Yesterday, it was news that Google Editions (the online Google Bookstore would launch this Summer).
Today, many sources including the Google Blog report on the official launch of the new Google interface is rolling-out today. The company is calling it a "Spring Metamorphosis."
Google VP, Marissa Mayer writes,
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.
Many of the concepts here have been seen by publicly, to a limited number chosen people, if the computer in use was randomly selected for one of Google's many tests.
Note: As we post this item (about 12:30pm EDST) we're not seeing the new look. So were going to have to use screen caps posted on the web.
Luckily, the blog post does a great job pointing out what's new and what's changed. Here are a few highlights:
Over the past three years, we've launched Universal Search, the Search Options panel and Google Squared, and it’s those three technologies that power the left-hand panel.
Universal Search
1. The left hand panel. Note the colorful icons next to the various refinement options that's "contextually relevant." In other words, what appears is based on your query and the results set.
2. Various search "categories" you can select from. Examples might be news, maps, images, blogs, or the Real Time Search category that became available in December.
Google Real Time Search, which shows the latest information found by Google from sources such as news, blogs and especially social sharing sites such as Twitter, Facebook and MySpace.
When any category is selected, it is accentuated in blue.
There is also an "Everything" option that places material from all relevant categories on the results page. Danny Sullivan points out and it's very useful to know right from the start that the "everything" search option is the default search type. So, it will be important to explain to some users what everything in Google search means and then explain how they can move to different categories.
If the category of search you want is not listed, simply click "more" and the link and icon should appear.
Google Scholar is not handled by a Google Universal search. You'll still need to visit the Scholar interface. The same is true for patent search and a few other search types.
3. With today's debut, the "search options" link that has been at the top of a results page and could be expanded to "slice and dice" results is gone.
From the Google Blog:
These options [that you once had to click to access] are all on the left of your results...Our technology will suggest the tools that are most relevant and helpful to your query.
Other suggestions might be viewing results by timeline, "wonder wheel, related searches, or by limiting to a certain content type (examples include pages with images, fewer shopping sites, or page previews).
If the option you want is not suggested by the Google computer a "more search tools" link will be available.
Note: One option with a "web search" is limiting by a specific date range. While this is a great way to focus a news, blog, or Twitter search, limiting by date to web pages can cause problems because there is no standard as to what date means. Date first crawled? Date last crawled? Date last crawled and new content discovered? Date last crawled and some content updated? So, be careful.
4. Something Different
You might see similar searches, pages similar, or related names (if you're searching a name).
Other
5. The advanced search link has moved from directly right of the search button to directly below the search button. Also,
the page total estimates (and remember they are only estimates and can vary in large amounts from search to search, hour to hour, day to day, etc.) have moved from right side of the page, below the blue bar to the left side of the page directly below the search box.
Each specialty search, video for example, has its own set of refinement. In this case they include; duration, quality of video, and closed captioning; and video source. All of these options and others found with other search types are nothing all that new but for many people will be brand new since the rarely, if ever, clicked the search options" link.
Google’s logo has had a facelift. Gone are the heavy drop shadows. The colors are said to be “punched up,” and did you know the Google L was a bit crooked?
Bottom Redesign:
The numbered results at the bottom of a results page have, "gotten a facelift as part of the new look and have been cleaned up."
This has been a bit of a challenge to put together since we're still not seeing the new design and have had a chance to use it. Like always, Danny Sullivan's article, "Meet The New Google & Its Colorful, Useful “Search Options” Column," is where to begin. Loaded with additional info and numerous screenshots.
The biggest challenges for Google include:
+ How Well the Algorithm Selects the options that are, "most relevant and helpful to your query." If the typical searcher has to regularly hit "more" to get the option they want, it's going to be a challenge.
+ Getting typical users to use these options on a regular basis.
+ However, a "regular basis will come only if people are taught how to use them and let word of mouth take over. A major challenge. While these are great tools for advanced searchers, we still think the jury is out if typical searchers will take advantage.
See Also: Gizmodo Takes a Poke at Google
Note: Many of these options have been available for a long time. People didn't see them or use them. Also, left hand navigation using three panels started with Ask.com many years ago.
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