New Google Favicon
Ok so I think that I spotted about two weeks ago that Google had updated the Favicon on the domain.
I found this blog entry on the Official Google Blog. The post was by Marissa Mayer, VP Search Products and User Experience, and Micheal Lopez, Web Designer.
Screenshot 1: Google Favicon Family, Credit Official Google Blog
I was surprised to read the favicon had been in its previous form for 8 and a half years. That is practically an eternity on the inter webs.
The decision had been made because of the changing nature of internet browsers and changes to mobile device interfaces; noteably the iPhone.
The fall set of graphics include the brand logo, favicon, browser favicon, mobile favicon and iPhone favicon.
The most interesting comment is found in the last entry of the blog. "By no means is the one you're seeing our favicon final; it was a first step to a more unified set of icons". Is the a greater move a foot with the changes to the branding and the products offered by Google?
My answer, I am not sure but I feel that the next few quarters and two years are going to be the most interesting with further development of convience applications such as maps, docs, health and gmail.
The final goal must be to develop and brand this application for mobile platforms such as Android and iPhone. The future of these application will involve the Google Gears API to run these applications such as Google Docs when you are in flight mode on your mobile handset or internet tablet like the Nokia N810.
The development of a standard set of icons and favicons for Google and their apps/services will be key to the future development of product brandings.
This work is licenced under a Creative Commons Licence
I am a graduate of Lougborough University where I read Computing and Management BSc (Hons) earning a 2:1 classification.