What do you think of Gmail’s new look? Let us know in the comments.

Some new/updated features you’ll notice in Gmail are:

New Conversation View
The conversation view has been completely redesigned. You’ll now see see profile pictures for your contacts in your email conversations.

Elastic Density
With the new Gmail you can now control the spacing between elements on your screen. This can be modified anytime via the display density menu, located under settings.

All New Search
Gmail’s search has been improved with a dropdown menu which allows you to specify exactly what you want to search (e.g. emails to a certain sender, or a certain word in the subject or body). Email filters can also be created from the same menu, from any search.

HD Themes
The themeing system has been completely rebuilt, now each theme utilizes high resolution imagery. All of the current themes have been updated, and your current theme will be carried when switched.

Navigation
The left-side navigation has also received a facelift, as the new layout keeps your most used labels in view at all times. If you find yourself stuff being hidden by the collapsing menu, you can resize this by simply clicking on the dividing line and dragging it down. Gmail will remember your new menu settings.

For those of you who hadn’t made the change yet, Google has made it for you. The next time you login to your Gmail account you’re greeted with a box welcoming you to Gmail’s new look accompanied by the following video:

Not a fan of the new look? Well you can, “temporarily postpone the switch to the new look in the new settings menu“. But what’s the point in that? As Gmail’s new look will more than likely be made permanent in the near future… better just get used to it now.

Google’s Gmail blog has been taking an in-depth look at Gmails new look. Today they posted about activating the changes everyone:

“The dedication of our testing team helped us catch bugs early so we could fix them in preparation for launch. Once we felt that the new look was good enough to be used by others, we turned it on for all Googlers.”

Sure Google is happy with the changes, but a lot of Twitter users don’t agree:

Though there are some out there who actually like Gmail’s new look, myself included:

It’s unclear at the moment how long users will be able to revert back to the old Gmail look, but why not just embrace the new look? It will be the default look very shortly, you might as well get used to it.

Why do you think some people don’t like Gmail’s new look? Thoughts about the new look in general? Let us know in the comments.

Mobile and local have always been a good match, but the implementation of this natural pairing hasn’t fully “arrived.” Mobile by Citysearch, however, is a good step along that path. The new site is designed to be compatible with whatever mobile device you use, including content layout and using your phone’s default navigation (thumbwheel, touch screen, etc.) for a more intuitive UI.

Citysearch has long been available through mobile phones—two years ago, they added mobile search to their site as well as local business listings via text message.

Rather than just making the website readable on a mobile phone, however, the new Mobile by Citysearch better integrates mobile and local. Its new design makes reading and even creating reviews from a mobile device easy and makes popular website features mobile-friendly. The new mobile Citysearch is also integrated with text messaging, allowing users to text reviews, directions and ratings directly to mobile phones.

The Citysearch website has also been redesigned. New features enhance not only the interface but the access to the site’s reviews and other information. But the new site is more than just prettier. An enhanced back end allows for even more focused local searches—down to the neighborhood level, instead of just the metro area.

The new Citysearch also integrates social media better—including the seldom-mentioned Open ID rival, Facebook Connect. The integration with Facebook is one of the best applications of social search so far. If you’re signed in to Facebook (currently or using a permanent session), Citysearch will highlight your friends’ reviews of local restaurants. (Image from Read Write Web.)

Finally, the new Citysearch is sure score points with local business owners—it prominently features owner comments alongside editor and user comments. It also is added enhanced features for videos of local businesses through a partnership with Brightcove.

Users will be able to upload their own photos and videos early next year.

This redesign comes just a few days after some bad press for Yelp, a rival local review site. Yelp is alleged to have offered to remove or move down negative reviews of local businesses for a fee (and there’s even some allegations they took the money without actually moving the reviews, doubly unethical).

Yelp has been gaining momentum against Citysearch’s popularity recently, but Citysearch’s new features and Yelp’s bad press might combine to reverse that. What do you think—are the new features cool enough to get your “vote” (traffic)?

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