Tech Brief: Google Search Desktop UI Updated With Material Design 2.0

It's no surprise that Google has been busy at work refreshing its digital properties to the new Material Design 2.0 theme, betting big on white backgrounds (with an aim to flip dark mode on easily?) and rounded corners. To that extent, we have already seen Phone, Messages, Contacts, Calendar and Calculator apps for Android, Chrome OS, Wear OS, Google Chrome, Chrome Web Store, Hangouts Chat (G Suite's answer to Slack), Play Books, Google Account, Google Activity, Google Fit, Google Photos, Google Maps, Google News, Google Tasks, Google Pay, Google Help, Google Developers, Google Drive, Google Save, and Gmail receive the updated treatment over the last several weeks. And now it's the turn of its flagship product: Search. While the tweaks are minimal, the omnibox itself is persistent, rounded at both ends, and the background of the top section has also been changed from grey to white. Have a look below -

The march towards Material Design 2.0 domination continues, as Google has been updating the rest of the apps and services to the new design theme. Here's a handy timeline —

2018

• OCT. 05: Google Drive (web)
• OCT. 09: Google+ for G Suite, Clock (Android)
• OCT. 17: Google Keep (web)
• NOV. 08: Files (previously Files Go)
• NOV. 15: Google Photos (web), Google My Business
• NOV. 29: Google Translate (web), Google Fi
• DEC. 01: Google Search (web)
• DEC. 17: Google Search (Android)
• DEC. 21: Google Account (web)

2019

• JAN. 10: Google Play Books
• JAN. 15: Google Docs (web)
• JAN. 29: Gmail (Android and iOS)
• JAN. 30: Google Voice (Android and iOS)
• MAR. 01: Google Shopping (web)
• MAR. 05: Google Search (web)
• MAR. 18: Google Drive (Android and iOS)
• MAR. 21: Google Maps (web)
• APR. 12: Google Play (Android)
• APR. 19: Google Opinion Rewards (Android)
• MAY 26: Google Fonts (web)
• JUN. 05: Google Family Link (Android)
• JUN. 19: Google Docs (Android and iOS)
• JUL. 22: Google Shopping (web)
• AUG. 12: Google Sheets, Google Slides (Android and iOS)
• AUG. 21: Google Play Store (Android)
• OCT. 15: Google Blogger (Android)
• OCT. 18: Google Books (web)

2020

• FEB. 11: Google Pay (India only)
• MAR. 09: Google Groups (web)

(The story has been updated on Mar 9, 2020 to reflect the latest changes.)