Google Webmaster Tools Releases Google Gadgets
The Google webmaster tools team released a suite of Google gadgets available via an iGoogle tab today.
I don’t want to be too negative, because I know how nice those great, hard working, and dedicated people are.
However.
That truly is my nice version of this.
Rather than concentrate on the negatives however, let’s look at the positives, and also offer a few ways that this release could have been handled better.
It is good that Google webmaster tools are available as Google gadgets. It is good that Google webmaster tools are using their influence not only to promote gadgets, but also the tabs of iGoogle. It is good to promote and demonstrate using Google products by Google using them themselves, I respect that alot. It is good that even though lame, this release will work.
But, please. please, please explain to me why you made these gadgets so lame? with zero design? with what is perhaps the most ugly color I have ever seen?
Why did you make 8 gadgets for what at most is information that should be presented in two gadgets? (Ever heard of tabs?)
Why didn’t you ensure the gadgets worked?
Why did you take such an extraordinary opportunity, and implement it so poorly?
I wrote another post that offers positive and functional suggestions to improve these gadgets.
My main complaint about Google webmaster central stands true today. They don’t seek input.
Hi Google. I am Pat. You have talked to me several times, I have been in your Googleplex several times. I have been identified (by you) as one of the top Google gadget developers in the world. I have a long and strong history with you. I have been so transparent with you and so lovingly supportive of you and I have spent hours and months and years helping people understand you and your products.
Why didn’t you call me?
Come on.
You don’t have to bounce ideas against my head, but did you get input from anyone before launching this?
February 29th, 2008 at 11:43 am
Pat, I agree with you 100% here. Well, 98% - the color seems to be random. I got a light green rather than the off-orange you show.
But yeah, they could have done a vastly better job if they’d consulted you, or me, or any of the other talented gadget developers out there. Even sat the person who did build these down for half an hour with someone from their own Gadgets team. Thanks for not giving them a pass on it.
February 29th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
The user experience on a lot of google’s websites is pretty terrible, and this is no exception. I think they have this mentality that because their search engine interface was so successful being stripped down and simple, they should maintain that across all their properties - even when a little designer TLC could do them a lot of good.
March 4th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
Hi, Pat–
Following the Google philosophy of “Launch early and often,” we chose to release a functional-but-not-perfect version of the gadgets so that people could start using them and we could get feedback on them. We really appreciate the comments and criticism that you and others have given, and will be incorporating it as we work on “gadgets v2″.
March 4th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
Thanks for commenting Susan, I hope you read the more positive, next post I did about the gadgets.
March 5th, 2008 at 1:09 am
Yup, definitely; I filed several feature requests based on it.
I appreciate your being constructive.