How to Test the New Google Interface

We all use google every once in a while right?  Everytime you see that same interface that you’ve known and loved for most of your life you feel comfortable.  Google is a site that does in fact change very often.  Thing is, these are mostly under the hood changes that the average user won’t notice, and the occasional holiday themed logo.

For the past few months Google has been secretly testing a new user interface.  It’s all very hush hush, since I didn’t really find out about it until a few days ago.  You’re probably wondering how you can be one of those cool folk who get to have the new Google UI before everyone else.  Or maybe you just really don’t care.

Google Home Page

Now simply enter the following code into your ADDRESS BAR ( the one in your browser window, not google ).

javascript:void(document.cookie="PREF=ID=20b6e4c2f44943bb:U=4bf292d46faad806:TM=1249677602:LM=1257919388:S=odm0Ys-53ZueXfZG;path=/; domain=.google.com");

Once you do that press enter and reload the google homepage. It should be all shiny and newish.
Enter a search and you’ll see the new ever-present sidebar as well as a few other changes.

Google Search Page

I personally, know this won’t be well received by the public. There were street protests when Facebook last redesigned. It’s really hard for big sites like Google to redesign, because the people that use their site rarely take any type of change well. I personally like it a lot and really don’t have any complaints.

As a side note, if you for some reason don’t like the new look, you can delete the preferences cookie in your browser. Every browser is different, so if you need any help, just comment.