As previously reported, a Googler quietly indicated that Google will be rolling out its new look for the top navigation bar (or “Google Bar”) over the coming weeks. It’s a design that people have been seeing here and there in various tests for quite some time (or at least something very close to what people have been seeing).
What do you think of Google’s new design changes? Let us know in the comments.
Google has now taken to its Inside Search blog to make an official announcement. Here’s the look you can expect to see soon instead of the black bar that appears across Google properties:
Here’s the old version in case you’ve already forgotten:
“Your Google products are now accessible under a new app launcher, located at the top right of the screen,” says Tech Lead/Manager Eddie Kessler. “Just click on the familiar ‘Apps’ grid, also present on Android devices and Chromebooks.”
“As part of this design, we’ve also refined the color palette and letter shapes of the Google logo. We’ll be rolling out this update across most Google products over the next few weeks, so keep an eye out and let us know your thoughts.”
The logo has also caught some eyes in the wild recently. Here’s a better look at that, if you haven’t seen it yet:
Again, here’s the old version in case you’ve forgotten:
So what do people think? Here’s what they’re currently saying on Twitter:
And now each of the big three search engines have made changes to their logos. Here’s Yahoo’s, and Bing’s.
I think it’s safe to say that Google’s change is the least drastic. It’s a little flatter.
It’s pretty similar to what they did with the Chrome logo a few years ago.
Image via BetaNews
This actually fits in pretty well with Google’s whole strategy of unifying its various products as one central Google product. Google has been gradually going in this direction over the years, and last year’s major privacy policy consolidation enabled it to treat its properties as such.
This concept is taken further with the new navigation design, which is more in line with Google’s mobile devices. Things are starting to feel more and more like you’re simply using Google, regardless of which product you happen to be using.
Do you like the direction Google is going in? Which of the three search engines has the best new logo? Let us know in the comments.
New Google Logo Image via TechCrunch Google Bar Shots: Google
