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. The new look, which was first announced last year, is only being offered to a limited number of users at the moment.
A spokesman for Google said that the roll-out is designed to improve the user experience.
“If you compare the original Google home page to today’s version, you will see that a makeover every so often can certainly be refreshing.”
Chris Green, principal technology analyst at Davies Murphy Group, said the move allowed the site to use icons without resembling Yahoo’s busier design.
The other thing that they are doing with those menus is making the page look like their Chrome netbook operating system. So whether you are using a Chromebook or the Google website the interface is the same.
Google’s original home page Google’s front page still resembles its original 1998 design
Advertising
Another consequence of the move is that it now takes users two movements to enter services such as Images or News, rather than the one click that was previously needed.
However, this may play to the site’s financial advantage.
Blog RSS Feed
Subscribe via E-mail
Follow Me on Twitter