We know Google is having a big search event tomorrow and we suspect that is why Google is showing the Google Balls logo today. Google told me "today's doodle is not related to a birthday but is fast, fun and interactive, just the way we think search should be."
So what will Google be announcing tomorrow? Well, based on that comment and what I have been seeing some people report, let me venture some guesses.
(1) AJAX powered search results. Yes, I believe Google will go forward with the AJAX powered search results tomorrow. Yesterday, I and others began noticing 30 results per page, but when I look deeper, it is driven by the AJAX like results. I can search, the URL doesn't really change, it just adds on parameters, which makes me believe that it is done for analytics software. Why? This is something Google tested in February 2009 and stopped when complaints about referrer data not being sent using these AJAX results. Is it time for Google to go full force now with the AJAX results? It is "faster" for the user, which is a clue from the line above.
(2) 30 results per page is something I personally see myself and so do others. People are reporting it at WebmasterWorldand Google Web Search Help. It does make the results a bit more in your face, giving you more room to scroll. I am not sure if that makes things all that faster, but I guess it does. Is it more "fun," I don't know.
(3) Streaming Results As You Type. We know Google has been testing updating results as you type for the past few weeks. Many more are now seeing it, which is even more of a sign that this is coming soon. We have new reports of it at Google Blogoscoped Forums and WebmasterWorld. It does make the search results more "interactive" and a bit "faster." More useful, I am not sure.
Update: Now people are reporting Google is showing you search results as you type the search query on the Google home page. I have more details about that over here. This is amazing.
Bottom line, I really think tomorrow we will see Google's AJAX power search results be launched fully to the public. It will mean AJAX results, showing more results on a single page as opposed to just 10, and it will mean the results updating as you type a query. I am sure I am missing some changes, but we will find out tomorrow.
But as the Google Balls logo represents, it is about an HTML 5 revolution.
Later today, Google tweeted yet another hint:
Boisterous doodle today. Maybe it's excited about the week ahead...
A Googler
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