Google is continually updating its search experience via the algorithms and the way results are displayed. But when it comes to the search box itself, it has largely left it alone. Sure, it has added drop downs for suggested results, but the box itself has stayed a thin input field. But now it looks like Google may be thinking about a change.
Today, while using the Safari browser, we noticed that the search box has been made bigger, and the buttons made square. We’re not the only ones who have noticed the change. It may seem like a trivial update, but remember, this is Google, millions of people use it every day to do searches, and a UI change, however small, is not trivial.
Notice how big the input box now is compared to the Google logo (below).
Also remember that Google goes over data for every little change it does to determine if the change is worth it. It would seem that this is what it’s doing now, as plenty of others are not seeing the change yet.
Anyone else noticing this change in any browser besides Safari?
Update: Additional reports say they are seeing it in some versions of Firefox too.
Update 2: No less than Google’s Vice President of Search Product and User Experience, Marissa Mayer, has just posted on the matter.
Says Mayer:
Search, that is. For us, search has always been our focus. And, starting today, you’ll notice on our homepage and on our search results pages, our search box is growing in size. Although this is a very simple idea and an even simpler change, we’re excited about it — because it symbolizes our focus on search and because it makes our clean, minimalist homepage even easier and more fun to use.
