So, I have this idea about including a dropdown list in the Google web search results page so you can select a saved URL to search in. In the advanced search page, you can enter a URL to limit the search results to. I use this feature a lot with a number of web sites. So, I thought that it would be great to get those web sites in a drop down list so I can quickly search them. This will actually add a benefit to logging in while searching other than recording my activity on the web which is benefiting other people more it’s benefiting me.
Following a positive attitude to improve the products that I’m using, I decided to submit a suggestion to Google about this idea and here’s the shock. No link to submit feedback in the search home page. No link to submit feedback in the About Google page. No link to submit feedback in Contact Us page. Now, I have to ask a question in the Google web search help forum just to submit a suggestion of improvement. The only link to feedback is about the search results. If you’re not satisfied with the results you can submit a comment.
Gmail is no better. No link in the home page or in the Settings page. When searching the Gmail Help for “Submit Feedback” you get 3 results.
Chrome doesn’t have a link either. When searching the Chrome Help for “Submit Feedback” you get 2 results. Firefox has a “How to Contribute” link in the Support home page (that you can access from Help > Help Contents) where you can – not only submit feedback but also – do a lot of things to help. IE has a menu item in the Help menu that leads to the Support page.
So, Is Google not interested at all in what we have to say? Of course, there are the forums like the Chrome forum. But it’s not like a “Submit Feedback” link that is a classic software practice that every software company does. Is Google re-writing the rules of software companies? first, it’s the never ending beta products. Then the Chrome EULA (which they had to update after controversy) and now this.
The whole feedback thing is a little annoying. The “Submit Feedback” pages in other web sites are not that great either. They feel like dumping a paragraph or two in a never ending list that no body really reads. I wish that feedback is taking more seriously.
I want my dropdown list. I guess that’s what I’m saying..
2 comments:
i have always wanted this feature too .. but its quite like GTalk that is 10 years behind its embedded counterpart .. and "no body listens!"
have to get by with "things site:blogger.com" and MSN :D
Google would literally get tens of thousands of feature requests if they had a feedback form, so they just don't. They wouldn't have time to look through them all without spending more on staff (which no one wants to do in this climate).
The way Google has always improved its services is by listening to what the internet in general thinks. If a lot of people were asking for the same feature as you in their blogs, on forums, and other places, then I'm sure they'd include it.
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