It appears Google is testing ajax search for Google Search on the US version of the site, great right? No. If this goes ahead, firefox extensions, various tools and virtually every website analytics tool would break. Why?
Let us explain…
When you search in Google normally you’ll notice the URL’s after you search look something like this:
http://www.google.com/search?q=test - when you search for “test”
well, in Google US, which for most people, has the ajax feature enabled …the URL turns into this:
http://www.google.com/#q=test - with a “#”
See, web browsers won’t send anything after the ‘#’ and therefore applications such as analytics tools can’t receive information as to what people are searching for leaving competitors to Google Analytics, dead.
Clicky, one of Google Analytics competitiors is right to be concerned. As Wayne Smallman, of Blah Blah Technology! blog points out this a “game changer and not in a good way”.
Read More:
Thanks to:
UPDATE: A Google spokesperson shared this statement with the people at SearchEngineLand (thanks for the tip Matt!):
“We’re continually testing new interfaces and features to enhance the user experience. We are currently experimenting with a javascript enhanced result page because we believe that it may ultimately provide a faster experience for our users. At this time only a small percentage of users will see this experiment. It is not our intention to disrupt referrer tracking, and we are continuing to iterate on this project. For more information on the experiments that we run on Google search, please see:http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2006/04/this-is-test-this-is-only-test.html.”
I’ve just had a quick squint down through the comments on the Clicky article and there’s some good arguments being pitched from both sides of the argument:
“So let me get this straight: You’re upset at Google for doing what’s best for their business? why is it Google’s responsibility to take care of the rest of the internet?”
Nuanced…
He he he, just published ((and deleted!) the same post here 5 minutes after you! Seems we have the same nose for the same news… :-)
Google did a statement for Search Engine Land: “We’re continually testing new interfaces and features to enhance the user experience. We are currently experimenting with a javascript enhanced result page because we believe that it may ultimately provide a faster experience for our users. At this time only a small percentage of users will see this experiment. It is not our intention to disrupt referrer tracking, and we are continuing to iterate on this project. For more information on the experiments that we run on Google search, please see: (a link with more info).”
if you have a real coding suggestion how to fix this, would like to hear it.
Google started screwing their base when they went and changed the top tabs to the side navigation instead – leaving no choice of iGoogle UI to the user. Stupid. But, this particular Ajax move? THis has got to be the easiest thing to code-fix if ever I have heard. A URL is a freekin’ string, how hard can that be to query? We really are still in Web 1.9 land if this is a problem that cna’t be solved through coding.
you should all go here to complain http://snipurl.com/b9zda
and write about it on twitter using #googleajax
Google is a much bigger Evil than Microsoft ever was. The only problem is that people don't see it. They have such a good PR. I bet they are paying hundreds to just post admiration for Google on every important forum. Peopel wake up.