...as it is rolled out to most of the US (I dont see it as of 7:40 am EST but maybe I dont rate). TechCrunch has previews of the new look and reports on some of the changes that are taking place.

The main difference from the current Yahoo home page is that users can now customize the page with widgets/apps from third parties. Some apps have been pre-created by Yahoo and others. And others can be added as well, Yahoo will make the app based on the URL you supply (they dont say it needs RSS, although Im not sure how they create it on the fly without it).

As a daily Yahoo visitor and user (I have had my Yahoo e-mail address for as long as I can remember) I am underwhelmed with the changes. Of course, that is just from a look at the design. I havent had the chance to see if the new way that I can customize the page to my liking is going to make life easier. Being a creature of habit, as many of us are, I can already see that just simply having to go to the left navigation to get to my e-mail is a change that will annoy me for a day or so but Ill get over it. Whats the point of a redesign if there isnt change though, right?

The key change, besides personalized content, is the removal of the tons of links to scores of Yahoo services. Most people only use a handful of those services, says Yahoo, so its better to let users decide which ones are present and take up screen real estate.

So for right now this is more of a wait and see rather than a look at what they have done! I am more interested in how Yahoo plans to tie its many offerings into one cohesive suite and I will eventually get real value from the those connections. Well just have to wait for the fall for that one.

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