Google Search Gets a Mild Makeover
By Chris Weiss
Call me old-fashioned, but I hate change. Especially when it comes to something that I’ve grown accustomed to use everyday–like Google searches. But, time trods onward and things change, and Google seems to think it was high time for some changes to its search results. According to Google’s blog: “Today’s metamorphosis responds to the increasing richness of the web and the increasing power of search — revealing search tools on the left and updating the visual look and feel throughout.”
The first change of note is a Bing-like side panel on the left of the results page that allows users to refine searches with an expandable series of categories: News, Blogs, Images, Books, etc. So now you don’t have to go roaming around to find these filters. Plus, the categories aren’t static, but are refined depending upon your search. The most relevant genres for your specific search term will appear at the top of the panel, according to Google. This change should also help Google to direct more traffic to its Book search, which will be key to its recently detailed Google Editions e-book service.
Google also added some minor aesthetic updates. For a full walkthrough of Google changes, check out the video below. [via Google Blog]
Thursday, May 6, 2010 6:28AM
Google may have thought it was time for a change but those who actually use it seem to have a different opinion. You're not old fashioned for hating change, you want what you've come to expect, something Google has stopped delivering. Best advice I can give you, and anyone reading this who feels likewise, is to send them feedback. Tell them, in no uncertain terms, you want the old Google search engine back. I did.
Monday, May 10, 2010 8:09PM
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