Is Google testing a new layout? It’s a simple question with a complicated answer. The truth is Google is constantly testing new updates around the world, though; cosmetic changes are just a bit easier to spot. One person’s experience with Google can be profoundly different from another’s: one person working out of an office might see the new Google UI will another person in the same office doesn’t. In case you’re wondering, here at Axesoft only one computer seems to be able to view the new user interface. The new user interface was first spotted around June 18th, but it looks like Google has started to deploy it here in the United States.
The new look seems to be a little more streamlined. The logo is a bit smaller and Google has eliminated both the standard search button and their trademark “I’m feeling lucky” button; in their place is just one simple blue search button. From our research, the new search button seems to be a combination of a white magnifying glass icon – included in a new, Google image sprite file — overlaid on a blue rectangular CSS background (#4D90F). Although, other sources claim that the new search button is included the sprite (nav_logo77) altogether, the current image sprite (nav_logo78) seems to lack the button as a whole. Google is known for their search speed and regularly adds or removes feature which they believe will help users search faster. Since the Instant Search was deployed, the removal of the standard search buttons isn’t that surprising – they are really necessary anymore. In fact, it’s nearly impossible to click on the old search buttons under the text entry field with Instant Search enabled.
The results page has gotten an overhaul as well. The multicolored icons in the left side navigation section have been replaced by simple black and white illustrations. Selections are now highlighted in red instead of the old method that used bolding and a blue bar. The light blue dividing lines have also disappeared and the search box is now enclosed in a light gray background. 
This isn’t the first time Google has changed their new user interface; in fact, Google has about as many different looks and features globally as McDonald’s has menu items. As Google puts it, “Every time you search you are involved in more than one lab.” For instance, Google’s voice search feature, which was deployed in the United States June 14th, is not yet available for searches from the United Kingdom or Australia. And in 2010, Google introduced an integrated virtual keyboard in their search bar for countries which utilized non-Latin scripts with the intention that it would help users search in their native language.
Many of Google’s improvement boil down to reducing the time it takes for users to perform searches as much of Google’s revenue comes from search advertisements like sponsored searches. The most recent simplified user interface changes are most likely an attempt to reduce data consumption and page load times for Google; the new monochromatic PNG file is 29KB vs. the old one which was 33KB. The good thing is that what benefits Google sometimes benefits the user – this is one of those time.
Via Google Blog