A new search results interface is in the works at Google. Originally the domain of rumor sites, it’s now possible for almost anyone to get a glimpse of the new look. The existence of a simple trick that enables the interface for nearly any browser makes it all possible.

The steps are as follows. First, navigate to google.com (or whatever Google search server you use, e.g., google.co.uk). Second, paste this string into your address bar, and hit enter (and ignore whatever message it spits back at you):

javascript:alert(document.cookie=”PREF=ID=fb7740f107311e46:TM=1142683332:
LM=1142683332:S=fNSw6ljXTzvL3dWu;path=/;domain=.google.com”)

Note: The string must be a continuous, single-line entry. Additionally, the portion “domain=.google.com” should be modified to whatever Google search server you are using (e.g., google.co.uk; we have verified that this works with the UK and US servers… it may work with others). The image of our homepage is not part of the new Google interface. that is a Firefox plugin called Better Search.

Third, search away. You should now see the interface.

I tried it and didn’t like it. I like the results spread across my entire browser window. The new method squeezes the results between the other search categories and the PPC ads on the right, plus there’s now a ton of wasted white space below the categories.

More: http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060326-6460.html

If you don’t like the new interface, place the following code (all one line) in your address bar and hit enter or delete your cookies. The next visit to Google will return to the old interface:

javascript:alert(document.cookie=”PREF=ID=0TM=0:LM=0:S=0;path=/;domain=.google.com”)