If you have used Google in the last few days, you might have noticed some changes in the search results page. Or maybe not.
Google did some tweaks to the design of the search page to give it a cleaner look and feel. However, the changes might not stand out if you are not looking for them.
This is just the latest effort at improving the Google experience.
The effort is focused on optimizing search pages for the growing legions of mobile searchers, but the changes are quite subtle so far.
The page appears to be cleaner and has bigger text. A search director at Google named Tamar Yehoshua noted this week that a number of changes have been made to the search page results across platforms.
“We’ve been working on ways to create a more consistent search experience across the wide variety of devices and screen sizes people use today,” he said. “We started with tablets last year, got it to mobile phones a few weeks ago, and are now rolling out to the desktop.”
With this new, updated design, Google is trying to create more breathing room on the page. Two years ago, Google put a sidebar on the left side of the results page. This offers users easier ways to get to news, images and other popular tools. That left column recently was replaced by a row of tabs with similar shortcuts, but right above search results.
Google, which also has made recent updates to its algorithm, is trying to make changes to the page that provide the same look and feel regardless of what platform you are using – PC, smart phone or tablet. Google also has said that it wants to emphasize the mobile user market, providing those users with a really clean screen. As much of the screen as possible needs to be used on mobile devices.
Facebook also is working on how to take maximum advantage of its booming population of mobile users. The main issue companies are having is how to get ads in front of mobile users, without annoying them with a cluttered screen and sluggish response times.