Google updates Web address iconography

Update 10:30 p.m. PT: I corrected the description of the old favicon.

Google updated its 'favicon' with a softer, bluer look.

Overnight, Google got a new face on the Web--one measuring 16x16 pixels.

The search giant updated its favicon, the eensy little 256-pixel logo that appears in browser locations such as bookmarks, URL location bar, and window tabs. The old icon, a capital G in a multicolored box, has been supplanted by a cuddlier-looking blue lower-case g.

It's a minor change, to be sure. But coming from a company obsessed not only with design choices but also the effect those choices have, I can't help but draw attention to it. And given how often most Web users see that icon sprinkled across their browsers, it's probably smart to pay some attention to that aspect of branding.

Note that the new favicon doesn't appear on all Google sites yet. And in some areas, there are other favicons: Google Docs, for example, shows different icons for online spreadsheets, word-processing files, and presentations. Conveniently, those favicons are color-coded with the same green, blue, and red colors used by Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

[delf76]

Who cares? i bet Your editor came down and said "write something" and this is what you came up with. Slow news day?

[Gv Jim Blanchard]

@del,

Easy does it, man. If Coca-cola updated its cans, a beverage website would tell you about it. As it stands, you're on a technology site and when the biggest company in tech does something with its identity, it's worth knowing about. I certainly wondered, which is why I googled it and found this.

Anyways, good stuff Stephen Shankland.

[jimmy88008]

Speaking of Google icons, I wonder if there is any particular concern with regards to the Google Desktop icon and the Microsoft Windows icon? To me, it appears that the Google Desktop icon is very similar to the Windows icon with an added twirl effect. ... just an observation.

[mac_painter]

"The old icon, a capital G in a black box" - the old icon wasn't in a black box, you can see that in the screnshot.

[Shankland]

Thanks--you're quite right--we'll fix it.

[butler360]

I don't like it! It's transparent on my browser so it's much less identifiable against a black background.

[finsfan107]

I googled it too, which is how I got here. It's definitely worth a mention. The old one was better, IMO. I wonder if they will change the actual Gmail logo to give it a lowercase "g" to match? Guess we'll have to wait and see.

[id231]

I also googled news about new icon. Well, the old one was much better since it was much more recognizable, and the new icon looks like any other web icon.

[anshprat]

Quoting
" I wonder if they will change the actual Gmail logo to give it a lowercase "g" to match? "

Yes they did! As a matter of fact, gmail was the first service where I noticed the new favicon. Though it might not be true for all users at all locations as of now!

[mvpcarl]

You guys must be part of their "test group." I still have the big G for Google. I am running Firefox 3 as my main browser, tested it also in IE and Safari and they all still have the big G. My gmail also has just the red envelope.

[benjaminstraight]

Cool story.