New Google Search Experience for Tablets

Originally posted by Xiaorui Gan, Software Engineer


As part of our effort to evolve the Google design and experience, we’ve improved the www.google.com search experience on tablets. We’ve simplified the layout of search results pages and increased the size of page contents like text, buttons and other touch targets to make it faster and easier to browse and interact with search results in portrait or landscape view.

The search button located below the search box provides quick access to specific types of results like Images, Videos, Places, Shopping and more. Just tap to open the search menu and select an option to see results in one category.

For image results, we focused on improvements that enhance the viewing experience such as enlarged image previews, continuous scroll, and faster loading of image thumbnails.

This improved search experience is rolling out in the coming days to iPad and Android 3.1+ tablets across 36 languages. Give it a try by going to www.google.com in your tablet’s browser.


see also:
http://insidesearch.blogspot.com/2011/07/new-google-search-experience-for.html
http://googlemobile.blogspot.com/2011/07/new-google-search-experience-for.html

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Google+ vs Facebook vs Twitter vs LinkedIn [Infographic]

(click the image for larger view)

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Feedback for Gmails New Look

Originally posted by Mark Striebeck, Engineering Manager (from gmail blog)

A few weeks ago, we released a preview of Gmail's new look via two new themes. We asked you to try them out and send us your feedback. So far, less than 5% of Gmail usage is happening through these themes, but we're getting some good feedback on what's working and useful advice about what to improve from you early adopters. 

What you like

• The clean and minimalist look of the new design
• Seeing a consistent "look" across Google products

"The new Preview theme is wonderful! It's clean and crisp, easy to read and really focused on the one thing that matters most in Gmail — the mail! Thanks!"

What you want to change

• Too much whitespace and not enough information (though interestingly, many people reported that they appreciated to lower information density after a while)
• Not enough contrast
• Darker theme options

"Even with the 'dense' version, I still have listings of about 30% fewer messages. The lack of visual differentiation between content and UI chrome is also harder to process (e.g., where does the conversation list end and the toolbar begin)."

We're working on improvements for the final release, but it is very encouraging that a visual update like this was generally greeted with such a positive response. If you haven't tried out the new themes yet, give them a go and tell us what you think.

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What is Google+ [Awesome Video]

Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC_M6PzXS9g

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