Google's Experimental Redesign: You Can Activate it

Google recently (within the last couple of days) went wide with selective testing of their experimental new redesign — meaning only one in thousands of users would see the new interface at all. Some of those users have been good enough to rifle through their cookies afterwards.

Notice Anything?

It’s not a huge difference, but it’s noticeable to those who use Google regularly. The front landing page is now more obviously inviting and accessible for touch-screen devices. The results page is cleaner with formerly hidden options brought to light as standard fare, and sidebar prominence. Overall, they’ve upped the efficiency while keeping it classy, and that’s all anyone could ask when something as iconic as Google’s design gets tweaked.

You Can Activate It For Your Account

The Method is dead simple — you set a cookie. You have to do this for every browser in which you want the new design to take effect. After that, when using a browser that you’ve activated, your entire account will be opened for the redesign. Here’s how to do it:

• Go to Google.com
• Clear your browser’s address bar once there, then enter this code:

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

iPhone users: It doesn’t appear to work for mobile Safari, but if you’d like to try the code anyway, click here.

• Press Enter.
• Nothing should happen. You’re only setting a cookie; the change will not take effect until you reload Google again.
• (Reload Google)

Voila! Now, bear in mind that the redesign isn’t in effect for every page in Google’s lineup just yet, so don’t be surprised when you click on Images and see the regular old interface for now. It’s not only experimental, but much like Wave, it’s also incomplete. Also, should you run into difficulty, or in the odd chance the cookie goes bad and stops Google from loading correctly, simply clear out your cookies like you’re taking out the trash. No harm, no foul. That being said, happy Googling :)

Thanks to Matt Karolian and the guys at Gizmodo for getting this out to people.