Seems like Google is testing a new placements for the google buttons. Moving them from the top over the searchbar to the right side over the advertisements. I bet that increased some CTR
Yea, these reports are all over the place. There are several variations being tested. Here are some of the types out there: http://www.seroundtable.com/archives/012842.html http://searchengineland.com/070323-084431.php http://blog.outer-court.com/archive/2007-03-23-n90.html http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2007/03/google-tests-new-design-for-homepage.html http://www.ppcblog.co.uk/google/google-testing-search-product-options/ http://searchengineland.com/070326-091224.php http://searchviews.com/archives/2007/03/google_continue_1.php Some are pretty cool and different, this version is the most radical.
Hmm...i'm a little sceptic about this one...why would they try their new layout online? don't they have enogh servers to try it offline ? check out this link you mentioned: http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2007/03/google-tests-new-design-for-homepage.html The drop box is not even alined with the menu...unless i'm getting Googly eyed i would say it's fake. This could be done with a simple photo editor...what do you think?
It's all real, there is no reason to fake something like this. The reason google is testing this online is to gather up information on user activity with each different layout.