Normal Google

[ImLostAgain]

When Google opens I used to have to click a link on the left to get Google UK. Now it is always UK but it is also always set at Camden as the location. I re-set it for my nearest city and it stays that way until I log on again. Is this normal?

[rojash]

By Google, I assume you mean Chrome?
Chrome now determines your location from your IP address.
I've tried everything to get it to stop doing that, but it seems Google knows best. It's why I've stopped using Chrome and gone back to Firefox.

[ImLostAgain]

No, sorry rojash, Once again I don't explain myself properly! Firefox is my browser, Google is my homepage. I've never used Chrome.
I suppose there are two questions in one here.
1) How come I don't have to click to get to Google UK anymore. Don't care why but it interests and pleases me that I don't.
2) If it is using my IP address, why Camden? I'm nowhere near there,about as far away as I can get, thankfully. Sorry Camdeners:)

[boxtops]

I've got a direct link to Google on my desktop and it only ever opens on Google UK - I didn't realise that there is any other option. Why don't you open Google UK then save that site in your Favourites - then only go it via your favourites, so you always get the right page?

[ImLostAgain]

Thinking back boxtops, you've answered my first question. That is what I did! How thick to forget that!
Still leaves the question of why it keeps going back to Camden though.

[Hopkirk]

I can't see any location on my Google page.

Where does it say Camden?

[Mamyalynne]

Oh have just looked at mine, it says Kingston on Thames and I am in Lancashire lol It appears halfway down the left side of page.

[boxtops]

Mine doesn't say anything apart from Google UK, the search box, and some links. No location!

[Hopkirk]

The left side of my Google screen is lovely, clean and white with no unwanted words.

[ImLostAgain]

Yes strange innitt mamyalynne. Don't s'pose it matters, just wondered why it does it.

[Huderon]

Service providers are assigned blocks of IP addresses, usually on a regional basis. In somewhere like the USA where there were (and for all I know, still are) a lot of regional ISPs, you can get a general location for someone using a given IP address.

Over here ISPs are national, and they have blocks of IP addresses for all parts of the country. But they assign the addresses to their customers as needed and don't worry about where in the country you are.

So using the IP address to show where you are on somewhere like Google is a nice idea, sort of makes it look a bit more friendly, but in this country it just doesn't work too well.

[ImLostAgain]

Cheers Huderon. Very informative.