May 7, 2013 at 4:38pm ET by Barry Schwartz

Alex Chitu reports Google is testing a new Google Maps interface, possibly to be launched next week at Google I/O. The new interface is a complete and major overhaul of the current Google Maps user interface. The design and interface changes touch everything from the map colors, icons and text formats to dropping the navigation elements on the left hand side and adding in Google+ integration. For example, you can filter local search results specifically to friends in your Google+ circles. The navigation seems to have been moved to button like methods, similar to how mobile apps work, wit [...]

Google Local Results Drops “More Results Near…” To “Improve” Local Search Experience

May 7, 2013 at 9:20am ET by Barry Schwartz

Google has quietly dropped yet another search feature; this one is related to local search results within a search on Google. Google has removed the "more results near..." link on local search results for queries with local intent. For example, if you search for [pizza] on Google.com, Google will show you local businesses selling pizza to consumers, as well as webpages, videos and so forth on pizza. This is part of the universal search initiative from 2007. Since then, when Google showed local listings in the organic search results, Google would show a "more results near..." link under t [...]

Google Testing Search Results Without URLs

May 3, 2013 at 10:18am ET by Barry Schwartz

Google is testing yet another user interface change - this time by not showing the URL of the search results on the page. @tecnonetblog tweeted that he spotted this test and posted images of it on Twitter. In the images below, you won't see the URL, which is now green followed by an arrow, under the title of the search results. Here is a picture of the desktop version: Here is a picture of the mobile version: Google, in the past, tested orange URLs. I should note that Google is always testing user interface changes, so no one should be surprised with this test. Relate [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Consumer | Google: User Interface

Google Downplays Google+ With Updated Authorship Snippet?

Apr 25, 2013 at 9:37am ET by Barry Schwartz

Google has quietly changed the user interface for how they display the authorship snippet in the search results. The largest difference is that they removed the "more by" link that linked to additional stories written by that author. The other changes include that now clicking on the author's image and name will take you to a similar result set that you would have seen if you clicked on the old "more by" author link. I believe the author image and name use to take you to that author's Google+ page, when available. Now, the only way to get to the Google+ page of the author is to click o [...]

Google: We Removed Instant Previews Over Low Usage From Searchers

Apr 25, 2013 at 9:24am ET by Barry Schwartz

Yesterday we reported that Google changed how you access the cached, similar and share links within the search results by adding a new green down arrow next to the search snippet's URL. We asked, where did the Instant Previews go that launched on November 9, 2010 with a huge amount of excitement from Google. Google even said that the instant previews resulted in searchers being "5% more likely to be satisfied with the results they click." Well, that is now gone because searchers apparently did not use the feature. A Google spokesperson told us a blanket statement, "we’re constantly [...]

Google Adds Green Arrows To View Cache, Similar Pages & To Share Results On Google+

Apr 24, 2013 at 3:06pm ET by Barry Schwartz

Google has updated how you access the cached pages, similar results and how you share search results on Google+. Now, when you want to see a cached version of a search result, you need to click on the green down arrow next to the URL in the search results. If you are logged in, you will likely see three options including cached, similar and share. If you are not logged in you will likely see cached and similar but not the share option. Note, the cached option may also not show up for sites. The picture above shows the new options in the Google search results interface. The old way [...]

Google Pulls Related Searches Filter Due To Lack Of Usage

Apr 23, 2013 at 3:32pm ET by Barry Schwartz

Google has quietly removed the "related searches" option from the search tools menu within the Google search results page. When Google launched search options in October 2009, the option for "related searches" appeared on the left-hand side under the "standard view." The placement of the "related searches" search option has changed over the years, including the whole search filters being moved to the top in November 2012; but, the ability to find related searches remained. That has ended last week, when Google decided to remove the feature. Google told us that they "weren't seeing enough [...]

Google Experimenting With New Related Image Search Interface

Apr 22, 2013 at 8:38am ET by Amy Gesenhues

Google appears to be trying on a new look for its related image search interface. While the standard interface for related image searches includes a list of the related image queries that only show image thumbnails when you mouse over the related search query term, the new interface shows a collection of images right above the related search query terms. By clicking a related search option, Google displays an addition box similar to the black box users see when clicking on an image search result. (Image credit: Google Operating System Blog) [...]

Google Quick View Badge Field Trial

Apr 16, 2013 at 12:45pm ET by Barry Schwartz

Google announced a new Google field trial experiment for a feature they've been quietly testing named Quick View. The Google Quick View badge is found on a select number of sites when a searcher uses Google Mobile search from their smartphone. The feature is currently working for Wikipedia on searches done in English on Google.com. It basically will give you an almost instant view of the Wikipedia page when clicked on. Google says the Quick View will show you the Wikipedia page "immediately." Here is a picture: To see this yourself, you need to sign up for the field trial over [...]

Google Testing Sub (Secondary) Sitelinks

Apr 15, 2013 at 9:44am ET by Barry Schwartz

The Google Operating System blog noticed Google is testing a new form of Sitelinks on the mobile interface. These new sitelinks are sub-sitelinks, secondary levels beyond the sitelink you'd find in the normal search interface. Sitelinks are designed to help searchers quickly find the section of the website they are trying to navigate toward. It is mostly found for navigational queries but also can be found on other types of queries. For example, in the image below, you will see a sitelink category for "phones" and when you expand it, it shows categories of phones: --> We ac [...]

Related Topics: Channel: SEO | Google: Sitelinks | Google: User Interface

Google Tests Orange URLs & Light Blue Titles On Tablet Search Interface

Mar 28, 2013 at 3:38pm ET by Barry Schwartz

Google is apparently testing a new tablet interface, according to a video by tecnonet. He captured three different tests on the Google Tablet search interface: (1) new search tools, (2) light blue colored titles and (3) orange URLs. Here are static pictures of the color changes followed by a video showing the search tools option test. As always, Google is regularly running numerous tests to its user interface and not all of them get approved for wide rollout. Google users may see as many as 12 tests every time they do a search. Related Entries Google Testing Android/Chrom [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Mobile | Google: Mobile | Google: User Interface

Google Testing New ‘Search Within’ Tool; Also, Bigger URLs In Search Results

Mar 14, 2013 at 2:21pm ET by Matt McGee

Here are a couple current user interface changes that Google appears to be testing. Search Within The first one comes to us from Tecno-Net, and shows Google adding a "Search Within" command to its Google Instant interface. When you do certain searches -- like [CNN], [Apple] or [Google] -- one of the options that Google Instant shows is "Search Within," which allows you to limit your search to the specific website. If that doesn't quite make sense, Tecno-Net's video should make it more clear: Bigger Green URLS One other test involves larger text on the green-colored URL that Google s [...]

Google Testing Android/Chromebook-Like Navigation Element For Web Site

Feb 28, 2013 at 12:20pm ET by Barry Schwartz

Google is testing yet another navigation method to find all the various Google services and products, one that potentially serves to unify Google's website with behavior on Android and Chromebooks. Google Operating System spotted this new test where you click on a box and it expands to show you more search options from Google. Here is a picture: As you can see, Google+, Search, Images, Maps, Play, YouTune, News, Gmail, Drive and Calendar are the default options, but you can click on "even more" to see more Google products or services. Similar To Chromebook Apps Icon The box icon is ver [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Consumer | Google: User Interface | Top News

The Hidden Google Search Box

Feb 26, 2013 at 1:18pm ET by Barry Schwartz

It seems as if Google is testing hiding the search box completely from the Google search results page. A post in a Google+ Community by Tom Johns spotted this first. He said he was using a beta version of Chrome, and when he searched, the only way to submit a search query at Google was to do so in the Omnibox built into Chrome. Here is a picture of how Google's search results page looks without the search box: You can replicate this yourself by adding some URL parameters to the Google search URL. For example, here is how you can search for [google] on Google without the search box [...]

Google To Replace Black Top Bar With Gray Colored Bar?

Jan 22, 2013 at 11:48am ET by Barry Schwartz

Google is testing a new color for their top navigation bar. Since June 2011 Google's top bar has had a black background color with white/gray text overlaid. Google is now testing changing the background color to a gray/white with black/dark gray text overlaid. The picture above is from former Googler, Pedro Dias Google+ page. It seems many searchers have begun seeing the new gray top bar as early as this past Saturday and more and more searchers are now seeing it. I personally do not see it yet. It may be a test or it may be something Google is rolling out to their user base. [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Consumer | Google: User Interface

Google Search Now With The Holiday Christmas & Kwanzaa Decorations

Dec 17, 2012 at 9:27am ET by Barry Schwartz

The holiday season is now in full swing! Google has finally added the Christmas and Kwanzaa decorations to compliment the Festivus pole and Hanukkah decorations you already get on Google. How does it work? Just search for [christmas] and you will get Christmas bells. Note, this also works for [santa] and other holiday search terms: You can also now search for [kwanzaa] and get the Kwanzaa candles: Of course, the Hanukkah and Festivus searches all work still. [...]

Google Finally Adds Their Hanukkah Decorations To The Search Results

Dec 11, 2012 at 4:46pm ET by Barry Schwartz

If you search for [hanukkah] or [dreidel] or [menorah] and so on - you will see special Hanukkah decorations on the Google search results. Hanukkah began this past Saturday night and we reported yesterday that Google launched Festivus decorations but didn't have any decorations for the holiday of Hanukkah. Well that has just changed, Google has added the Hanukkah theme to Hanukkah related search queries on Google. In this case, we have the jewish star banner across the top, same as we did the year before. Now we wait for Christmas and Kwanzaa decorations from Google. [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Consumer | Google: User Interface

On Hanukkah Google Adds Festivus Decorations But No Dreidels

Dec 10, 2012 at 4:59pm ET by Barry Schwartz

This week is Hanukkah and typically Google adds holiday decorations in the form of Jewish Stars, Menorahs, Dreidels or other Hanukkah related decorations. This year, Hanukkah began on Saturday night, December 8th but Google has no such Hanukkah decorations this year. Instead, they have decorations for Festivus, just Google [festivus] and you will see the pole. What is Festivus? It is a secular holiday that is celebrated on December 23rd and became popular during an episode of Seinfeld in 1997. It is to celebrate the holiday without all the commercial aspects of the holiday s [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Consumer | Google: User Interface

Google Updates OneBox Results Design To Match Mobile Interface

Dec 5, 2012 at 5:19pm ET by Barry Schwartz

Google announced they have updated their OneBox results, also known as quick answer results, to match the mobile and tablet designs they released back in August. The new results are cleaner, take up more space, but also are more interactive. For example, here is the stock quote for GOOG and the chart on the search results page is interactive: All the OneBox result designs were updated today. They include definitions, currencies, flight information and more: Other results include unit conversion, holidays, sunrise times, weather results, time conversions and much more. [...]

Just Testing: Google Users May See Up To A Dozen Experiments

Dec 5, 2012 at 10:22am ET by Barry Schwartz

Google's Chief Economist Hal Varian said during a Google Tech Talk on October 22, 2012 that Google users may see a dozen or more Google experiments per Google visit. About 26 minutes into the Google Tech Talk, Hal said, "any time you access Google, you probably are in a dozen or more experiments." The talk was about how companies handle "big data," such as testing various experiments and how to measure those results. So Hal gave an example that a single user may see a dozen or more experiments each time they use Google. Google has gone on record with us dozens of times that they relea [...]

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