July 21, 2011

Updated Interface for Google News

Google News is the latest Google service that gets a new design consistent with Google+. There's a new color scheme, more white space, a new header and two buttons that replace the customization links.

It's strange to see the label-less blue search button next to the "search the Web" button. Gmail's new interface uses two buttons that are easier to differentiate, instead of confusing users. There's a lot of wasted space at the top of the page and the two new buttons are too prominent, especially if you consider that you'll not use them very often.


In a recent Google+ post, Larry Page said that Google has launched a "beautiful, consistent and simpler design". He continued: "Google+ is also a great example of another focus of mine - beautiful products that are simple and intuitive to use and was actually was one of the first products to contain our new visual redesign." A New York Times blog post quotes Patrick Pichette, Google's CFO, who concludes that "there was just too much clutter. Larry in the last 90 days basically said, 'Hey, it's just time to re-shift. Don't lose any insights into the deep engineering that we drive, but let's make sure we don't lose focus on the ease of use."

{ Thanks, Anthony. }

18 comments:

  1. It's too white. I'm seeing it now on my Google News and it's too white.

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  2. Is this on the US version only? I'm not seeing it here in Canada yet, but we didn't get the last re-haul either as it was US only.

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  3. Beauty is, as always, in the eye of the beholder. Google's new "designs" are, IMO, ugly, uninviting, unfriendly, and don't use space very efficiently. Yeah, who needs all that useful stuff cluttering up the page. Every day, with every "update", I grow more and more tired of using Google stuff.

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  4. I've been hearing about the new interface for News for a week, but it keeps giving me a crash page whenever i try to browse it while logged in. Any idea where to report it? The support pages I've found so far tend to cater for publishers only, not for users.

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  5. well the new interface only on the US edition.
    and for me the new interface is fine but the buttons are too large i think.
    be it the new light weight buttons in gmail
    takes a lot of space too

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  6. I use Google+ its great. I agree, its simple design and easy to use. Thanks!

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  7. here in India also it is not default design.. when i am selecting US edn it shows the above feature..!!!

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  8. It's an improvement but it could be much better. It seems too plain. They basicaly use only solid white and very light-gray backgrounds with black text (ok and blue links + 2 red texts). It looks like they didn't have spending much time designing this.

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  9. It is plain and simple but that's why I like it. Easy to use. These pages should not be overcomplicated, the main focus should stay on the content. Good job.

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  10. I really dislike it..PLEASE be more artistic...give us a choice

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  11. Any ideas when is the new layout rolling out for Google accounts in India?

    Manish :)

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  12. Google Reader has still the old design ...

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  13. I use Google +, I like it but I wonder if people will actually migrate over from facebook, or is that enough for them?

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  14. Yes, where are the lines that separated the stories? Without the lines, the stories are harder to read and differentiate; they all run into each other. Why design a page to make it more difficult to use ???

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  15. They just updated the format here in Canada and I have to say, I really like it. Clean, easy to use and easy on the eyes.

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  16. Google can concentrate on back-end servers only, should outsource their UI designing work to Apple.

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  17. The guy who is doing a lot of these new designs used to work for Apple, so there, wish granted.

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