Google`s bucket is always full

Google desperately love to run beta tests on new features by giving them to small segments of the public to use, before releasing them on a wider scale. This time they are doing it with the second version of their Chrome browser (version 0.3.154.0).

If you`re a web developer, and want to test your web properties against future Chrome advancements, you can join the developer channel and get the latest update. Before you leap to the conclusion that Chrome does not occupy much of the market share chart, and is not worth your website optimisation, consider how they grubbed up 2.77% of the global market share (according to analytics specialist getclicky.com) .

That`s quite significant, especially when you take into account how ridiculously stubborn people can be when inside their comfort zones (I mostly refer to internet explorer as a comfortable place, although not so for me).

Yes, Google have a search engine that is the staple internet diet for the majority of the globe, and they made their browser readily downloadable from the search prompt where just about everyone will see it. All of which begs the question, why only 2.77%? Probably because most people are windows brainwashed, and browser blind. this, when you think about it, is very similar to why people stick to Googling their information rather than try other search engines.

I imagine the general internet user population doesn`t really realise that there is anything else besides IE. Not that they are smitten with the browser`s capabilities, rather that they are somewhat oblivious to the fact that there are better products out there. I`d bet that a large portion of Google`s users who noticed the link to the Chrome download, didn`t follow it for more information because they didn`t know that there was a reason to find out more information.

This Techie blogger did some testing on his blog`s analytics, and found that his Chrome usage stats have risen monumentally since its launch. This is because his readers are actually analytical regarding the software they use, and are willing to try something fresh and new. Moreover, they even anticipate it.

On another note, my original purpose for this post was to talk about the bucket testing of Google`s expanded search result description blurbs. Initially only a privileged few will be allowed to use the feature, which gives users the option to view their search results in three sizes: small, medium and large.

The small results fit 15 in a results page, while medium returns 10, and large returns 6. Each large result will display the page meta description on top of a segment of content from the page. This allows Google to return more info at a time, increasing the chance of users discovering relevance in their results. The Techcrunch report inspired many comments, because such an important change will affect the search experience quite seriously.

One commenter, James, reminds us that Microsoft tried something like this out in the past, but dropped it along the way. Some people seem wary that if the results show too much of their site content, searchers won`t feel compelled to click through to the site to find what they need. I think people should relax and let Google do what they do best - create a better user experience for everyone (even if the price is that they capture all our data).