New Changes to Google Menu Bar Highlight Google+

Google has announced on its official blog, and released its revamped Google bar in a move many see as a way to highlight it's Google+ social networking site. Where before there was a simple, innocuous black bar on the upper left hand part of the screen when users loaded the standard Google search screen, now there is simply the word Google with a block-type down arrow. When a user moves their cursor over the arrow, the new bar pops up on the screen.

The new bar marks a bold step for Google, known for its simple web site design. The new bar takes up quite a lot of the screen and if a user hovers over the "more" open at the bottom of the bar, it expands to the extent that it actually covers part of the search box, something that has never been done before.

Google says that the move is intended as a means of making navigating and sharing easier for users, but in looking a the new bar, it's obvious that the bar was designed to highlight Google+, which some have noted, is not catching on as Google had hoped.

On the other hand, others might argue that the whole Google screen looks a lot cleaner than it has of late when the bar is not extended.

In addition to the new bar, Google has quietly added a microphone feature to the search bar, which allows users to speak the words they wish to search for out loud, rather than have to type them in; something likely to be more popular with Smartphone users, than those sitting at a computer.

Also as part of the new design, Google has added a share button to the top right of the screen. Clicking on it allows users to share photos, videos, links, and location information with other users on Google+. And right next to the share button is a notifications button which shows by number count, how many things other Google+ users have shared with you. Clicking on it brings up a list of the things that have been shared.

The new bar retains the classic look that the menu items have evolved to over the past six months or so, which means it's all on a plain black background with white lettering, next to the current icons for Google's current list of applications. The most common appear on the default menu, while the lesser ones show under the "more" option.

Google says the changes all a part of its constant mission to provide the best experience possible for visitors to its site.