Google goes X [Archive] - MacRumors Forums

iJaz

Mar 16, 2005, 10:01 AM

Heheh... cute. I think thats my new start page.
I hope it's the start of a new trend, the cool iPod started it, now it's the Macs and OS X that are the new cool. I have no evidence for it, it's just a feeling that it might be so.
It is already my new start page. :D

kerb

Mar 16, 2005, 10:02 AM

I hope it becomes the new google first page. Its much nicer to look at with the resizing pics instead of the text.

nah the great thing about Google at the moment is that it's the lightest page on the internet. It's nice to be there if you choose to use it, but for now keep Google as it is.

Cooknn

Mar 16, 2005, 10:05 AM

"Roses are red. Violets are blue. OS X rocks. Homage to you."
©2005 Google - Searching 8,058,044,651 web pages :D I'm thinking this is the beginning of an OS revolution. The months and years ahead could be very good to Apple - and for computing overall if OS X can become the mainstream Operating System and dethrone MS Windows...

macridah

Mar 16, 2005, 10:07 AM

nice. I like it. Again, apple must be flattered :D

liketom

Mar 16, 2005, 10:13 AM

Can see Apple telling them to take it down due to copyright issues LOL

but yeah my new homepage

JeffTL

Mar 16, 2005, 10:20 AM

1. This won't likely ever be www.google.com, which is a very minimalist page designed to display correctly (and swiftly) on almost anything.

2. Apple lawsuit is unlikely -- they haven't bothered anyone about making actual OS docks for Windows and Linux. Besides, there's no copyright on the functionality of something, and I don't think the Dock is patented.

3. I really like this.

mainstreetmark

Mar 16, 2005, 10:57 AM

nah the great thing about Google at the moment is that it's the lightest page on the internet. It's nice to be there if you choose to use it, but for now keep Google as it is.

I agree. I first switched to google because of it's anti yahooness of trying to put everything on their frontpage. Stocks. Wedding proposals. Weather in some city i'm not affiliated with. I hated it.

Google said "what are you searching for?"

dsharits

Mar 16, 2005, 10:59 AM

:D I'm thinking this is the beginning of an OS revolution. The months and years ahead could be very good to Apple - and for computing overall if OS X can become the mainstream Operating System and dethrone MS Windows...
It can't be, because Apple is a dying breed, remember? :rolleyes: :D

jsw

Mar 16, 2005, 11:01 AM

Quite cool. Forwarded it to family and others at work.

Cooknn

Mar 16, 2005, 11:07 AM

It can't be, because Apple is a dying breed, remember? :rolleyes: :DNot any more! In fact it's just the opposite - thanks to the iPod :p The question is whether or not the general public is smart enough to realize what a gem OS X is. I know the younger generation is. My son and my bosses daughter both have iMac's and are converting their friends one after the other. The current generation of corporate exec's though, seem to be stuck in a rut. Too busy fixing their PC's to look up and see what's right in front of them - or at least available to them.

mkrishnan

Mar 16, 2005, 11:11 AM

Sooooo cute. Silly, but soooo cute. :) :)

dsharits

Mar 16, 2005, 11:13 AM

Not any more! In fact it's just the opposite - thanks to the iPod :p The question is whether or not the general public is smart enough to realize what a gem OS X is. I know the younger generation is. My son and my bosses daughter both have iMac's and are converting their friends one after the other. The current generation of corporate exec's though, seem to be stuck in a rut. Too busy fixing their PC's to look up and see what's right in front of them - or at least available to them.
It's a great thing to have already seen the light before the whole iPod craze started. Now, we get to sit back and watch the demise of Microsoft as thousands join our revolution! :p

Cooknn

Mar 16, 2005, 11:22 AM

It's a great thing to have already seen the light before the whole iPod craze started. Now, we get to sit back and watch the demise of Microsoft as thousands join our revolution! :pI've said this before in another thread, but I'll say it again - I believe the stars are aligned for Apple to release Tiger to other manufacturers. IBM and Sony come to mind. That would definitely add fuel to the fire :eek:

wordmunger

Mar 16, 2005, 11:27 AM

I don't like the page. The icons don't make any sense. They need labels.

dsharits

Mar 16, 2005, 11:30 AM

I've said this before in another thread, but I'll say it again - I believe the stars are aligned for Apple to release Tiger to other manufacturers. IBM and Sony come to mind. That would definitely add fuel to the fire :eek:
I highly doubt that it will be licensed to other platforms where it won't run as well as it would on the native Apple machines. You may be right that it could be released to IBM and Sony for use on Apple-based hardware, so that it is not usable on, say, HP's, Dells, eMachines and the like. I think it would make a dent in Apple's hardware sales, but it would be the first step towards really stepping into the limelight and taking over. Be afraid, Microsoft, be very afraid.

dsharits

Mar 16, 2005, 11:31 AM

I don't like the page. The icons don't make any sense. They need labels.
Did you move the cursor over them? It works like the Dock.

PickledSquirrel

Mar 16, 2005, 11:32 AM

aaaaargh!! page won't load.. Just sits there forever transfering data :mad: Feels like I'm missing out on stuff

-Squirrel

Edit: Finally it opened in firefox. Took several minutes for the page to load and safari is still trying. Looks niiiiiiiiiiiice though.

Savage Henry

Mar 16, 2005, 11:36 AM

I don't like the page. The icons don't make any sense. They need labels.
Yeah... but it's shouldn't take long to make sense.

I kinda likes it .... of course had MSN done it I would have been foaming at the mouth; which I put down to the Jungian duality of man.

fabsgwu

Mar 16, 2005, 11:55 AM

I don't like the page. The icons don't make any sense. They need labels.

If you use it regularly, I bet the icons will start to make sense. Sort of like how I don't even need the labels for my dock now, I just know what to click on.

P.S. How does everyone feel about the magnification effect GoogleX uses? I think Apple should add that kind (where just the selected icon is magnified) as an option for the dock, imo :rolleyes:

mkrishnan

Mar 16, 2005, 12:04 PM

P.S. How does everyone feel about the magnification effect GoogleX uses? I think Apple should add that kind (where just the selected icon is magnified) as an option for the dock, imo :rolleyes:

Hmmm...I kinda like the way it's like a wave in OS X. But I guess if you could tweak the width of the wave, we'd both be happy. Then again, I turned magnification off in its entirety. :rolleyes:

Bendit

Mar 16, 2005, 12:09 PM

Hmmm...I kinda like the way it's like a wave in OS X. But I guess if you could tweak the width of the wave, we'd both be happy. Then again, I turned magnification off in its entirety. :rolleyes:

I turned off magnification in the dock after a couple of days, and I assume everyone else would to.

Sure it's nice to look at but it's completely useless and always gets in the way.

2GMario

Mar 16, 2005, 12:12 PM

brought a smile to my face

now its my homepage

i've been using os x for almost 2 years now and i leave the magnifing on

i just think its easier to know what ur clicking on before u click on it. not so much for switching between programs, expose cannot be beat for that.

-Mario

Stridder44

Mar 16, 2005, 12:13 PM

well isnt that just the coolest thing you ever saw? I really like it! my new homepage most deff.

yellow

Mar 16, 2005, 12:26 PM

Looks nifty, but there's one HUGE problem (at least that I see)..

The cursor focus isn't automatically in the search field!! "Web Search" isn't the default choice.

I have to go to the page and then manually click in the search field (or web search) before I can start typing things in. I've become very accustomed to going to http://www.google.com and simply start typing and the extra step is a bit annoying.

PlaceofDis

Mar 16, 2005, 12:33 PM

definately cool, ill bookmark it, but my startpage will remain blank for now

Daveway

Mar 16, 2005, 12:50 PM

Ahh yes my favorite quote, may everyone hear it.
"Roses are red. Violets are blue. OS X rocks. Homage to you."
:D

Daveway

Mar 16, 2005, 12:58 PM

Has anyone tried this service from Google? http://www.google.com/webhp?complete=1&hl=en

Seems like a neat idea.

Savage Henry

Mar 16, 2005, 01:21 PM

Has anyone tried this service from Google? http://www.google.com/webhp?complete=1&hl=en

Seems like a neat idea.

That's another cool thing to know. Cheers.

Seems like today will be one of them learning ones with things what be good.

dornoforpyros

Mar 16, 2005, 01:30 PM

I turned off magnification in the dock after a couple of days, and I assume everyone else would to.

Sure it's nice to look at but it's completely useless and always gets in the way.

eh I have a bit of magnification on my dock simply because I think it's damn cool! I've got it small enough that it doesn't get in the way but I just like running my mouse over the dock....yeah I'm a recent switcher...

PlaceofDis

Mar 16, 2005, 01:43 PM

That's another cool thing to know. Cheers.

Seems like today will be one of them learning ones with things what be good.

now that is useful, especially to someone who doesnt have the greatest spelling such as myself

wordmunger

Mar 16, 2005, 01:51 PM

If you use it regularly, I bet the icons will start to make sense. Sort of like how I don't even need the labels for my dock now, I just know what to click on.

Yeah, maybe. But I don't use Google as often as the Dock. And even the dock kinda sucks for looking for lesser-used applications. I'm *still* not 100 percent sure that the dock is better than the good ol' apple menu. Sometimes a word says a lot more than an itty-bitty picture.

applebum

Mar 16, 2005, 01:53 PM

I turned off magnification in the dock after a couple of days, and I assume everyone else would to.

Sure it's nice to look at but it's completely useless and always gets in the way.

Why would you assume that?? Do you really believe that everyone computes the same way you do?

I love magnification. I always have it on. In fact, I think the dock is incredbly boring without it. However, I don't ASSUME that everyone else does what I do.

This kind of assumption seems to happen in these forums frequently.

sorryiwasdreami

Mar 16, 2005, 02:00 PM

I turned off magnification in the dock after a couple of days, and I assume everyone else would to.

Sure it's nice to look at but it's completely useless and always gets in the way.

I totally disagree.

AlmostThere

Mar 16, 2005, 02:02 PM

The cursor focus isn't automatically in the search field!! "Web Search" isn't the default choice.

Infuriating, isn't it?

acedickson

Mar 16, 2005, 02:10 PM

That's great! Google is awesome. They keep coming up with more and me useful &/or cool stuff.

yellow

Mar 16, 2005, 02:11 PM

Infuriating, isn't it?

A little bit, yes.. I guess it's just one of those things.. if I wanted to start using this page for my default (which I do't, now), I'll have to learn to click first, then type..

denm316

Mar 16, 2005, 02:14 PM

I turned off magnification in the dock after a couple of days, and I assume everyone else would to.

Sure it's nice to look at but it's completely useless and always gets in the way.

It was cool when I first switched for like a day or so, then I turned it off, my girlfriend loves it.

Monk Edsel

Mar 16, 2005, 02:29 PM

I love magnification. I have it set to %100! The Dock seems so dead without it. But I can see how some people don't like it.

PlaceofDis

Mar 16, 2005, 02:38 PM

I love magnification. I have it set to %100! The Dock seems so dead without it. But I can see how some people don't like it.

how small is your dock? 100% is way too much, i have it turned up, and i have the bouncing icons turned off as well, makes things go a bit smother for myself

looklost

Mar 16, 2005, 03:10 PM

Where is it? Dead link. Did they take it down?

.dan

Mar 16, 2005, 03:14 PM

yup, seems that way. Glad I had a play earlier then ^_^

the_mole1314

Mar 16, 2005, 03:16 PM

Guess the crack Apple Legal Team have taken it down.

Yes, the dock type interface is copyright by Apple. I don't have the link on me, but it is copyright.

munkle

Mar 16, 2005, 03:23 PM

It's still working for me, here's the link (http://labs.google.com/googlex/) again just in case.

PlaceofDis

Mar 16, 2005, 03:24 PM

It's still working for me, here's the link (http://labs.google.com/googlex/) again just in case.

nothing for me either, oh well, fun while it lasted i suppose

munkle

Mar 16, 2005, 03:31 PM

nothing for me either, oh well, fun while it lasted i suppose

Odd, I just clicked on it and it's working fine.

Here's a screenshot:

PlaceofDis

Mar 16, 2005, 03:33 PM

tried again and all im getting is: The requested URL was not found on this server.

SiliconAddict

Mar 16, 2005, 03:40 PM

nothing for me either, oh well, fun while it lasted i suppose

Still working for me.

munkle

Mar 16, 2005, 03:42 PM

tried again and all im getting is:

How infuriating, cause it's working for me. And they've made loads of improvements too...they've added an Ask Jobs button, which is linked directly to Steve and you can ask him anything. He's just given me the release dates of Tiger and the G5 Powerbooks.

I had to let him go after awhile though, something about squashing de Plums and Jeeves?! Man, unlucky that you can't access it! ;) :p

PickledSquirrel

Mar 16, 2005, 03:52 PM

had MSN done it I would have been foaming at the mouth; which I put down to the Jungian duality of man.

I'd just put that down to the traditional and charming bloody-mindedness of mac-users :rolleyes:

-squirrel

simX

Mar 16, 2005, 03:53 PM

Still working for me.

Are you sure you guys aren't actually getting GoogleX from your browser cache? GoogleX isn't working for me either, and it's not showing up on the Google Labs page anymore either (it used to be there). Try emptying your cache and then reloading the page.

LimeiBook86

Mar 16, 2005, 04:02 PM

I love it! Google is the search engine of my choice so I enjoy this a lot. I like the little 'OS X' poem on the bottom. Nice touch :D

munkle

Mar 16, 2005, 04:02 PM

Are you sure you guys aren't actually getting GoogleX from your browser cache? GoogleX isn't working for me either, and it's not showing up on the Google Labs page anymore either (it used to be there). Try emptying your cache and then reloading the page.

I clicked on the link for the first time just before my original post, this was after people started reported the link as dead. And I've just emptied my cache and tried again - still working. Odd :confused:

Cooknn

Mar 16, 2005, 04:11 PM

They freaking took it down.

The requested URL was not found on this server.

My son is going to think I've lost my mind (more than he already does) when he reads his e-mail. I sent him a link this morning. What is Google thinking? Boneheads...

JtheLemur

Mar 16, 2005, 04:42 PM

Google got 0wn3d by Apple's pitbulls. I mean, lawyers.

Cooknn

Mar 16, 2005, 04:44 PM

Google got 0wn3d by Apple's pitbulls. I mean, lawyers.Ya think!? That would really stink. It was an homage to OS X for the most part. I can't believe that would happen...

SiliconAddict

Mar 16, 2005, 04:55 PM

Are you sure you guys aren't actually getting GoogleX from your browser cache? GoogleX isn't working for me either, and it's not showing up on the Google Labs page anymore either (it used to be there). Try emptying your cache and then reloading the page.

Pretty sure since the first time it was from my desktop in the IT dept and the next was from a server in our server room. :p

The Tuck

Mar 16, 2005, 04:57 PM

Anybody have any screenshots from it? I didn't get to see it before it went down.

SiliconAddict

Mar 16, 2005, 04:57 PM

Still up and running and I did delete my cache as well. I'll try it again when I get home. Maybe our proxy is caching the page. :confused:

1macker1

Mar 16, 2005, 04:58 PM

So it's magnifies the icons and that's it? What's the big deal?

macridah

Mar 16, 2005, 05:36 PM

I get this error message:

The requested URL was not found on this server.

what's the dealio?

Plymouthbreezer

Mar 16, 2005, 06:02 PM

Ugh, looked cool too.

SiliconAddict

Mar 16, 2005, 06:06 PM

shucks. Must have been my proxy. Oh well. Apple legal strikes again. ***holes. MS is starting to look like a saint compared to Apple now a days. What a world. :(

Phat_Pat

Mar 16, 2005, 06:13 PM

Damn. I wanted to see the Google X :mad:

Well at least Mac Google (http://www.google.com/mac.html) still works......

Nermal

Mar 16, 2005, 07:26 PM

Still working for me.

narco

Mar 16, 2005, 07:55 PM

Worked for me earlier, now it's not. Someone joked about how Apple would sue them, apparently that wasn't a joke!

Fishes,
narco.

Phat_Pat

Mar 16, 2005, 09:00 PM

C|Net News Story (http://news.com.com/Googles+X+files+vanish/2100-1032_3-5621247.html?tag=nefd.top)

dsharits

Mar 16, 2005, 09:05 PM

C|Net News Story (http://news.com.com/Googles+X+files+vanish/2100-1032_3-5621247.html?tag=nefd.top)
Now that stinks. :mad:

zellin

Mar 16, 2005, 09:42 PM

Guys, we don't know that it was Apple Legal who shut it down.

PlaceofDis

Mar 16, 2005, 09:46 PM

Guys, we don't know that it was Apple Legal who shut it down.

true, i am wondering why it was shut down though, it surprises me that it was

i actually doubt that Apple legal had anything to do with it right now, happened too fast if you ask me, however, maybe bandwith issues? but i doubt that as well

who knows, but i would like to know

Nermal

Mar 16, 2005, 10:30 PM

It's no longer working for me.

jsw

Mar 16, 2005, 10:30 PM

The site's down now. Pressure from Apple? From Google higher-ups? It irks me that it's gone.

For those who missed it and want to see it in action, I saved a movie for my brother. It just shows how inept I am at moving a mouse with a trackball (didn't plan on a larger audience), but it does show what the site looked like. Click on the pic to download the movie.

http://formymac.com/MR/GoogleXPic.jpg (http://formymac.com/MR/GoogleXMockup.mov)

jsw

Mar 16, 2005, 11:17 PM

You can see how it worked for yourself.

Try here (http://formymac.com/MR/GoogleX/googlex.html).

SeaFox

Mar 17, 2005, 01:27 AM

You can see how it worked for yourself.

Try here (http://formymac.com/MR/GoogleX/googlex.html).

Yeah, it's funny how the site is popping up other (http://dinkdoink.com/me/googlex/) places. Who cares that google took it down? We can save it and use it anyway!

I think I may save a copy on my .mac account to use as a personal start page I can add to and change.

Benjamin

Mar 17, 2005, 01:31 AM

Yeah it is pretty neat exepct for the fact that it uses I bet at least twice as much bandwidth as the orginal page (non holiday of course). Anyway I saved it... and I use it hehe.

Jalexster

Mar 17, 2005, 03:45 AM

Guess the on crack Apple Legal Team have taken it down.
SNIP

Fixed it for you. How could they do this to us!

Lacero

Mar 17, 2005, 03:59 AM

munkle

Mar 17, 2005, 04:05 AM

Is is an on-focus mouse-over effect coupled with an animated gif, as to how they achieve the magnification effect within the browser? Or is it Dynamic HTML or some new-fangled technology only created within Google?

The blog (http://www.google.com/googleblog/2005/03/google-goes-x.html) entry said the guy just did it to learn Javascript and DHTML, so I'm guessing that's the 'secret'.

Tinhead

Mar 17, 2005, 06:27 AM

Yeah, maybe. But I don't use Google as often as the Dock. And even the dock kinda sucks for looking for lesser-used applications. I'm *still* not 100 percent sure that the dock is better than the good ol' apple menu. Sometimes a word says a lot more than an itty-bitty picture.

Indeed. I have a real love-hate relationship with the Dock. It has so many usability problems that I really can't say I think it's a great implementation. Missing labels, large size, limited contents, you name it. The Dock does sell OS X, though, as new users are always loving it.

The magnification feature does serve a real purpose, however. If the dock is small the icons are easier to hit if they enlarge. Also, some users (especially elderly ones who don't have the best fine motoric skills anymore) have a tendency to miss the correct icon, so enlarging helps them quite a bit — also with drag-and-drop.

The Dock is a nice idea and very clean. Even though it has problems it's still a lot better than the Start-menu. What is missing is an launcher app, one that would access all the apps on your HD, not just a bunch of favorites. I suppose Spotlight will remedy the problem, even though I still think new and expert users would benefit from a dedicated app launcher.

iindigo

Mar 17, 2005, 07:47 AM

Yeah, maybe. But I don't use Google as often as the Dock. And even the dock kinda sucks for looking for lesser-used applications. I'm *still* not 100 percent sure that the dock is better than the good ol' apple menu. Sometimes a word says a lot more than an itty-bitty picture.

*starts twitching* must... not... remember... 50-foot long... apple menu... must... not... give..in..to..fear

Seriously though, I hated how when you opened a menu in OS 9 it stopped everything dead in it's tracks till you let go - it's not a good thing when you've got a huge Apple menu to hunt through. and it seems no matter how long I use the Classic Mac OS I can never get used to all the control panels' positions in the control panels menu - I always end up hunting for what I need.

Personally I prefer the dock to the Apple menu... I have a ton of icons in my dock and I recognize every one of them, so I don't need to see a label. The Dock is lacking in a way or two, but I complete it with Quicksilver or Spotlight.

But back on topic -

Yep that's pretty cool! I love the little "poem" on the bottom of the page :p

ldburroughs

Mar 17, 2005, 07:51 AM

I'm sure this will be posted later. Maybe it already has been posted. Google X is no more.

http://news.com.com/Image+Googles+disappearing+act/2009-1032_3-5621488.html?tag=html.alert

Apple sure is suing a lot these days. Is there a connection? Probably but it is truly justified.

munkle

Mar 17, 2005, 08:39 AM

ldburroughs

Mar 17, 2005, 08:49 AM

Somebody posted without reading the thread... ;)

If you were implying I didn't read this, you must not have read my post. You even quoted it??? Oh well, no hard feelings. Have a good one:)

munkle

Mar 17, 2005, 03:40 PM

If you were implying I didn't read this, you must not have read my post. You even quoted it??? Oh well, no hard feelings. Have a good one:)

:confused: :confused:

I was just trying to point out that you were a bit late to the party with your post, as you would have known if you had read through the thread before posting.

lmalave

Mar 17, 2005, 04:10 PM

Is is an on-focus mouse-over effect coupled with an animated gif, as to how they achieve the magnification effect within the browser? Or is it Dynamic HTML or some new-fangled technology only created within Google?

It's Dynamic HTML. It's definitely not Google-specific technology.