Google testing new layout?

categories on left side

[amznVibe]

This just showed up on my searches in Firefox, not in IE.
(the screenshots are from the GooglePreview extension but nothing else affects the layout)
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Did I miss some news somewhere about a new layout in testing or did I just get lucky?

[Moff]

This looks very similar to something that was tested Back in April [webmasterworld.com]

Looks like they've squeezed more ads in this time round though.

[MatthewHSE]

I've seen this off and on for months. Often it seems to show up for technical searches. The odd thing is that sometimes the new layout will be used, then if you do the exact same search in the same browser session only seconds later, no cookies cleared or anything, it will be back to the traditional layout. Go figure.

I think I could get used to it over time, and possibly get to like it. It would be best, though, if that left column was fixed so the links would be available even as the page scrolls.

[oldpro]

Suggestion for google's motto...

Instead of "do no evil"

change to...

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

[jakegotmail]

yuck.

[ddogg]

Yikes, now that's ugly..

[Eric_Lander]

this is not good news for us adwords advertisers

I disagree... My first impression was that it draws more attention to the ads. I can't be sure why I feel this way, but I'm leaning towards the lack of pastel backgrounds certainly helps.

I agree though with the consensus that the left hand column is simply wasted.

[abacuss]

Does this new layout suggest us something? Probably we are missing out some new aspects which google is trying to implement as a part of their new update.