April 13, 2011

Google's Big Blue Bar

"Come here often? Make Google your homepage" is the new promotional message that tries to convince Internet Explorer users to set Google as their homepage. After all, it's easier to convince people to change the homepage than to install Google Toolbar or Google Chrome.

Google no longer shows the message below the search buttons: it now displays a big blue bar at the top of the page. If you click "no thanks" or the "x" icon, Google will no longer display the message.


Sometimes Google also shows a Chrome ad and it's really difficult to sign in or go to iGoogle without clicking on one of the ads.


Why target Internet Explorer users? IE is the only important browser that doesn't use Google as the default search engine and doesn't even include Google in the list of search engines.

{ Thanks, Sterling. }
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60 comments:

  1. MelissaApril 13, 2011 at 12:59 PM

    IT ONLY appears on IE since IE DON'T CONSIDER Google,(like you said) Google is trying to get their audience by making it all fancy in their browser; therefore, their users (IE users) would pay a closer look and consider moving to Google.

    The stupidity in your posts is really starting to annoy me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. K7HKLJanuary 5, 2016 at 12:40 PM

      It appears on Linux as well if you are not using Google Browser. Very irritating because it covers some of the clickable options that I want to use.

      Delete
  2. DanielApril 13, 2011 at 1:10 PM

    Hmm. I'm unsure how I feel about this behavior. I like that people can permanently avoid the blue bar. Can the same be said of the Chrome installer box? (Pretty trixy, IMO, putting it next to the account buttons.)

    What does everyone else think. Dodgy?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. K7HKLJanuary 5, 2016 at 12:42 PM

      There seems to be no way to avoid this or to turn it off if the version you are seeing is the box shape instead of the blue bar version. Blocking pop-ups in your non-Google browser will not stop it.

      Delete
  3. DanielApril 13, 2011 at 2:25 PM

    To the business poster:

    Do you believe this site is an official Google website? (it's an official blog) or did you actually mean to say those idiots?

    Also, are you convinced that Google would never allow or post malware/viruses/trojans, or are you convinced that Google would never put up something so ugly and obtrusive? I seem to remember noticing that "download Chrome" box a while ago -- although, I guess it might satisfy only the obtrusive part (of the Google would-never-put-up-something-like-that assumption).

    Anyway, Anon, I hope your business is back online and that it suffered minimal damage.

    ReplyDelete
  4. DanielApril 13, 2011 at 2:26 PM

    Whoops. I meant to say (unofficial blog).

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousApril 13, 2011 at 2:33 PM

    It's annoying as heck and I don't even use IE regularly (maybe once a week tops). On top of that, Google is already my homepage in IE, why is it asking?

    It's just as annoying as the ad to install Chrome. It's my damn default browser already, piss off Google.

    (Note: I use IE in InPrivate mode so cookies that would keep these two ads closed aren't saved hence my increased frustration)

    ReplyDelete
  6. UnknownApril 13, 2011 at 2:35 PM

    Good thing there is an easy and efficient way of getting both of those messages to go away.


    "Install google chrome"

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. mamma says yesMarch 17, 2013 at 5:09 PM

      May be easy...efficient - seen and heard enough about chrome to know that is not true!

      Delete
    2. K7HKLJanuary 5, 2016 at 12:44 PM

      I do have Chrome installed, but prefer to use other browsers. Just having Chrome installed does not stop the unwanted pop-up if you are not actually using Chrome.

      Delete
  7. DanielApril 13, 2011 at 2:47 PM

    I like your reasoning, james (especially since I use Chrome, myself).

    On the other hand, I see how some people might view this behavior as similar to the United States popping up a box on TV screens, whenever foreigners watch American-made movies, saying, "Move to a more interesting country -- the country where this movie was made!"

    People could make the box go away, simply by moving to the US.

    While I would personally feel more comfortable changing browsers than my citizenship, some people (and especially corporations), might feel otherwise. Simply put, they could feel very resistant to change browsers -- for reasons that make sense to them.

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousApril 13, 2011 at 4:22 PM

    @Melissa You are just repeating what Alex said: IE users are targeted because IE doesn't use Google's search engine. I see you combined a personal attack with a completely inappropriate NSFW hyperlink. Stay classy, @Melissa.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. K7HKLJanuary 5, 2016 at 12:45 PM

      It is not just IE. Use of any non-Chrome browser on any OS will cause this irritating message to pop up and block the area behind it.

      Delete
  9. SoumyaApril 14, 2011 at 12:41 AM

    I am not a hundred percent sure, but I believe Google is also targeting Safari on Mac. Maybe not with the blue bar, but with just the "Download Chrome" box. Combine that with IE for Windows, and you realize that they are only targeting the users who use the default browser supplied by the OS.

    It's possible that they just want to raise awareness about different browsers, since people using the system default browser are the most likely to be unaware of alternatives.

    ReplyDelete
  10. JoshuaApril 14, 2011 at 1:03 AM

    I noticed facebook added this big blue bar two days ago that looked the same. It said "Drag this to your home button and see what your friends are doing when you open up your browser" with pictures of my most contacted people. This was in firefox. I thought this was google's response to that.

    ReplyDelete
  11. William HolderApril 14, 2011 at 7:03 AM

    I'mm looking for a new homepage now. Like one of the posters above - my settings are set to delete temporary files each time I close my browser, so I have to put up with this banner everytime I open a new window. Good work Google - your banner will have the exact opposite effect on some users and I doubt you'll bring in many new ones with that stupidity.

    ReplyDelete
  12. AnonymousApril 14, 2011 at 10:14 AM

    First thought: Damn again such crap like the Chrome ads.
    Then I read about that it's only for IE.
    Second thought: HAHAHAHAHAHA poor *ahem* good for them, now they feel some pain i often have to take because of THEM (as webdesigner you can often start over after testing your site in IE..).


    :p

    ReplyDelete
  13. AnonymousApril 16, 2011 at 5:03 AM

    okay, either the info about just being able to delete this annoying blue bar is incorrect or I'm not understanding what you said. I've click the no thank you (and alternately the X) but the blue bar just comes up the next time I open a new search.

    I've googled how to remove, how to disable, and just google blue bar and find nothing (other than this blog) even talking about it... Does anyone know how to actually get rid of this annoying blue "come here often" bar PERMANENTLY?

    ReplyDelete
  14. AnonymousApril 16, 2011 at 7:10 PM

    stop using google if you want to remove this bar. google is going to bar with this

    ReplyDelete
  15. Very AnnoyedApril 17, 2011 at 1:41 PM

    Merely stopping using google wouldn't be enough. It merits a Google boycott campaign, and a boycott of Google advertisers campaign. It is VERY fracking annoying, and like anonymous two posts up I actually have (or had, past tense pretty soon) Google's search page as my home page. If you have IE configured to delete history, etc., after exit it just keeps asking the same question every single time.

    ReplyDelete
  16. AnonymousApril 18, 2011 at 5:21 PM

    I guess it's finally time for me to check out Bing because the blue banner is so annoying. So long google, we've had an interesting time together over the last ten years.

    ReplyDelete
  17. AnonymousApril 18, 2011 at 7:59 PM

    I agree that this is obnoxious on the part of Google. Microsoft should reply be installing a default adblocker of all Google's ads.

    ReplyDelete
  18. jbApril 20, 2011 at 6:11 AM

    I've seen this on my Mac so they're also targeting Safari and Camino users

    ReplyDelete
  19. AnonymousApril 20, 2011 at 9:48 AM

    LOL

    ReplyDelete
  20. AnonymousApril 20, 2011 at 6:59 PM

    Screw Google!!! Would love to start a Facebook page to bring Google down and also start a Google page to bring Facebook down.......

    ReplyDelete
  21. AnonymousApril 23, 2011 at 7:20 AM

    In todays day of internet use you would think legitimate companies would avoid any type of intrusive behaviour like this (as minor as some may imply) without providing some sort of escape from it. And forcing me to change my setting preferences isn't the way to go in my book, and some people have found out by just hitting NO only lasts for that session.
    There's too many other options out there to consider to have to put up with this behaviour. Google - your gone from our side, so thanks for allowing me the opportunity to investigate other options as I have found ones better suited to my liking.

    ReplyDelete
  22. DannyApril 25, 2011 at 8:36 AM

    OKAY! SO!!! All of this hot air blasting but no suggestions. Of course you can kill the banner but if you clean your cookies they come back. Why not just protect that cookie in your settings from deletion?

    Please try to post solutions instead of the attacks and hot air.

    ReplyDelete
  23. AnonymousApril 25, 2011 at 8:36 AM

    OKAY! SO!!! All of this hot air blasting but no suggestions. Of course you can kill the banner but if you clean your cookies they come back. Why not just protect that cookie in your settings from deletion?

    Please try to post solutions instead of the attacks and hot air.

    ReplyDelete
  24. AnonymousApril 25, 2011 at 10:56 AM

    wtf? many people clear their cookies (or have them disabled to begin with) after each browsing session. This bar is beyond intrusive and has introduced me to Bing -- well done Google!

    ReplyDelete
  25. AnonymousMay 20, 2011 at 11:05 AM

    i switched to Yahoo alright. There is no way to get this go away. I only use google now for translate thats it. If everybody does that the competition in search is back and the consumer rules againg

    ReplyDelete
  26. AnonymousMay 23, 2011 at 1:23 PM

    Please help me make it stop...everytime few windows I open up prompts the stupid blue bar. Ack! I'm sick of it!!! Die blue bar...DIE!

    ReplyDelete
  27. AnonymousMay 26, 2011 at 3:50 PM

    I always delete all cookies by default as I close browser. So, I get that annoying banner everytime I try to use search... So, only way to avoid bar is moving my search completely to Bing. Well... It may not much or Google may don't care, but just lost one search user.

    ReplyDelete
  28. AnonymousJune 6, 2011 at 7:10 AM

    What I find interesting lately is that Google has gone from being able to get users on the merits of their products to this type of *annoyance marketing*. I have also noticed that they have done alot of slimey tactics of having your html links all link to chrome if you have ever installed chrome even if IE or Firefox are your defaults.

    ReplyDelete
  29. AnonymousJune 6, 2011 at 7:10 AM

    There are many more borderline unethical marketing? tactics that they have used that have just gotten me to the point of saying "see ya". I know Google doesn't give a rip about one person leaving, but it is interesting to see that even on a pro Google article, and if you do do the searches like some other posters have mentioned, you see nothing but negative about their campaigns. It would take a new savvy CEO to realize what is going on, and then to change it for me to come back....maybe.

    ReplyDelete
  30. AnonymousJune 6, 2011 at 7:13 AM

    ...one more thing for my two anon posts above...as an investor, forget it, my TD Ameritrade account will never even look at Google as long as they keep this up, just a bad managment practice that is based on numbers only and is not sustainable...

    ReplyDelete
  31. AnonymousJune 26, 2011 at 10:20 AM

    Christ! It doesn't matter what I answer the blue keeps on coming... Aaaaargh! Makes me really not wanna use Google anymore but it is the best search engine out there...Damn it!

    ReplyDelete
  32. AnonymousJuly 1, 2011 at 12:10 AM

    While Google tracks everything, what better way of making Bing my home page in Google Chrome. No more Google adds for Google to earn from on my computers.

    ReplyDelete
  33. AnonymousJuly 14, 2011 at 12:00 PM

    Maybe using Bing to search for a solution will work....

    ReplyDelete
  34. AnonymousJuly 15, 2011 at 7:29 AM

    Here is a solution

    http://www.google.com/webhp?hl=xx-bork

    No more blue bar.

    Personally I have changed to Bing, I never thought I would see the day but the google homepage is too messy.

    ReplyDelete
  35. AnonymousJuly 15, 2011 at 8:23 AM

    Microsoft is probably loving this annoying Google campaign. Seems it's steering alot of people to consider using Bing instead. Who knows, maybe they're somehow generating the ad on IE.

    ReplyDelete
  36. AnonymousAugust 8, 2011 at 1:45 PM

    I have the same problem, Google behave the same like other big corporations, they are nothing better, the blue bart shows even worse things than mIcrosft ever did. Because of this bar I can t afford every minute how much I dislike Google ... lol, I think is a good point to check BING, let's not forget a good search engine is because of people using it.

    ReplyDelete
  37. DariusSeptember 1, 2011 at 2:14 AM

    FINALY!!! GOT IT HERE IS HOW YOU KILL IT!!!!

    To disable it go to the Tools menu - Internet Options - Advanced tab, and in the Browsing section uncheck the box for "Display Accelerator button on selection". You may need to restart IE for the change to take effect.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousJanuary 20, 2012 at 2:03 AM

      Hi Darius

      For those of us in the corporate world the Advanced tab is, unfortunately, not available.

      The post from Anonymous Jul 15, 2011 07:29 AM

      http://www.google.com/webhp?hl=xx-bork

      worked for me and for those of us in the UK this also works for the home page

      http://www.google.co.uk/webhp?hl=xx-bork

      Delete
  38. AnonymousNovember 7, 2011 at 10:50 AM

    It didn't work for me. I'm switching to Firefox because the blue bar is annoying.

    ReplyDelete
  39. AnonymousNovember 23, 2011 at 8:13 PM

    Here is Google's phone number:

    phone: (650) 253-0000
    fax: (650) 253-0001

    Call, dial 8, type in any common name like smith or jones or white and leave a message.

    Keep doing it over and over again until they get the message.

    I thought Google's motto was "do no harm"

    Relentlessly annoying people with their blue bars or asking for phone numbers is patronizing and inhumanly insulting.

    Annoy them back!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  40. AnonymousNovember 28, 2011 at 4:49 AM

    google will get the message when every stops using google itself

    ReplyDelete
  41. AnonymousNovember 30, 2011 at 8:54 AM

    if you have got adblock installed, just right click and click on block ad, then uncheck second column. you will now not have the banner any more.

    ReplyDelete
  42. GaffDecember 1, 2011 at 3:11 PM

    Well hehe and ho ho ho thanks for the crap chrissie present google, yep its fugly, and Jason agrees also with Gaff!

    ReplyDelete
  43. a8v-xDecember 1, 2011 at 10:45 PM

    google should be discreet, understated and low-key. it was at first. now they think they got everyone. bloat is awful. Keep It Simple S_____. less is more. don't try to engineer me. don't try to share me. don't try to influence my behavior. and @Gaff- yes, tbe blue & black bars are both FUGLY, FUGLY, FUGLY! all opposed to fugly- raise your pointing device!

    ReplyDelete
  44. Juan de FucaDecember 6, 2011 at 6:27 PM

    It is not just IE users but also Mozilla users. The Blue Bar is bluesh-t.

    ReplyDelete
  45. AnonymousMarch 10, 2012 at 10:01 PM

    I used to like google: very efficient and effective
    now i hate them: not only do they want to rule the world, collecting all this data about me, they are also becoming VERY VERY annoying with their damn stupid blue banner
    can't they take a hint?
    How many times do I have to click NO I do not want google as my homepage because it bloody already IS SO
    But not for much longer
    what is the matter with these guys? money gone to their heads?
    trying to outdo Bill gates on being annoying and obnoxious?

    ReplyDelete
  46. AnonymousMay 25, 2012 at 2:11 PM

    GOOGLE - REMOVE THE FRACKING BLUE NAG BAR !!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  47. AnonymousAugust 8, 2012 at 1:29 PM

    For now, what someone suggested works for me in IE 8: Tools/Internet options/Advanced, and then in Browsing section uncheck Display Accelerator button. Restart IE.

    Currently I am browsing for more than half an hour and the blue bar did not appear at all.

    ReplyDelete
  48. AnonymousAugust 20, 2012 at 11:35 PM

    What is the html code to ad to adblocking to stop that google blue pop up "come here often make google your homepage"?

    ReplyDelete
  49. AnonymousAugust 30, 2012 at 4:48 PM

    Just use Linux. It runs more applications than Garble.

    ReplyDelete
  50. AnonymousAugust 31, 2012 at 7:09 AM

    Google-Please turn off the confounded blue bar offering to install Google Chrome. Out IT folks do not give users the rights to download and install such software so I cannot do that. With my home page set to Google.com I got tired of having to turn off the blue bar every time I open IE (cookies are automatically purged so IE forgets that I already clicked the "no thanks" box previously). It is a pain. I have today changed to Bing.com

    ReplyDelete
  51. AnonymousSeptember 5, 2012 at 9:41 PM

    HELLO EVERYONE
    THIS WORKED FOR ME
    MAKE A SYSTEM RESTORE POINT
    CLICK START MENU
    TYPE IN REGEDIT CLICK ENTER
    RIGHT CLICK ON HKEY_CURRENT_USER
    CLICK FIND
    TYPE IN GOOGLE
    CLICK FIND NEXT
    DELETE THE GOOGLE FOLDER

    HOPE THIS HELPS

    RALPHRED

    ReplyDelete
  52. UnknownFebruary 17, 2013 at 2:03 PM

    Endlessly frustrated by that damn blue bar. Appeared every single time I used Google.
    Solved it by going to a random site (http://www.tilleryvalley.com/tillery/cookies.aspx)that asked permission to allow cookies. Clicked "OK" (or whatever) and, for reasons I don't understand, it stopped that blue bar of Google's from appearing.

    ReplyDelete
  53. QuaggieMarch 27, 2013 at 4:20 PM

    Thanks to Anonymous who suggested Adblock. Googled it and found a simpler solution.

    Solved the problem in IE9 by adding the Tracking Protection Lists and so far no Blue Bar inviting me to install Google Chrome.



    Go to http://www.iegallery.com/TPL and follow the prompts. The one recommended in the Youtube article did not do the job so I installed a number on the lists just to be sure. At least one of them is doing the job.

    Not sure it this will work with earlier IE versions. Will check back here after testing on other PCs and share my expereince.

    Once again, for all the moaners could you please keep it positive, like Anonymous did, and come up with solutions rather than just having a moan.

    I might like to add that I DID install Chrome some time ago and deleted it as I did not like the way it behaved - not as user-friendly as IE !!! (I know that this will be hard to believe by some techos out there) You can't win them all !!!

    ReplyDelete
  54. UnknownFebruary 27, 2018 at 12:46 AM

    ounnas abd el kader.chrome

    ReplyDelete

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