We know that Google is constantly running experiments on google.com. Those experiments are only visible to a subset of visitors to test them before they may go live for all users eventually. The majority of tests make small changes to the search page or result’s listing. Some users may not even notice that they are there.
I’m seldom in a test group, but today was different. Imagine my surprise when I found out that Google is testing a new result’s page design.
Take a look at the following page:
Notice anything significantly on that page? Right, both the layout and style have changed dramatically. The titles use a light blue color instead of the standard link color. They are also not underlined anymore.
The description and url use lighter colors as well, and the row height has been changed. The space between results has been increased, and the Cached and Similar Links have been removed.
Here is a screenshot of Google’s old search results layout.
What are the implications? For one, you need to scroll down to see all ten results. I’m running a 1920×1200 resolution which allowed me until now to see all ten search results without scrolling. On the new search results page, I only see eight or nine results on page load.
The lighter title colors make the titles harder to read, and the overall page feels brighter which is more taxing for the eye.
Overall I’d say that the test layout and design is a step backwards. The space between results is to big, the “whiter” colors are taxing my eyes and the missing cached and similar links are missed dearly.
It is unlikely that Google will roll out this new results page to all users of its search engine.
Do you see the new search layout as well? What’s your impression of it if you are?
Update: some users have reported that clearing the cookies reverted the search results page to its old glory. Check out our guide: How To Delete Cookies On A Computer if you do not know how to do that.
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Why do I have this layout too?! How can I switch it back?!?!
I don’t like the new layout! If this carries on, I will switch to Bing too!
They should try to adopt the Blackle layout anyways ;) That’d be the best thing to do!
-> http://www.blackle.com/
Like the SIro says: Search engines should simply follow this amazing search page to save some watt hours :) –> http://www.blackle.com
Rubbish. Revert please ASAP.
I’m hate to say this, but I think that every update that Google has done sucks.Google used to be the only search engine I could use to get exactly what I was looking for. Now I can’t the search results are too stretched out font is too small,and the pictures take forever to load. Google needs to stop trying to compete with other search engines,because the only thing that their doing is making browsing the internet less enjoyable and making it difficult. I already have really bad eye sight this is making it so much worse. Now I have to find another search engine that fits my requirements.
thats nothing against my new layout… there are dotted lines between the search results -> http://www.mirror24.de/upload/bilder/8416478229d13048084774dc5cc1d7d51e.PNG
Hehe, nice ;)
This new layout and style is horrid. It’s more of a strain on the eyes and really gives the whole setup a “cheapened” feel. The lack of similar and cached is a big minus too, those were useful when researching. Why “fix it” if it’s not broken?
not seen by me …yet!
But… (from your photos),
I really dislike the new layout .
Hope they allow you to choose the layout!
not seeing it either, but your screenshots immediately struck me as awfully similar to both alt-engines duckduckgo.com and blekko.com, especially the former. go chk them out!
mho is that it’s an improvement, but goog can’t ditch the cached version!!
I hate this new layout, got it randomly yesterday and thought i had messed something up…
All the negatives listed here are why i probably won’t get used to it… so much white space, and tiny light text…no cache… like wth? It’s depressing (embarrassingly) because i’ve been loyal to Google since the beginning…i hate other search engines…this is just frustrating… T_T
HATE IT
This new layout sucks! It has too much white space, scrolling down is lame, it seems like it was made for a kindergartner to read. A BIG step back, I say. The underline was so much better, so much more concise and to the point. With this new layout, you have to look more for what you want. I’ve always liked google, but if this is permanent, I am going to switch to another browser.
Horrible. How could anyone at Google think this new design is an improvement? I’ll be looking for a new search engine if they don’t change the design back soon.
i got it too, and i hated it.
at first i was certain it’s an issue of an addon / malware taking over my google results page. then i realized this is a test group. after a short while I cleared my cookies to remove it. it’s really annoying.
IMPORTANT:
Like the user “SIro” done: delete all cookies [completely all] from your web browser and the Google will revert to previous look. We are seems part of some google test program and after deleting cookies no-more… :-)
For those stuck with this, I did find a temporary solution.. go to Google Labs under your google account, and you can find the Google Experiments section.
Direct link:
http://www.google.com/experimental
You can join the Accessibility experiment to get search results back to very similar to the old style. Only thing it changed for me was added a giant ugly ‘Web’ square to google.com, which I don’t use frequently anyway.
Interesting, thanks for letting us know.
THANK YOU!!!
Thank you, thank you, thank you! Too bad there’s not a way to get your answer as the first result in a query about this problem!
Yet another change whose only purpose is to get more ad clicks. Top page ads are now twice as big, for popular queries pretty much all i see above the fold is ads.
It will also increase competition (and cheating) for top place since unless a site is top three they are now nowhere to be seen.
I hate the new look………..
I am looking into other search engines since the new layout is completely counter productive. Allowing to set a layout in a profile so people can choose how the results are presented is the way they should go.
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/857/catturagq.jpg/
just playn’ with firebug…
i think my version is better
I always search 100 results. I would spend 10 minutes scrolling each page with that much space between each entry.
I only want a more distinct color change of results that I have already clicked on instead of just changing from blue to purple. It should turn red or orange–something immediately easy to see where I left off.
Now recently colors are not changing at all, they all stay blue. This is the worst yet. What the heck is going on?
I thought it was horrible and I couldn’t stand using it. Like you said, it’s hard on the eyes. I used Bing for the first time that day and set it as my main search engine so I could avoid using the new layout…
I love the new layout. It is much easier on the eyes. Its cleaner, and it is easier to differentiate between each result. I will be very disappointed if they dont roll this out to everyone soon.
i like the new google logo, with a slight shadow behind it, nice
I just saw the new layout for the first time today when searching on Google. I have to say that I agree with you. The new layout is horrible! It’s harder to read and the colors are way to light. I hope they don’t switch over to this new layout.
June 7th 2011
Its been looking this way all day, not sure if its been here a couple days or not.
Hurts my eyes! …Finding this page was not easy…
No one is happy about this change, are they?
Something I’ve recently realized: 90%+ of people must be dumb, spineless, carefree, obedient, good-hearted sympathetic people, with a love for backstabbing that feeds their giddy self-serving greedy appetites that can never be quenched.
It is for these people the world is crafted, not for me.
I don’t get this change at all, but I guess those of us on this site are outnumbered.
Horrible, it looks like a re-direct to google from another page. Couldn’t they at least have put an option “revert to standard view” or something? And what is the point of losing the cache? If I switch to IE, I get the old layout, and everyone else in the office still has the “normal”. This is one of those times that I really don’t want to be part of a test group…and I am on deadline, to boot!
Just want to agree that the new layout is harder to scan. Basically colors need more contrast. Also, loosing the “cached” links is a significant step back.
Actually I’m happy to test out new things but in that case it would be nice if Google places a corresponding feedback button on the experimental sites.
IT BLOWS! LIke over at MS Office, Google staff obviously have nothing better to do than to fix what’s NOT broken! I depend on the cache feature on most of my searches – going through an entire site just to find a specific amt of information is ridiculous, time consuming & extremely inconvenient. With Google’s new format my searches will be easier if I just pull my encyclopedia’s out of the attic… Guess going forward I’ll have to use Bing or another search link that will actually help in finding search results…
for me it`s likely that they finding better user interface… welcome googler…
Again some new changes -> black top navigation link background … aah all this changes are useless. Here I found the link to the Google official blog explaining about it:
http://googleblog.blogspot.com