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WebKit optimized iGoogle gets canned
A year later, the optimized version of the site is gone. Instead, iPhone user and Android users get treated to the same crappy mobile iGoogle interface that other phones suffer through.
So much for progress.
On Saturday morning, when the change went into effect, users started asking questions in the iGoogle discussions page withing Google Help. The response from Google employee Paul:
Hey everyone, I have an update for you. We've decided to direct iPhone users to the standard mobile iGoogle page. We've found that people hit iGoogle from lots of different phones -- we want to ensure you'll all see the same version.
Most or all of your existing content should translate over to the standard mobile version. The only exception would be any gadgets that aren't compatible with most mobile browsers.
Needless to say, the masses who love their iGoogle were not assuaged. This brought up a whole list of accusations that Google is saving the special iGoogle interface for Android users only and punishing iPhone users for not buying the Google phone.
This isn't quite true.
I pulled up iGoogle on the T-Mobile G1 on Saturday night, and sure enough, it no longer sports an optimized iGoogle interface either. That isn't to say there isn't a difference: Android users get access to the Gmail widget. BlackBerry, iPhone and presumably any other mobile users do no not (I've only verified on the BlackBerry and the iPhone). After trying to add the Gmail widget multiple times to my iPod touch, I got nothing -- only to see four instances of Gmail when I loaded iGoogle on the G1. Otherwise, the interface is identical.
L. iGoogle on the G1, R. iGoogle on the iPhone
iPhone users can rest a bit easier knowing that there is no widespread conspiracy; Android users get the crappy mobile interface too. They can just access Gmail from said interface.
Thanks for the tip Ben!
Comments
10
Subscribe to commentsMorganJan 19th 2009 10:51AM
Depends on what you mean by progress.
I personally don't think that a hundred different platform-optimized versions of a page is progress, I think it sounds like 1996.
Then again, I have neither phone currently so maybe it is a tragedy.
Christina WarrenJan 19th 2009 10:54AM
That's a valid point, I guess my counter-argument would be, with the iPhone, Android and the Palm Pre all using WebKit as the basis for the mobile browser, and with Google making such a big deal about how "iPhone optimized" their stuff is, it seems odd for this feature to disappear. Better mobile browsers ARE the future. Keeping everything at WAP standards just doesn't make sense, though I think your point about supporting tons of different standards is right-on.
On a personal level, I don't care -- I don't use iGoogle enough for it to matter -- but the optimized site WAS a better user experience.
LordDaManJan 19th 2009 11:49AM
Why exactly would this be a surprise? Google has a history of pulling support for competitors.
Recall how they had support for IE7's Opensearch on teh google main page? That was until they filed a lawsuit against Microsoft over how hard it was to add search engines to ie7 and suddenly the opensearch provider on the google main page vanished
totoroJan 19th 2009 12:10PM
This really sucks. So much for the unified desktop/mobile iGoogle experience. I'll stop using both now.
EthanJan 19th 2009 12:28PM
Also, it's entirely changed the content of the pages!
Jash SayaniJan 19th 2009 12:34PM
Nice one Christina... Was waiting to read this one.
Barry SchwartzJan 19th 2009 2:11PM
FYI, I think ben found it at http://www.seroundtable.com/archives/019234.html
Christina WarrenJan 19th 2009 2:13PM
I don't think so -- we got the tip Saturday afternoon but a migraine headache derailed my weekend and I couldn't get the post up until this morning.
Barry SchwartzJan 19th 2009 2:27PM
Ah, then I apologize. feel free to remove the comments. I am sorry about that.
Christina WarrenJan 19th 2009 2:32PM
Oh, not a problem -- I understand wanting to check :-)