The New Google Mobile Site

I use Google Search on my iPhone all the time. In fact, I think it may be the only search I've ever used on my phone. But that might change because Google recently updated the UI of their mobile search and sadly, it wasn't all for the better.

You've probably noticed all the pretty new icons. Don't get me wrong, I think the icons on the bottom are great. I can see that being useful for lots of people. It's the icons on the top that's so very wrong.

What happens after someone searches for something? They scroll down the list of results. That's what happens. But if that person doesn't find what they're looking for in those results, do you know what they're going to do? That's right! They're going to try searching again. Only now when you scroll up to tap the input box and try again you miss! You miss because they've "cleverly" added a swipe down feature to reveal those new icons at the top. So instead of being able to enter your new search terms you just end up hitting one of those new icons, triggering a very useless search. No, I don't want Places results for photoshop lighting effect tutorials.

Please explain to me why their UI person/people thought that this was a good feature! If we've already got the words on the tab why do we need to swipe down feature to reveal icons!? How does that make sense? Usually when I see icon navigation there's maybe a hover effect to reveal the words that correspond to the icons but I've never seen it the other way around and certainly not for a mobile site. That swipe down feature is by far the most useless thing I've ever encountered on a mobile site ever.

I miss the days of a non annoying mobile Google Search. I miss the days of being able to actually tap the input box and hit it on the first try. I miss the days of not constantly accidentally searching Google Places or News for a new cookie recipe or help with Blender.

Fix this please.