Google's Blogger gets a makeover
07/08/2011 | 02:49 PM

Search giant Google is in the process of fleshing out a new design for its Blogger blog hosting service in anticipation for the latter's integration into the Google+ social network.
The revamp can be seen at draft.blogger.com, where a white-and-orange theme, similar to the streamlined "preview" theme in Gmail, greets visitors.
Larger buttons can be seen on the main interface, including a "Home" button with a drop-down menu that gives access to statistics and "earnings."
PC Magazine described the overall look and feel as "stunningly new", although it noted some changes like the rich text editor and new support for mobile versions of blogs have been available "Draft" users for some time.
The PC Magazine article noted that the Google Analytics tool, which measures site traffic, is built into the Blogger interface directly.
It added other changes include an "Earnings" tab that PC Magazine speculated may incorporate AdSense earnings — which bloggers earn for hosting advertisements through Google. Earlier this week, tech site Mashable reported Google may rename its Picasa (photo) and Blogger (blogging) services in time for the launch of its social network Google+. Mashable also said Google also intends to retire several other "non-Google" brands and rename them as Google products. Citing two sources familiar with the matter, Mashable said that Google intends to rename Picasa “Google Photos" and Blogger as “Google Blogs." Google acquired Picasa in 2004 and in 2003.
Mashable said the transition is likely to jibe with the launch of Google+, on or before July 31 - the day all private Google Profiles will be deleted.
It added the brand unification effort will be the largest in company history. — Source: TJD, GMA News