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Google Search Beta (Similar to Bing)

alexbates

alexbates

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Nov 24, 2008
1,082
0
Georgia, USA
I have been searching and searching, but have found no one else with this ability on the Google home page. Yesterday, I opened up Safari and noticed a little button on Google that says "Change Background Image". So I clicked on it, and was able to upload an image directly from my Mac, that replaces the plain white background.

Now, when I open up Safari (with Google set as my home page), the background is white, and slowly fades to this image I uploaded. It is also viewable on my iPhone when I load Google.

It appears that Google is attempting to copy Bing, to make it more visually appealing.

So I am the only one with this Awesome feature? Request any other screenshots you would like to see if that is the case :)

Screenshots:
 

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Ok, any idea how long this feature has been available? I can't find any websites that are discussing this. Thanks!
 
Here's what it looks like on my iPhone. You can barely see the button in the corner. It appears only on Classic view, not on Mobile view.

Also, in the second screenshot shown above, there is a button called "Learn More" next to "Select a background for your Google homepage". When I click that link, it takes me to this blank page shown below. That makes me think Google accidentally gave my account this feature.
 

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Do you think posting the link that appears in your browser would allow us others to use it because I"m not seeing anything on my Google.
 
It doesn't seem to be a link. I tried copying the link, and this is what it shows... So it's built-in to the Google home page:

javascript:void(0)

EDIT- Another thing to add. It refuses to upload pictures that are smaller than 800 x 600 pixels.
"One or more of the images you uploaded was smaller than 800 by 600 pixels. Please choose a larger one and try again."
 
miles01110 said:
It's there for me too.
Click to expand...

Are you sure you are seeing the same thing? I have been searching Twitter status updates, and many other places. No one else has this feature from what I've seen...
------------------------

Question: Does the "Web, Images, Videos, etc." bar disappear for any of you when the mouse is not in the center of your screen?

Another screenshot: http://cl.ly/1BaS
 
alexbates said:
Question: Does the "Web, Images, Videos, etc." bar disappear for any of you when the mouse is not in the center of your screen?
Click to expand...

Yeah I have that. All the extra stuff fades in when I move my mouse. Don't have the change background stuff though (and am logged into a gmail account).

OP: Are you signed up for any Google Beta stuff? Or a special section of Google Labs?
 
ethical said:
OP: Are you signed up for any Google Beta stuff? Or a special section of Google Labs?
Click to expand...
Nope, all I use my Google account for is Gmail and Google Calendar. :)

-----
Edit- I just tried to use one of my invites to create another account, but the created account doesn't have backgrounds :(
 
alexbates said:
Nope, all I use my Google account for is Gmail and Google Calendar. :)

-----
Edit- I just tried to use one of my invites to create another account, but the created account doesn't have backgrounds :(
Click to expand...

Hmmmm. Curious and curiouser. I really want this feature! My homepage used to be a site that wasn't google, but used google search and let you upload a background image.
 
Yeah I don't see the link to enable the background when I go to Google, doesn't matter if I login in with my Google Account.

Don
 
ive got it too but it dosen'ty work on the uk site for me (logged in or out) i have to go to google.com and even then it only works when i am sighned in
 

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