Google is in the process of a metamorphosis – from UI to new features, our favorite search engine is evolving. Whether that evolution is for the better or worse has yet to be seen.
With the announcement of Google+, as covered on my personal blog, the shroud has been lifted on Google’s new direction. We’ve been seeing new features and UI changes creeping in over the past few months, the most prominent being the +1 button and more recently the dark navigation bar across the top of the page.
New Google search UI
Earlier this week Google+ was announced. Today, the left hand sidebar has been updated with a new color scheme and brand new icons. It is also no longer expandable, appearing by default with no option to minimize. Even the Search button has gotten a makeover.
New Google search options UI
But it isn’t just Google’s UI that’s going through an evolution – Google is following a new vision – a more social Google. Google +1 was just the beginning and Google+ is a major step, but unveilings will follow.
I’m the first to defend Google’s original design – blue links, simple, clean. I hated the horizontal black bar when it came in. When it comes to Google’s UI and change, I felt (and to a large extent still feel) that there is no need for it. However, the new UI changes that are slowly but surely trickling in seem to be coming together into something not entirely unpleasant. I just hope they get this thing right.
Personally, I’m excited by Google’s new direction, but at the same time apprehensive and nervous. No company is infallible and despite Google’s massive user base they haven’t exactly had a great track record with social networking, especially with the privacy backlash they seem to be constantly under at the moment. In addition, many Google users partly love it for its simple no-frills UI. To me it seems like the massive shift that Google is currently undertaking really will be a sink or swim situation.
