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Google launched the redesign of its popular iGoogle portal last week and the complaints began almost immediately.  Users are upset with the new look and furious that the redesigned interface was sprung on them with no prior announcement. 

The interface allows users to collect web “gadgets” such as map and weather apps, organize RSS feeds and aggregate info such as news, sports and GMail.  The revamped interface includes a new “canvas” view that allows gadgets to be displayed full screen and new navigation bar. 

The bar seems to have users especially incensed, most of them considering it a waste of valuable screen space.  Another problem is the GMail app which was broken by the new interface.  Google says they are aware of it and are working on a resolution; however they have no plans to allow users to go back to the old interface if they want to.

“We want to build a homepage that is as useful for all users as possible, but that doesn’t necessarily mean creating the most flexible homepage, or the largest number of options or features. We have to carefully assess the needs of our users and build a product that works best for all of them,” said a Google spokeswoman.

Google isn’t the first website to come under fire for a redesign.  Millions of Facebook users are still up in arms over that sites new look, which they find clunky and hard to navigate.  Like Google, Facebook has no plans to switch back to the old interface. 

I am an iGoogle user and I have to say I’m not too crazy about the new look myself.  The new navigation bar on the left side makes the rest of the home page look cramped and some of my widgets have been reduced in size to compensate.  My clock gadget has a new and ugly look, and the whole page just doesn’t look as good as it did before.  However like Facebook, which I also use, I won’t have any choice but to get used to it.  If you’re an unhappy iGoogle user, post your opinion on Google’s message board—so far there are already hundreds of complaints there!

Read[ComputerWorld]