A new search results interface is in the works at Google. Originally the domain of rumor sites, it's now possible for almost anyone to get a glimpse of the new look. The existence of a simple trick that enables the interface for nearly any browser makes it all possible.
The steps are as follows
First, navigate to google.com (or whatever Google search server you use, e.g., google.co.uk).
Second, paste this string into your address bar, and hit enter (and ignore whatever message it spits back at you):
Note: the sting must be a continuous, single-line entry. Additionally, the portion "domain=.google.com" should be modified to whatever Google search server you are using (e.g., google.co.uk; we have verified that this works with the UK and US servers... it may work with others).
Third, search away. You should now see the interface.
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The new interface falls somewhere between the GMail interface and the old Google search, with a strong emphasis on non-fixed width element placements. The new navigation also shows page-rank style rankings for search results among the various search portals like Froogle and Google Local. As far as we could tell, only the main Google Search results page changes after entering the hack.
Ars Technica did not provide a way to remove the interface, but if you place the following code (all one line) in your address bar and hit enter, the next visit to Google will return to the old interface:
The steps are as follows
First, navigate to google.com (or whatever Google search server you use, e.g., google.co.uk).
Second, paste this string into your address bar, and hit enter (and ignore whatever message it spits back at you):
Code:
[B]javascript:alert(document.cookie="PREF=ID=fb7740f107311e46:TM=1142683332:LM=1142683332:S=fNSw6ljXTzvL3dWu;path=/;domain=.google.com")[/B]
Third, search away. You should now see the interface.
_____________________________
The new interface falls somewhere between the GMail interface and the old Google search, with a strong emphasis on non-fixed width element placements. The new navigation also shows page-rank style rankings for search results among the various search portals like Froogle and Google Local. As far as we could tell, only the main Google Search results page changes after entering the hack.
Ars Technica did not provide a way to remove the interface, but if you place the following code (all one line) in your address bar and hit enter, the next visit to Google will return to the old interface:
Code:
javascript:alert(document.cookie="PREF=ID=0TM=0:LM=0:S=0;path=/;domain=.google.com")