So doing some searches this morning I noticed how Google has launched some new features and a new layout.

The most noticeable one is the filters on the top left of the results: you can click to filter results out and just show News, Videos, Images, Blogs, Maps, Books, Updates and Discussions.

I'm thinking this is going to have a big effect on website promotion. Old SEO strategies are flying out the window...

Any thoughts on the more personalised direction search is taking?

Yes they have new layout and better navigation now. I like it.

Cant believe there isnt a thread about this already. What the hell is Google thinking with this horrendous sidebar idea that serves no purpose and makes you feel like your searching in yahoo, I have seen hundreds of complaints with people asking how to remove it but it seems you cant remove it. I just hope Google listens to its users and removes it asap

I personally do not like it, they took it off a day or two ago i believe, but then they put it right back, so maybe they are just testing it out for a while.

I hate the layout that they are using, hopefully they will decide against using it and take it off.

Originally Posted by Knight13

I hate the layout that they are using, hopefully they will decide against using it and take it off.

Google has always suffered from absolutely appalling design: their pages are either really plain of overly cluttered: Gmail, for example, whilst I like the way it works, is so hard on the eyes...

I prefer the new look to how it was before, but it's still nasty...

how about the new features? thumbs up?

Seems to be most countries tried com co.uk and com.au pretty crappy aint it.

Originally Posted by edgray

Google has always suffered from absolutely appalling design: their pages are either really plain of overly cluttered: Gmail, for example, whilst I like the way it works, is so hard on the eyes...

I prefer the new look to how it was before, but it's still nasty...

how about the new features? thumbs up?

Nope. I'd say thumbs down. Looks appalling. Gets cluttered when you get SERPs with a lot of info+ a video or two.

I thought Google UI was all about simplicity.

merged the two threads!

The sidebar/filters have been there for a long time, but you used to have to click "More options" to see them.

I think it's one of the better aspects of any search engine because it allows users to finely tune their results, it's great for weeding out certain types of sites that you don't want. Plus as you can narrow results by time frame you can limit results to just new stuff.

I too would personally prefer the simple and basic Google style, with fewer options and graphics but as mentioned, since the sidebar is loaded with options and settings, so some webmasters might like to use them.

Yes, they have got idea from Bing i think. But i think its better. specially left side menus can help me a lot for faster searching and customizing results.