Google is starting to roll out a new search page designed for touchscreen displays. The idea is to make it easier to interact with Google’s primary product: its search engine, while using a device with a reasonably large display and touch input.
The new page looks like a cross between the desktop browser interface and the mobile page you’d see when visiting Google.com on an iPhone or Android smartphone. At the top of the page you see a toolbar for Google services, and under that there’s a search bar — just like you’d see in a desktop browser.
But like the mobile version of Google, the new search page lacks any sidebars. Instead you can refine your search using new boxes between the search bar and the results. You can use these tools to switch between all search results, images, videos, places, or other categories.
The image results page has also been revamped with larger picture previews, faster image loading, and the ability to scroll continuously instead of loading a new page page of images.
The update supports the Apple iPad and Android 3.1, but Google is rolling the new interface out in batches, so you may not notice it right away.
