Nothing new from here. But I never noticed before that the exact contents of the black bar vary by country.

g###.co.in:
+You Web Images Maps News Orkut Gmail More [dropdown]
--with further variations based on which of the nine currently available languages you pick
(What the ### is Orkut?! It just takes me to the logon screen with new pictures.)

..com.pk:
+You Web Images News Translate Books Gmail More

..no, .dk, .se:
+You Web Images Maps Translate Scholar Gmail More

..gl:
+You Web Images Translate Scholar Blogs Gmail More

..de, .fr, .es:
+You Web Images Videos Maps Shopping Gmail More
(Is this some kind of statement about the Continental economy? .pt can't afford Shopping; they get Translate instead.)

..ca and .com (and all other English-speaking countries I could think of):
+You Web Images Videos Maps News Gmail More

Most of these are googles I've never visited in my life, so they're not pulling prefs out of obscure cookies. Is this another of those things everyone in the world except me has always known?

Ugh. Part of the success of Google was once that the layout was so simple and in that simplicity, there was beauty. I personally prefer the layout from around 2004, but this new Apple-esque design is just annoying.

The blog says they're trying to make it even simpler to browse Google, but I find it takes longer to get to where I want.

Is this only available when signed in?

Nothing's changed for me so far in the UK, then again I only ever sign into and out of AdSense, I don't use any of the other stuff.

I also experienced the new layout (I think they're still testing it), I prefer the old one..

Also they replaced video search by youtube.

They may be able to sneak an ad or two in there. After all, how much more can they tweak the real SERPS for money?

I am not signed in but can see the new layout on my laptop since morning. However, the person sitting next to me is unable to see the new layout on his machine even after several tries.

They are also testing the old interface :
[i.imgur.com...]

They are also testing the old interface :

That's the design I see when I spoof my user-agent to Googlebot (usually checking to see if competitors cloak). I much prefer that layout :)

What the ### is Orkut?! It just takes me to the logon screen with new pictures.

A social network that Google bought a long time ago. Never took off in the US, but I guess it's popular elsewhere.

A social network that Google bought a long time ago.

Orkut was actually developed inhouse as part of a 20% project and named after its engineer designer. It caught on big in India and Brazil, but not in the US... which is likely why it's shown on some Google bars and not others.

If you still don't see the new home page but would like to, here's a link with some instructions on how you can try it out on Chrome, Firefox, Safari or Internet Explorer 8+

How to Try Google's New Navigation Menu [googlesystem.blogspot.com]

This is only sort of related, but YouTube just released a new look: [youtube-global.blogspot.com ]. They are also using the same gray that we've seen rolled out on most Google products. The gray bar at the top doesn't seem too bad, but YouTube with a full gray background somehow looks 'dirty' to me.

I saw the new design last night in Australia on Google.com.au at home, I am in the office now and it is back to the old design, they must be A/B testing it, to see how users interact with it.

It also depends on your browser. I get different results with different browsers and with old and new versions of the same browser.

Google is rolling out one of its biggest home page changes to date.

The revamp strips its front page of the black bar that currently runs horizontally along its top, and replaces it with a grey logo.

When clicked or highlighted, it reveals seven alternative services to the site's search page with an option to reveal a further eight.

Analysts said the move was designed to promote more of the firm's businesses without cluttering its webpage.

[bbc.co.uk...]
Some interesting commentary here.

Part of the success of Google was once that the layout was so simple and in that simplicity, there was beauty...

Nature abhors a vacuum. Looks like there's an opening for a new clean search engine. Wonder who'll move in? :-)

ooks like there's an opening for a new clean search engine. Wonder who'll move in?

[DuckDuckGo.com...] ?

On another note -- anyone else notice if you enter a query in Goog's "everything" search box, then click "News" on the top navigation, it no longer carries the search string into News? (Instead, it is blank and you get generic current news)... you have to retype your query to actually produce search results.

A couple of weeks ago I saw the 'new' homepage and wasn't amused. I hope they will use the technology to detect that not everyone works with a tablet and its a waste of real estate on my screen with those large and ugly menu's.

Anybody have any clue what exactly they are "testing" with any new page designs?

What metrics would they be looking at? Time one page to decrease, perhaps?

I ask only because I am creating a new homepage design.

@rollinj
One of the things they will be looking to achieve is to get more people to log in. In addition, the other is going to be to increase uptake and use of google+.

The aim, imho, is to get people to remain logged in and on google as a destination for all their net activity.

The aim, imho, is to get people to remain logged in and on google as a destination for all their net activity.

...and with Android on smart phones, GPS, and "check-ins" they will be able to know exactly what time you're regularly in the bathroom of your own home, and for how long so they can sell more ads for laxatives, toilet paper and hand sanitizer.

lexipixel wrote:
...and with Android on smart phones, GPS, and "check-ins" they will be able to know exactly what time you're regularly in the bathroom of your own home, and for how long so they can sell more ads for laxatives, toilet paper and hand sanitizer.

People who check-in to their bathroom deserve that. Otherwise, using GPS-only, Google would also need the floor plan of your house or apartment, which is pretty unlikely. Even then, the included GPS isn't accurate enough (at best, probably 30 feet).

--
Ryan

Some people might think that simply knowing when you're home and when you're not home is creepy enough.

using GPS-only, Google would also need the floor plan of your house or apartment, which is pretty unlikely.

Ok, so maybe not this year, but next? When more public records are digital they will be able to cross reference street address to:

- tax assessor drawings and maps
- building plans submitted for building permits
- Fire Dept. evacuation plans for multi-unit housing
- etc.

...all would be public records.

But lets take this conversation out of the potty.

How about a "Smart" Google/Android Alarm Clock app -- one where Android devices could tell when you've been in the bedroom and motionless, (or only making "sleep like motion"), and cross reference that to your personal calendar/day-planner to afford you the maximum (or minimum, or best) amount of sleep -- waking you at the best time for your next scheduled activity.

It could "learn" from your activities the same way a Programmable 7-Day Thermostat for home-heating systems learns how long it takes your home to get up to temperature, (there are small computers in the better models and even if you and your neighbor both buy the same model of thermostat and both setup the program to make your houses 70 degrees are 6:45am on Mon-Fri, -- if your home takes longer to heat up, the thermostat will learn that and turn on your furnace earlier than your neighbors)... damn computers!

lexipixel wrote:
But lets take this conversation out of the potty.

Hmm. So we've gone from discussing Google's new homepage design to nervous speculation about a hypothetical future.

Can we speculate about what questionable things Google might do if those eye-scanning advertisement kiosks from Minority Report become a reality? I can imagine all kinds of nasty things, which must prove that Google is currently up to no good, right?

I don't have a problem with thinking ahead to possible situations that are worth avoiding, but there's a time and place for that. I don't believe this thread is that place. It's also extremely unwise to use those hypothetical future situations to reaffirm your suspicions about a person or company in the present.

--
Ryan

we've gone from discussing Google's new homepage design to nervous speculation about a hypothetical future

You're right.

re: Google's new home page... I don't like it.

Technically, the "home page" (when you go to www.google.com) is about as far as you can get from the old logo+search box... As soon as you type a single character you are propelled into what Google wants to feed you.

The worst offender has to be the "Shopping" link -- you don't even need to type anything -- it runs like a javascript powered infomercial.

I'm feeling left out :( Normally I do g### Advanced, but if I go to the regular dot com page in a different browser after wiping all cookies, I see exactly the same as I've been seeing for months. Do I just have the wrong IP?

Google new home page is quite elegant. But I kept on looking for the "File Edit View Tools..." bar on this browser. I guessed I'm too conditioned to other browsers already.