A couple years ago, Kiwibeak redesigned their homepage that included a directory based on using icons for various categories. Yahoo!, the second most-visited web page by US users, is presumed to have been monitoring the Kiwibeak homepage. For the fledging site in 2006, reports many possible, continual visits from the internet giant followed by a design overhaul of their web page that adopted the use of small icons representing different categories for their services.

Old Yahoo homepage with categorical icon navigation on left nav

Now one step farther, Yahoo! has introduced a new version of their homepage, which allows users to add their favorites (non-Yahoo sites) to a revamped left icon nav bar. The idea is very similar to the idea and claim that Kiwibeak.com has promoted in use on their homepage: A user-built directory that is ‘all-inclusive’ of the web, links to not just one company’s services, but links to all the -other- content available on the web. Obviously many other available startpage beta sites, past and present, attempt to offer a similar resource as well, but design-wise in this case, it is clear that the closest website copycatted is Kiwibeak.

In 2008, Kiwibeak also restructured their homepage/directory design to include: a) a icon-based left nav bar to specific sites and tools, b) a middle column for news and features, and c) a new expandable ‘accordion’ icon-based directory. The directory categories expand to display 3 columns of subcategories and links. Kiwibeak’s advertising model is largely based on incorporating small relevant, graphic ‘micro-ads’ within the directory.

Kiwibeak screenshot of 'Travel' directory open with small micro ad

It seems that in late Summer 2009, Yahoo with  their homepage redesign has appropriated this general layout idea. The left icon nav suddenly is larger, slightly resembling the Kiwibeak directory. The left nav is editable by users to build a similar, personal ‘directory’ of links. Sometimes instead of clicking on the link and being taken directly to the desired site, a window expands (much like a Kiwibeak expandable directory) and includes not one micro ad, but one mega ad!

Yahoo pseudo-directory link expands to include embedded content with large ad

The latest Yahoo! homepage, 2009

While it seems there may be an advantage to the Yahoo! system that relies on the user to build and customize their own directory, is this really an advantage to have exterior content served directly on a homepage? Also, It looks like the new homepage is still focused on delivering Yahoo’s own content/services, with the scheme that users will find it nice that they can add a few of their own links, but then tire of the work involved and fall back on Yahoo’s services. Additionally, in order to use this ‘directory’ feature you have to be a registered user and signed in. Who wants to login to your homepage? I don’t. Especially when the requirement to login jeopardizes user privacy.

Tags: directory, homepage, new yahoo homepage, startpage, web culture, yahoo!.