google Google.com: The return of the black bar?

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

Once more the Google UI has changed for me: Instead of the start menu introduced by the end of last year the black bar is back, albeit with a slightly different design as before. Tested while logged in and logged out in Safari, Firefox, IE 9 and Chrome 18. Screenshot:

Does anybody else see this change?

[etempest]

I do, I prefer the black bar vs the upper left drop down menu they were trying out.

(Chrome - Current, Windows 7)

[mps69]

Yeah noticed this yesterday, they have changed the order of the items too. Gmail used to be second, now for me at least while in Greader it's the seventh item.

I do have to say it not too bad, I've seen worse.

There is a difference between mine and yours. Yours shows Mail, mind shows GMail.

[still1]

Edit: nevermind...

[LittleNeutrino Veteran]

as i am an avid user of iGoogle, the black bar had never disappeared for me.

[threetonesun]

Mine seems to change every week. It's getting quite annoying.

[Glassed Silver]

Same here. Black bar! (Y)

Can't stand that start menu thingy... It just adds clicks to things you commonly click.

I switch between images, product search, web and sometimes others WAY to often to find hiding these remotely useful to me.

Glassed Silver:mac

[c3ntury]

as i am an avid user of iGoogle, the black bar had never disappeared for me.

Really? I never liked the widget-esque interface myself.

[djdanster]

I'm still with the black bar at the top. I maybe saw the new design for a day or two in mid January.

[Hum]

It's a conspiracy

[Glassed Silver]

It's a conspiracy

Oh Hum! :p (Y)

Glassed Silver:mac

[+Majesticmerc MVC]

Yep the black bar is back for me too! I do much prefer it to the drop down thing. I hope they've come to their senses!

[ViperAFK]

the black bar is way better. current one just wastes screen space for no reason and is awkward to use.

[Jason S. Global Moderator]

i never lost the black bar on my desktop at home, but did lose it on my work laptop. however, it's back today (or at least i just noticed it)

[null.]

Same here. Never had the new drop down menu on .com domains, but had it on .co.uk ones - though now Google Reader still seems to have some of the new drop down menu and the black bar. (on reader.google.co.uk)

All a bit strange!

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

FWIW, for me it's back on Gmail, Google+ and Google Reader as well.

The plot thickens...

[LittleNeutrino Veteran]

Really? I never liked the widget-esque interface myself.

I pretty much use it as a bunch of RSS readers. :p

[BoneyardBrew Member]

I'm getting this too and to be honest it looks horrible.

[c3i89g]

I've only ever seen the old black bar and still have the old black bar now.

[SoCalRox]

I wish the black bar had the menu items on the encrypted page. They only show on the standard page.

[techbeck]

I dont use the black bar or really pay attention to it.

[Calum Veteran]

I much prefer the other design they released recently, without the back bar. It was beautiful! I hope they keep it, rather than change it to this :/

[+Majesticmerc MVC]

I much prefer the other design they released recently, without the back bar. It was beautiful! I hope they keep it, rather than change it to this :/

I agree that the black bar is a fugly (but Google design generally is), but usability-wise, the bar is infinitely better IMO.

[Glassed Silver]

I agree that the black bar is a fugly (but Google design generally is), but usability-wise, the bar is infinitely better IMO.

I wouldn't say that Google design generally is fugly, it often is, but not always!

Glassed Silver:mac

[Pink Floyd Veteran]

It's a conspiracy

oh noe :no: