Test The New Google Search Interface Right Now
Update: Google has modified the search interface in the meantime, and the method below won't work anymore because of it. The company displays a bar atop the search results now that you can use to filter results and refine searches.
We mentioned a few days ago that Google was planning to release a new search interface. There were only a few screenshots available at that time, and it was not sure when the general public was able to test and use the new interface.
The search interface has still not been released but the guys over at Gizmodo have found a way to activate it temporarily so that it can be tried and tested.
You might recall that the main change is the addition of a permanent left sidebar in Google search much like Bing has been offering for a while.
This new search bar resembles the bar that appears in the current search interface after pressing the show options link.
It has been redesigned however into a colorful menu with icons, something that many users would probably not expect from Google which is usually attributed with a bare-bone search interface.
The screenshot below shows the interface in all its glory after you have run a search on Google. As you can see, the left sidebar lists options to filter search results by time, and other parameters when you click on the "more" or "show search tools" links there.
Here are the steps to activate the new search interface temporarily.
1. Visit google.com
2. Enter the following JavaScript code into the address bar and press enter.
javascript:void(document.cookie="PREF=ID=20b6e4c2f44943bb:U=4bf292d46faad806:TM=1249677602:LM=1257919388:S=odm0Ys-53ZueXfZG;path=/; domain=.google.com");
3.Go back to Google.com and enjoy the new search interface.
The search form itself has also been resigned with icons that shine in an intense blue color.
What do you think of these new changes? Is it helpful to have that menu on the left side or is Google simply trying to keep users longer on their search engine?
Worked great with firefox nightly. Thanks. Created a script that will allow it to be turned into your homepage.
I have something very similar to this, but anywhere else I look, it is just same old google, what happened?
Hey there,
I tested it on Chrome, it really worked! If you don’t believe me, watch this video I made of when I use the new google:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BI2ASSUqPwE
Doesn’t work in IE
Hi. I got the new interface working. here is a snapshot .http://twitpic.com/qzmme
Regards Niraj
Nice one. However it does’t seems to work with IE 6.0. Any suggestions?
Don’t use IE6.
Hi, it does not seem to work both on my chrome & firefox browser. followed the exact steps as above. the javascript does not seem to be executing.