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.