpose.. can't believe people's complaining about it, you don't deserve google

Just saw this today for the first time on Firefox 3.0.15 Visat Home Premium. At forst I thought the system was hung up. Now I'm thinking I like it. I'd rather it wait to fade in until I actually put my search terms in. Well, if that were the case then I should put my search terms in and then select "web", "images", "videos", etc.

I don't like it. I rather it just pop up like before. The main reason google is my homepage is because its fast. I do have fast cable internet to. You have to move your mouse for it to pop up or go to any links on homepage. Should have the option to have it or not have it.

I find it more relaxing and inituitive. i feel a little better when it's all white, i just keep looking at the screen.

at first I was like damn the page didnt load all the way. But after that it fade in gave it a very cool effect, not experienced in alot of websites, I love it, it also separates information and even though to get the effect again I had to reload the page, the effect in itself did well, what you can appreciate is at least at the begining it looks less cluttered which is the hidden reason why google.com does so well, no bs straight to the point less clutter, msn and all the other engines still dont understand this!?!? je je je maybe they should hire me ;-)

It serves no practical purpose whatsoever.

On slow connections and or low spec machines, the buttons and radio buttons disappear during the page reload.

Pointless waste of development time and effort.

Totally useless and unpractical.

Fail imo.

Honestly....I never thought I'd leave Google, but this is just "feature" is just stupid.

It makes Google feel slow.

Gonna go meet Bing.

It's not like this is anything new. It's just a few lines of code. I guess they're bored.

I don't buy the 'Its actually for bandwidth conservation' comment. I love fluid creative designs on pages, I love effects, just not when I'm searching.

Absolutely HATE IT. I have 4 user accounts on this PC. My Admin account keeps changing from the normal Google to the fade-in Google and back at random, while the other 3 accounts are constantly in the normal mode. I have wasted HOURS trying to work out what is wrong with my PC !!!!!!! If you are going to mess about like this LET PEOPLE KNOW FIRST !!
It is an absolutely pointless and irritating mod anyway. If it ain't broke, don't try to fix it.
I'm now off to Bing..

Poo.... get rid.

Fade should be optional, and definitely not the default. Of the 2 buttons, at least the "search" should remain.

I hate it. It drive me nuts having the fade thing. If google is that desperate to have a new feature at least make it an option not compulsary!!

The fade is terrible.

I added my 2 cents to the forum thread.

Hopefully G skips the whole idea ASAP.

I don't like it, the regular home page is simple enough.

FADE IN SUCKS ASS, it slows down everything, I want to type in search bar instantly as soon as page is loaded, instead i have to wait for FADE THE GOD DAMN IN EFFECT.
SUCKS SUCKS SUSLCAOIUSYDOIU

Thanks to the stupid fade, the page now cuts off the first parts of my searches sometimes, IT BREAKS THE IE8 ADDRESS BAR, takes longer to load, and is overall stressing me out.

It would not be bad if the page loaded faster and I had fewer tabs open using up so much memory, but I do, so it SUCKS.

Okay, I'm a huge Google fan - but not on this one. I realize you're trying to draw attention to it but I click around alot faster knowing where i want to go - and this effect is making me wait to click on where i want to go to and I HATE THAT! It's consciously slowing me down. If your goal is to draw attention to it then why not make the text bigger or something?

LOVEEE IT!!

When I navigate to the search engine's home page, it's because I want to do something. My repeated immediate experience can be compared to that of a cheerful worker who, preparing to dig a hole. Turning to my shovel, all I find is its blade [with the handle missing]. As I walk toward the shovel's lone forged useless metal blade, confused in disbelief and disappointment, irritation growing with each step, preparing to call the authorities regarding the pointless vandalism, the handle slowly reappears, as if my screen's refresh rate has slowed to a crawl.

This reminds me of that line in Subterranean Homesick Blues (1965): "The pump don't work cause the vandals took the handles."

Imagine being at your desk preparing to work, but the desk chair would not appear until you try to sit down. That's how I feel about it.

Since the conditioned started around Halloween, I thought it was a trick -- certainly not a treat.

There must be something useful that you can do to keep busy.

OMG, I thought I had a virus or some malware or something! I absolutely HATE this fade in thing!! Why can't they tailor things to the individual user? Some like it, some don't. Why not give the option to have it look the way YOU want it to? It's MY computer, MY web experience. Leave it alone.

what no leds to go with this wait that's for next google upgrade.Next google bling bling 1.0beta

This is a good idea, screw all you haters you have nothing to do. GO GOOGLE! FADE IN ALL DAY!

HATE it. Hate, hate, hate.

They fall on the "make it simple" trap, dont they see their page is simple enough??? in this case siple means stupid.

They fell on the "make it simple" trap. Don't they see their page is simple enough??? In this case simple means stupid.

I have to wait 10 (TEN) seconds to click on "News." I don't want to wait 10 seconds. Just show the damn links! I HATE IT!!!!!

I don't really like it. It attracts your attentionn. I want the site to be as simple as possible.

Stupid! Frustrating! I know what I want to do and I dont want to wait for the B.S. fade in.

Google Fade just slows down what used to be a very fast loading responsive page - something of a unique selling point in todays bloated software world. Its not cool, its not clever, please return my Google page to its vastly faster and more useful appearance.

not very usable. I use the hidden buttons a lot and don't want to wait for them.

I just switched to Bing. Won't come back until Google fixes this. It slows my browser start-up time drastically for some reason...

I HATE IT. Google has always been my home page. But I think I'll change to Yahoo if this keeps up another week.

that's odd. Can't say I like it.

This Google fade in thing is just annoying and distracting in my opinion. When it fades in it just looks and feels like an ad that's vying for my attention or something. So enough already. It doesn't simplify anything nor does it make the page any more cool. Get rid of it please.

Hate it. I often want to go to Google News, or Google images...to have to have the options fade in rather than just be there is extremely annoying. Also, if I want to do a simple web search, it's annoying and distracting.

Fortunately, as a user of Firefox add-on, Noscript, simply clicking 'Forbid google.co.uk' fixes it.

The fade feature is hardly adding any value.

*************************
Google must stay as fast as possible.
Fade in = Nono.
*************************

from the official google blog: http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/12/now-you-see-it-now-you-dont.html

it's way too slow. time is precoius. and when it comes to the most popular search site, it's priceless

I love google but hate the fade. Google is known for innovations that are useful. This is just Pointless!

the fade sucks. I have a very fast connection, but it's just annoying and disorienting.

Ya know what? Fuck you, Google.

Ya know what? Fuck you, Google.

ANNOYING. That is the only word for it.

love it. reinforces simplicity in brand. functionality remains. what a bunch of whiners you are.

Can Google PLEASE have an option to turn it off.

Yes, please give us an option to turn this off. After seeing it once, it's obvious the software engineering of this feature was a complete waste of time and energy. This feature makes me think your site is now slooooooowwwer, is that what I was supposed to think? Get rid of it.

It sucks

What's with this urge to fix what isn't broke. Google the new fade tis crap and it stinketh. Must have been a pointy haired managers idea.

It's so damn stupid! The first time I visited the homepage I thought to myself "Where the hell has the Google Images link gone?". Then I moved the mouse and then I saw it. It makes navigation harder. Google should know better than to implement stupid benefitless gimicks.

well this features doesnt happen all the time for example after reading this article i have opened my google webpage only to see that "fade-in" feature is not working.

ofcourse i dont want to say that it doesnt work all the time, i have seen it works sometimes.

I still feel the present design is not that good.

Everybody knows that the URLs such as "Images, Map, News, Orkut etc" are displayed in the top part of the webpage and underneath there is a line that separates these items from the rest of the webpage.

Therefore I definitely feel that Google Inc must have implemented it in such a way that when the mouse comes above the line then only the items such as Images, Maps, News, Orkut etc should be displayed.

At present user moves the mouse items are shown this is not correct

The first time I saw it, it was cute.
The second time, not so much.
After that, it's just more annoying bs to wade through.
What's next, a flash splash page to click through?

I thought the fade in was due to a virus or trojan or whatnot!

Completely pointless, there is hardly any clutter anyway. Not to mention about 90% of the time people will move their mouse anyway.

Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler.

Google FAILED.

stupid. it causes me a slight delay as i pause to see if my screen has frozen....so now i wait to see if it will fade in, then i know i don't have an error. poor choice of an experiment to accept.

I freaked out a little this morning when I opened up my browser and everything had disappeared and i thought that it was a stupid idea, but i soon figured it out =D it's not a bad idea, it wouldnt make much difference if it faded or not, just that the first time might be a bit strange.

Google's original claim as the Search Engine of choice was for the simplistic and quick page. I don't need/want a fading effect nor adds or banners. I just want a fast search engine page. Nothing more nothing less.

Google, please stop this fade effect. It kind of solution is for funny homepages, not for SEO rules maker number one in the wold!

I don't like FADE Effekt!
The idee has potential but it is strange to see a fadein effekt if you move the cursor trying to focus the search input. this is distracting.

New homepage Google Search is a sucks (sorry for the word "sucks"). I don't like this homepage. I would like to access the old page homepage Google Search.

I don't like it at all

google fade is gonna fade my love of google, get my drift? its annoying when a company tries to improve on perfection by changing the product . what ever happened to leave well enough alone? what makes google think its has any competition , even bing(dumb name,i can goolge my own decisions) miscr-mind is responsible for ie nightmare dominating the world. they cant step to google, google is the 800 pound gorilla. boo-yah!

I hate this crap. All these useless effects do is slow things down. It's not bad enough that any search returns 10,000 results that have *nothing* to do with your search term, and each one of those pages you navigate to is choked with enough flash content for the next friggin' "Star Wars" chapter, now the search engine's web page has to add to the overhead? Screw this. I keep all those effects turned off on my desktop, why would I want it on a web search page?

I noticed that I didn't have the buttons at first, but when I typed in something, but instead pressed tab to go to the "I'm feeling Lucky button, the next time I opened the Google homepage, those two buttons were there but nothing else. So it adapted to my perceived desires. That's really cool!!

I hate this feature!!! Honestly, I really don't buy-in to the justification to begin with as the home page has always been minimal to begin with. Could you PLEASE MAKE THIS CONFIGURABLE by an option to the setting page for this "feature"?

TAKE THIS CRAP OFF !!!!! IF YOU THINK YOUR THE ONLY SEARCH ENGINE OUT THERE YOU BETTER GOOGLE SEARCH ENGINES !! THE ONE REASON I SWITCHED FROM ******* TO GOOGLE WAS THE SPEED OF EVERYTHING ABOUT GOOGLE. NOW YOU WANT TO ATTEMPT TO GET FANCY. TAKE IT OFF AND DO IT NOW OR I THINK YOU WILL LOSE ALOT OF FANS.

you can't see the privacy link anymore, i'm going to sue them!

PLEASE ! TURN OFF THAT FADE-IN FUNCTION !!! Or at least give users option to turn it off !

It's nice for the first 3 times but after that it's getting on my nerves! I don't want for something to load/appear, I wanna open the full page at once.

Thanks for making my computer, my connection and google.com seem slower. Get rid of it.

What's google?

Lame. This is what Google is putting it's resources in these days? Super lame.

It's annoying!!! Hate it!

I greatly dislike the new "fade-in" Google screen. Google, if there's any chance to get rid of it, please do so! It adds nothing except annoyance.

SIMPLY ANNOYING !!!

Hate it - for one they should have said something - I thought I was infected. two - it only slows menu options and paste down. Bad move. Should also allow user to disable it.

I recently noticed the new fading "feature" of Google search. In short I hate it. I read in your blog that it's meant to simplify things; I don't see how having to wait for a link I want to follow to fade into view can be considered a simplification. The links were unobtrusive in the first place so the "clutter" arguments I'm hearing are unconvincing. I also find the effect visually distracting. Can I have a link that removes this? I don't want to store any cookies. In summary, this new feature is bugging the shit out of me to the point where I've been looking for Grease Monkey scripts to remove it. I even checked out Bing.

"It helps focus the eye on the key element of the page..." because my eye ALWAYS had trouble wading through the sea of crap that was littering the old home page. *rolls eyes*

Dreadful & utterly pointless !

LAME. For one thing, on slow connections the fade doesnt always kick in right away. So if you were hoping to click on any of those top-left links, (mail etc), well, patience my friend.

for another thing, its pure eye candy, from a company that always does its best work when it avoids the gratuitous silliness that other sites cant resist.

Time is wasted when you need to click on link that needs to fade in. This comes off overall as arrogant and stupid. They should be working on practical things their users need, and for forget the cheap gimmicks.

I do not like it! I thought I had some sort of virus and was trying to stop it from doing it. What's next Google? Cluttering your page with worthless news and information that you don't wanna know? Google is a search engine. Keep it that way!

Fade in makes me fade away from Google.

I HATE IT!!!.. page seems slower now to load.. I liked the quick loading NON FADE version..

Fuck you, "Rodge". Who asked you, twat?

I don't like it at all, I'm much faster than the fade is, when I load up my browser and Google is my home page, I don't want to 'wait' to be able to click the gmail button, and its less than convenient to make 'gmail' my homepage. They are wasting precious seconds of hundreds of thousands of people, every waking moment. Please revert. We have 'igoogle' for this type of thing. If we want flash WITH google, we'll go there.

Honestly its delay makes me do a double-take and think Google is broken upon every refresh, then it just 'appears'. An elegant implementation, but perhaps 'too elegant'.

I'm trying really hard to have a definitive opinion about this either way, but it just doesn't make a difference to me. I'm not all that impressed with the somewhat simpler design, nor am I really annoyed with the millisecond that it takes to move my mouse. Mainly, I'm just wondering, "How many resources is Google spending on this and is it really worth the experiment?"

I thought my computer had a virus. I had no idea what was going on...

really sucks.......google please remove this shit

Personally, I find it hilarious that some believed a virus was causing this. Aside from that; I don't like Google Fade. It's too distracting. You can still search normally, so I don't understand this irrational hate for Google Fade. I think the should be an on/off option on one's Google Account options page.

Personally when it first happened to me, I was like wtf? But now that I know, it's kinda cool. Although I think that they should make it optional in preferences. Not because I don't like it, but because there are apparently a plethora of people out there whose lives are on such a dramatically tight schedule that the milliseconds it takes for the mouseover to activate the full page renders their lives useless. Trust me people if a half second screws you up that bad, Google fade is the least of your problems . . .

Its distracting.

Its a stupid mistake from google. I think they are getting obsessed with reducing the content on webpage. Now its me more time to go to the stuff i need.. Google please stop it.

How to disable google homepage fade for good with styles (using Firefox browser)-> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UIyLMe8Ksw

I think this fade thing is wery annoying. I dont know what is the point. What is this for?

It took me severeal seconds to recognize it is not a bug, it is a feature. :)

Completely useless feature and really distracting and annoying. I had to install a script for Greasemonkey that disables the fade.

This focused me on all the other, fading stuff they have on the page. I always only saw the searchbar, and never read through all the links.

Maybe they also want to have some more traffic, as some ppl might pres F5 several times to see the fading effect...

annoying, actually reduces my productivity as I heavily use the google webmaster and additional account tools.

it's cool for the sake of being cool... i'm all for change, but this is a backward step in my opinion

lame

I think that Google Fade-in should win an award for the dumbest innovation of 2009.

It's pointless, it's annoying and it's time-wasting.

I, too, installed the Greasemonkey code to disable it. Sooo annoying. I'd have thought Google would have had more sense.

I am beginning to think that The Google is really not so much different from many other companies, and it's kind of lost the plot. Google products used to be cool, now they just seem to throw anything out there. Another example is Google Spreadsheets; that has to rank as one of the most annoying programs ever; they crank out so-called innovations, such as GoogleLookup (for Spreadsheets), and half the time it doesn't even work, or returns bad data. Similarly with Google Squared (admittedly still beta); it's just an awful interface, bad results half the time ...

In short, Google needs to get its eye back on the ball.

Pointless and wastes my time. I move my mouse quick. Now I need to wait for google to load the links when it's completely pointless to begin with. What is Google thinking? Are they turning into Microsoft?

Completely lame, what’s the point in making me wait an extra two seconds to click on Google maps, this is so counter productive. Fire the twat that thought this was a good idea.

JavaScript bandwagon.

Why no go the whole hog with a swish flash intro with scrolling text...

Remove it...google should be simple, fast and clean. If this keeps up, I will go to yahoo or even god forbid, bing.

The fade-in Stinks. It causes a delay in entering a search word because we all know to wait until a page loads before we try and use it. It is also annoying and distracting to the users eyes. This is because a person's eyes naturally look at a object in motion before a stationary object.

At this rate Google will die like the C4 search engine did. Leave well enough alone Google. The more busyness that you build into a website, the less people use it.

Desculpe equipe do Google, mas esse fade ficou uma porcaria, por favor voltem ao que era antes.
Grato.

Join the protest, sign the petition to turn off the Fade-In:

http://www.PetitionOnline.com/G0OG13/petition.html

It's just annoying!

I think it is slick.. I mean, no value, but slick. I notice it this week. I thought it might be the browser.. good to know.

Well I was hoping they would see the error of their ways :( but as time has gone on and it is still there I am finding it just more and more annoying. As a mate said "Yeah when I buy books I like to buy ones that have the text appear after I turn the page" Any other good NON MS search engines about?

I thought it was a slower connection, but now I like it as I have learned to expect it. It just looks a little more polished...

Hate it. The dynamic movement of the text fading in is VERY distracting.

I hate nothing more then this, every morning I come into the office and start up my browser my eyes start to hurt because of this fade-in animation.
Disable Google Fade-in with Firefox Greasemonkey plugin: http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/63436

Don't like it! I use to click on my GMAIL link in the top bar, but now it's not immediately available. It's wasting time.
Can we have something smarter back? Google is not just Javascript effect... should not be...

I think the "fade-in" effect is useless, I thought that if the mouse wasn't moved then the page doesn't have to load completely, but if you look carefully when one press INTRO the page try to load the whole content. So, what is the intention with the minimalistic page which was already enough good ?

KEEP the FADE in effect. Why? Because, "sometimes you just don't know what life has to offer until you move from one place to the next."

They call this fading a TWEAK??? Slower response times of anything are NOT a TWEAK google, stop this crap.

I don't like it. I often go to google to look for images. Now I have to move my mouse onto the window in order to get the 'images' link. That makes life harder, not easier.

I find it annoying!

Don't like it at all, when i want to log into my google account and not do a search, I have to now hesitate and wait for the login!! How stupid.

Complain to the person responsible for this farce. jon@jonwiley.com or twitter @jonwiley

It's a useless added feature that slows down productivity. It doesn't allow the user to immediately click on the options, and if you have a slower connection it doesn't "fade in" immediately upon mouse motion. I highly think that it should be removed entirely.

What the **** is wrong with all of you people?
Its an interesting feature that provides no hindrance whatsoever to your browsing, The search & im feeling lucky buttons are both still there and by the time you move your mouse to a link.. it has loaded. So many people are going crazy and saying they are moving to bing or some stupid s*** about this when it really IS NOT A BIG DEAL. It is something google wanted to try out, as a developer, I like putting things like this into websites as I feel it makes them interesting.

For those stupid people who think its a plot for advertising.. or something stupid like that. Who the hell do you think you are the FBI? Your nothing.. You know nothing.. You are stupid. This is merely something that somebody on the design team thought would be cool, which it is. It highlights the fundamental.. and most important thing that google is.. It is a search engine. And a damn fine one at that.

If you want to move to bing.. I ask.. what the hell for? If you are only interested in the search engine aspect then how has google changed for you? Gmail users.. Are you going to resort to the backbench alternative of Hotmail/Windows Live Mail just because it takes you an extra millisecond of your time to get to your mail.

Complaining about load time for the fade? Get a faster f***ing connection and stop sooking.

All of you people are f***ed.. Think about all the 'productivity' that you so complain about losing that by posting here you are wasting so much of anyway.

It sucks!!! please remove the fade...

Google fade is pointless and detracts from its sole purpose. I can just about see the links now

What a load of crap and please remove it !!!!

Whoever responsible for this google fade should be fired !!

GET RID OF GOOGLE FADE IN! ALREADY SWITCHED TO ANOTHER BROWSER UNTIL FADE IN IS ELIMINATED

Terrible. Terrible. Terrible and annoying...

google should sack jon wiley

It sucks. it's fucking retarded.. these are the guys behind an industry leading tech company? it's fucking annoying and no! it's not useful. 90% of the time i go to the homepage to access my account links, this slows me down having to wait for the stupid fucking fade in.

utterly moronic.

What idiot thought this was a good idea ?

pathetic

Agh! Finally I’m not the only one that noticed it. I don’t like it at all! I even though it was a bug or something. I just want to click fast on “Images”, “Video’s” or something else, but that is impossible now because of the delay :(

Please set it back if somebody here me? I love Google because it’s fast, quick & easy, don’t *&$%@*% .

The links do not show until I move the mouse pointer ? it seems completely pointless to me

Please return the original search page and focus your tweaks onto something that has a use

Thanks

google are you taking any notice of what your users are saying ? get rid of this pointless gimmick.

God this sucks, get rid google NOW

The fade is cool and all but its confusing for users who are trying to switch from Yahoo. we block Yahoo ads which makes Yahoo all kerfungled. So I pointed one of my users to the Google main page for them to click on a menu item at the top for Google finance. The user said "I don't see any menus", so I headed to their office only to find the new fade-in homepage. Careful Google... Everyone doesn't use your services and searches yet.

This is awful. As a web developer and power user, having to wait an extra second or so before I can sign in to one of my Google accounts is very frustrating. Please remove this pointless feature or provide a way to turn it off

This sucks big time. It slows me down. Very annoying and a backward step.

It's annoying and distracting, and slow, and there's no point whatever. WHY is Google doing this? Don't they have better things to do?? Please stop it....

The purpose of the fade in is to allow the part of the google page to load faster that is necessary for the user to search, after that the user may click on the other links in google.

i got to say that i absolutely hate this fade in gimmick, why dont google make a new web page called google2 and put the new SHIT on there, so that new users can have the new shitty features and us old veterans who know and love the old feel can keep on going like we have for ages.....sheeesh talk about google becomeing the next computer usage facist dictator, what ever happened to the customer always being right an all that.... google look at what people are saying, ive read all the comments on this page and i would estimate that 95% of the comments are saying I HATE THIS so book your ideas up and listen to your customers

Come on google you have closed the big damning feedback on your support. Its about time you acted and got rid of this pathetic amaterurish fade.

Google fade-in is such an idiotic idea. As others have said, most of the time I go to Google home page to access features other than search. In other words, for most of the things I go to Google for I am now slowed down.

However, I did install the Greasemonkey script, which works wonders, and disables the stupid Google fade-in.

Google get rid of it !!!!!!!

wastes my time...
should have already done this, but I'm going to start using startpage.com
https://startpage.com/
They don't log IP's and they are not driven by market forces and ad revenue quite to the extent that our beloved Google has.
Later, Google. Don't let the door hit you on the way out...

It f***ing SUCKS!!!!

What kind of retard would think this is a good idea?

Google just seem to score own goal after own goal. First came the search options dropdown which should of been a preference and not the other way around. Then came the increased search box size. Now this comical fade which is very annoying and pushes you towards using other search engines.

I hate it. It's so irritating and ads nothing functionally. Get rid.

It's absolutely terrible. Put it back how it was, or give the user the option to turn it on or off.

How many ways can I say this?
HATE, SUCKS, ABOMINATION, HORRID, HIDEOUS, WORTHLESS, REEKS, CRAPPY, WASTEFUL, STUPID, ASININE, TASTELESS, IRRITATING, BASELESS, GEE WHIZ GOOGLE CAN WRITE STUPID JAVA SCRIPT, NOT AMUSING!

It's Bloody horrible.. How do i turn it off?

Its cool but useless. I'd love to know how to do it for my art webpage cromartiecollection.com

This google fade is so annyoying ! I have started to use another search engine.

when is the dicksplash from google going to turn this fade off.

Fade effect is obviously so you do not see clutter when you go for a quick search. Only when you move your mouse over the window, as if you were to click something, does the window fade in. I think this is a clever feature, but I agree with another user here that it should be made an option, as there are a lot of thick-skulled internet users out there that can't comprehend change.

Fade-in feature does not work on my computer with IE7 installed. Google just me and a million other customers to YAHOO.

It's pointless and can only serve to slow things down. Unecessary, leave it alone - it works.

Google Fade is an abomination. 'nuff said.

I would REALLY want to know what was wrong witht he way it was and who decided that makign something as useless as "fade-in" was helping. It was simple, never cluttered like Yahoo or MSN, and did what it was supposed to do but, as others have stated, this should have been a Prefernce check box only if you want it. It appears no user testing and no heuristics were used int eh design concept and addition. Poorly done.

I hate it. It is driving me nuts. I am going to switch my homepage to not-google.

yet another justification from a large team of programmers for their ongoing existence. It's becoming hilarious- big search box, fade in, etc. I can't be bothered anymore- DON"T MESS WITH IT as BING is snapping at your dumb heels.

I hate it! I takes longer to access my gmail or search for images which I do a LOT. I am now setting my homepage to www.google.com/firefox

It's awful. It's stupid. Sometimes it never finishes fading. The gmail link often doesn't come up. Fail, Google. Learn from facebook: Don't change what already works.

The fade is awful, it wastes time and serves no purpose. Who the hell thought this would be a good idea?

I dont like the new Google Homepage. I find it annoying. And for it to fade in is an eye sore. I want to be able to click on maps or whatever and do it now. Not wait for it to fade in after mouse over. Just leave it alone. I want speed of use not pretty fade in art. Thats why i use Google as my homepage for many years. I like the Google art on special dates. But most of all ive liked the fact that everything i need is right there in a click. Maps, images, utube, and of course the web. Please put it back the way it was.

Being used to quickly clicking GMAIL in the menu for my gmail load-up, the hesitation has become pretty agitating. I have to move the mouse to the estimated location of "gmail" , establish where the mouse is and then correct any movement to rollover "GMAIL" and click. All done within 2 seconds , but I'm getting angina attacks from the frustration! hahahah....But alas, I've simply switched to iGoogle as the homepage now and removed any gadgets so it basically operates the same without the fade. problem solved.

I don't like the Google fade effect at all. It takes more time to load and is a pain. I don't want to have to wait any longer than what is necessary.

The Google fade effect is totally crap, useless, ugly. They are stealing MY time! In fact, I'm trying to keep my PC as "fade-free" as possible. Will take the opportunity to look for an alternative.

totally unnecessary and it annoys me actually. this is a page i use all the time, there is no need for a fade in.

To get rid of this crap, pit the following code into your file usercontent.css (Firefox only):

@-moz-document domain("google.de"), domain("google.com")
{
#fctr,#ghead,#pmocntr,#sbl,#tba,#tbe,.fade
{
opacity: 1 !important;
}
}

"This is just a test and a way for us see whether our users will celebrate an even simpler search interface." - Celebrate? Don't you love it when corporate goons shove shit in your face and then tell you that you're celebrating? Fuck google, fuck their fade in. I'll just go back to fucking alta vista.

TAKE NOTE GOOGLE!

I have built lots of sites, and to use this fade in "info" at the top is Crazy! Its a bad Idea, for most of us we have Google as our home page and like to quickly jump to our email, BUT NOW WE HAVE TO WAIT TILL THIS THING FADES IN! COME ON GOOGLE, Lets keep it simple, NO FADE!

Thanks, Sorry for all the caps:)

The first time I noticed this happening, I tweeted this: Google has finally succumbed to Web Designer Stupidity (TM). The text now fades in. This adds NEGATIVE VALUE

I stand by that tweet.

its only KOOL to us designers or techies, cos we know its not Flash software - thus, its a simple bit of nice code.

you idiots really need to relax if you don't like it, move your mouse and shut the **** up.

Fix it so we can turn it off and Google can see how many people don't like it.

Who at Google is responsible for this dumb idea?

Is it Marissa Mayer?

I saw her on the CNBC special and in my opinion she is overbearing.

When are google going to get rid of this pointless fade ? Its tacky amateurish and totally pointless. Whilst at it get rid of these twitter feeds as nobody wants them. Also make search options off by deffault.

don't complain, this is a very very very very cool eye catching effect ;)

No, serious ... - We all should know that the "decision makers" in the online business are not designers or programmers. I would bet that one of these big "decision makers" saw this cool effect ;) on one of his business friends (or his son's ;) website and decided: WE MUST HAVE THIS GREAT EFFECT, TOO.
Haha.

I don't like it.

You are breaking the 'automatic response' contract you have with existing users. Now we are being disrupted when we are trying to type in what we are searching for. This disruption may make us forget other things that we wanted to remember (I often have a queue on the brain), and it may even make some of us forget what we were searching for in the first place. Google measures search RESPONSE times in microseconds. For me this probably adds at least half a second of disruption that not only is an additional delay - it is a delay where I had to consciously ignore something that was annoying. Instead of having a short happy experience that I am used to, I am having a long negative experience that I am not used to.

Please put it back the way it was.

I Hate It! It doesn't look cool. It isn't useful. Just annoying!

If you go to Google Advanced Search page and set that page as your link, it doesn't have the fade in feature. This is a work around for those of us that don't want the fade in feature.

When are they going to get rid of this pointless rubbish !

i think it's awesome, i dont want it ever to go away!

Lol @ people complaining about it like little girls, yet they still use google on a daily basis cuz they can't live without it, LAAAME LOOOOOL! don't like it? try using yahoo, assholes!

If Google doesn't change this back to normal, I'm going to Bing. THIS IS BY FAR THE STUPIDEST THING EVER CREATED BY GOOGLE! WHOMEVER MADE THIS MEDIOCRE IDEA UP SHOULD BE FIRED IMMEDIATELY!

The fade-in is a waste of the user's time. I want to click through to maps or gmail, and I waste several seconds the many times a day I click through. I constantly create new windows on firefox to click through, and your inane fade-in has already wasted many minutes of my time. It's a juvenile "feature," and your engineers obviously don't have enough real work. C'mon now, you create gmail, which is light years beyond the competition, and you do many other outstanding things...scrap this useless, childish "feature" (read: annoyance) and get back to real creativity.

If this is simplicity and it is good, then I think I'll just look through a paper towel tube from now on.

one word,Annoying.

The fade in page is the most annoying thing ever to happen to Google. I'm thinking of changing home pages because of this, and dropping my gmail for Yahoo or something.

I hate this fade so much our companies homepage is now Dogpile.

Dear Google,

Please allow us to opt out.
Many of us hate, and are hindered by the google fade-in.

This java/flash fade in just SUCKS. I don't need more crap on the web slowing my internet connection and processor speed down. I don't have the money to buy a quad-core computer with T3 internet connection just to keep up with a greedy internet company's new java/flash of the day. There goal is simply to feed us more java/flash ads (and among other things that affect our privacy) inorder to increase their revenue. I WANT ANOTHER SEARCH ENGINE.......one that doesn't do A.I. (aka: google analytics http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynx_(web_browser What we really need is some good old fashion competition. You only need to make so much money and a intention of doing good to make your mark in this world....Your not here for long and you can't take your riches with you.---patrick32

Manifest plainness,
Embrace simplicity,
Reduce selfishness,
Have few desires.
- Lao-Tzu, Tao Te Ching

my rant above about -ahoo's web page and its m.-ahoo.mail issue wasn't posted...hmmm wonder why?...why does the m for mobil appear when I check my email??? Try using Lynx Web browser--follow the External links section for your platform http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynx_(web_browser

The change is stupid and annoying.

Who at Google is responsible for this idiotic move? Is it Marissa Mayer?

I am surprised someone important at Google didn't veto this dumb idea.

This looks like the work of some dumb luck millionaire at google.

I personally think the new fade in feature is annoying and needs to go. The overwhelming response throughout the internet is obviously negative. Google was already a little bit hesitant in launching this, and there is no way they are not noticing all of the negative reaction. I give it until the end of Jan.

As others above have mentioned, a simple solution is to set your homepage to...

www.google.com/firefox

Works for now anyway.

Get rid of it as its so annoying !!!!!!!!

Wahhhhh!!! LMAO SHUT the hell up! Yes it sucks. Oh, PS Google owns their own page. They can change anything they want! Stop bitching. Don't like it? Firefox, bing.com, yahoo.ca, askjeeves.com, pissoff.ca. Quit bitching about things you don't comprehend! Move on! NEXT!

The fade thing is the dumbest idea ever. Another example of some geek who's closest relationship with a woman is the one he has with his electronic girlfriend that strips on his desktop, thinking up crap because it's cool. In the mean time, it's annoying the rest of the world. I won't be using Google anymore, until they correct this 'feature.'

Ugh, I hate it. Please remove. I just want it simple.

HORRIBLE. The beauty of Google was that it always loaded fast and complete. Now it feels slow and mushy. I absolutely hate it. I've switched my homepage to bing.com. I don't even care about the search results--I hate the fade effect so much I'll give someone else my business until Google regains their sanity.

CRAP!!! Absolute pain in the damn butt!!!

I think Google did it to get rid of all the idiots from their user base. Seems to be working.

Total pain in the backside.
Spent hours trying to find spybots, trojans all at the expense of the idiotic google programmers, try communication..............you know, it's part of mans success.

I absolutely HATE it. End of story, end of Google for me.

For f***s sake.
Fade in is useless.
How stupid UI engineering is that.
Now we have to guess to find our front page google links.

Who ever made the fade changes on google search engine web page are we voted thy to death. I hate the fade effect..... So annoying, they should remove it immediately. They sucks it's hard to contact them.....

* Um not to be too obvious - but just to summarize *
******************************************
1. HORRIBLE. The beauty of Google was that it always loaded fast and complete.
2. CRAP!!! Absolute pain in the damn butt!!!
3. Get rid of it as its so annoying !!!!!!!!
4. I Hate It! It doesn't look cool. It isn't useful. Just annoying!
5. What idiot thought this was a good idea ?
6. Hate GOOGLE Fade! It was fine, Y R U Messing with something that wasn't broken?
7. Dreadful & utterly pointless !
*************************************
Need I continue..., Sort of says it all !!
*************************************
I guess the question is - Does Google receive the feedback from this site ?

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/12/now-you-see-it-now-you-dont.html

I like the fade-in approach. As Google notes, it's an "elegant" way to point the user directly to the the basics of using Google: SEARCH

I don't like it. It always leaves me wondering what the hell is wrong with the site, then it all fades in and I realize what happened. That's when I can begin my search.

The page is simple enough when it's fully loaded, Google. Don't screw with my head like this. :(

I read far too many comments. In response to the ones about saving bandwidth by not having to load until people move the mouse:
I think almost everyone will move the mouse by accident anyway.
Furthermore, why have it fade in upon the mouse moving, as opposed to just appearing instantly?

Totally pointless. First I thought it was semi-cute but pointless. Not overly annoying as pointless things go. That was until I went to Google for the sole purpose of using one of the features in the fade-in menu. I typed in www.google.com and hit enter, and waited. And waited. And waited. The usual search box was there, but no menu. Then I touched the mouse to do something else, and voila, menus fade in. The darn thing is wired to mouse events. No mouse movement, no menu.

Pointless, not that cute anymore, just darn stupid design.

Google is my home page - at the moment. I load my browser and click on the mail hyperlink. Now I can't do WITHOUT WAITING 3 SECONDS FOR IT TO APPEAR GET RID OF IT BEFORE I KILL YOU !!!"!!!!"!"!"!

Is this some kind of game? Is not funny! Bring the optimized google back and stop wasting our time :) Please!

I thought I had a virus until I found that Google was supposed to fade in like that. If their objective is to waste time, then it's goodbye, Google, hello, Bing.

I'd call this an epic fail on Google's part. It utterly destroys the single biggest feature that caused me to use Google as my home page all these years - quick loading even on a dial-up connection. Now I wait three or four times as long for my page to appear. It's extremely frustrating that Google does not appear to offer any simple way to turn this off. For the first time in many, many years, I'm actively looking for a new search engine, because I feel betrayed by Google.

Ref: AgentOrange....um No....
"As Google notes, it's an "elegant" way to point the user directly to the the basics of using Google: SEARCH" .... Please replace the word 'elegant' with "IRRITATING AND REALLY VISUALLY ANNOYING"
*************************************
And I will ask again, Does Google receive the feedback from this site ?