Google Navigation Menu Bar Going Sticky On Search Result Pages?

One of the most interesting things about Google’s recent redesign is their black navigation menu bar, which appears on top of all Google services. Google wants to create a more unified user experience so they are rolling out design and feature updates on most of their products including Gmail, Google plus, Google Maps and so on.

Personally, I am not a big fan of this new navigation menu bar because I don’t like the color and it feels a little distracting. If you are like me and want to remove Google’s black navigation menu bar, here is a userscript which will help.

After this new redesign was launched, a lot of Google Plus users have complained about one feature – make the Google navigation menu bar static and fix it on top of the browser window. Here is why.

When you search something on Google.com and start scrolling through the results, there is a chance that you might want to modify your search and type in a new query. There used to be a second search box at the bottom of every Google search page but they removed it due to unknown reasons

Moreover, there is no easy way to use other Google services when you are at the lower half of the page. You have to scroll down to the top of the page in order to click any link on the navigation menu bar or to type in a new search query.

Upcoming Changes In Google’s Navigation Menu Bar: Fixed Position On Top

One user recently saw an experimental change in the way Google search results were displayed. Here is a quick video screencast which shows how Google is experimenting with a fixed position of navigation menu bar, sidebar column and the search box

From the above video, it’s clear that Google will eventually make the navigation menu bar sticky, along with the search box and other static links on Google search result pages. The sticky Google search bar makes perfect sense because users want results as fast as possible and they may also want to click the links on the navigation bar while they are at the bottom section of a Google search result page.

Results will continue to appear in the lower section and it appears that infinite scrolling on Google search pages is a work in progress. Also note that there is a slight change in the way instant previews for sites are displayed. There is a new dedicated pane for instant previews on the right, when you click the magnifying glass icon that appears on mouse hovering the title or meta description of a result.

This new change is still under development and has not been rolled out globally for all users. I have this feeling that this sticky bar on Google search will also be implemented on Google plus, Gmail and Google reader in coming days, so that users get a universal Google experience across all Google services.

Do you like the new fixed navigation menu bar on Google search? Share your ideas in the comments section.