Improved Yahoo

Heres the screenshot of the previous Yahoo homepage :

Here's the new Yahoo homepage:

The new homepage is less cluttered as there are lesser buttons and modules. Even the search option is somewhat more prominent. In the new design, search has been integrated into the rest of the page and is more visible.

In the previous homepage, left column of Yahoo properties was a static list but now it's a customizable menu that turns into an RSS reader or dashboard. Users also have the option to add or remove applications. Yahoo has also created a wide range of widgets for launch, but users can add any third party site with RSS feed capability. As a result, third party developers can add their own application to the gallery.

Tapan Bhat, Yahoo executive, states that Yahoo will recommend widgets to users based on their browsing and click-stream behavior. The process of adding or removing applications is simple and basically involves a single click.

For instance, if a user takes the mouse over My Favorites application, a new window will open, which will allow him to see the site as well as the content.

The right side of the window contains a new and contextually relevant ad unit that can be targeted to the content of the page. Yahoo gave the example of a movie opening targeting users looking up movie showtimes from a Yahoo movies application.

Yahoo has also started bucket testing a new look and feel for search results that informs users about what's happening on the homepage.

Here's an image showing Search Monkey widgets that effectively turns into search filters:

The new Yahoo homepage will be released first to U.S users, followed by the UK, India, France and other countries thereafter.

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