Working in Google yesterday, I noticed that their interface had changed. A quick search online brought me to Google’s official announcement that they’re “refocusing” the map. I like the new, refined look with a lot more whitespace and the functionality. The most noticeable change for me is that my name, and various Google products, are in a new black bar. For those with Google+ beta accounts, their Google+ account information is highlighted. Mike Blumenthal believes that the new look is there to get users ready for the rollout of Google +.
Here are some screenshots that I took to show how the new interface looks when I’m logged in:
Google Home Page
Google Maps Page
Google Places Page
I just applied for my own Google+ beta account and I’m eager to try out Google’s next attempt at incorporating social media into it’s products.