EDIT: It appears that this was a slow rollout, it appears you can no longer click the logo to get back to the google homepage in ANY browser.

EDIT 2: Why did this instantly fall off the front page? This has happened with 5 out of the last 5 things I have posted that made it to the front page. I think my account account is flagged as spam or something.

Seems to work in opera and elinks. So they want to be different from the rest of the internet... but only for some browsers?

This is still on the front page for me...

Seems you are right, its back now. Go figure.

Noticed this in Gmail, and then suddenly realized how often I used the logo to refresh or go back to my inbox after digging down in a sublabel.

Have been mildly annoyed needing to target the much smaller "Inbox" link in the left now.

Wow, I have to admit I hate this. I've also admitted to myself recently that Twitter's interface drives me nuts after the rehaul a while back. What would help? If these guys would release a thorough write-up and details about the user testing and philosophy for such huge changes. We geeks might be swayed in the face of reason.

This is also true in Google+ and Google Reader. It really throws off my flow. Whenever I try to go back to the main page, I click the logo a few times before I realize it doesn't work anymore...

A few weeks ago, in G+, the logo would give a menu of services, which was also not useful for me.

Maybe they changed this so we get used to using the top navigation bar. Clicking on Gmail on the G+ bar refreshes mail, or sends you to inbox.

Also, in Gmail, one solution to going back is to use the left arrow button to go to inbox.

My hypothesis: Google want to consolidate all their navigation to the top black 'google bar' (or whatever they're calling it). They want to train users to go there to access Search and in turn everything else Googley.

edit: A reddit commenter points out that 'Videos' is now 'YouTube'. I think it's clear this move is a subtle consolidation of services.

Interesting, is this intentional? I know since they switched over to the new interface (with the various search options along the top of the window) they've been trying to get people to embrace the new layout. Maybe they're trying to force users to press "Search" instead of "Google"?

They also broke the Gmail logo. KILLING me.

Consider turning on keyboard shortcuts in Gmail. (The default for Go to Inbox is <g> then <i>.) Once you know them, you'll rarely need to click anything.

Can any CSS wizards see if this might have been breakage?

Seriously? It's Google. Their frickin' home page.

I would hope Google employees use enough of Google that no such breakage would ever make it anywhere near user's eyes.

Also, nonlinking is unlikely to be caused by CSS problems.

Actually, it's not draggable either, so it's now (at least) a CSS background image, on a <span>. I'm not sure if it was an <img> inside <a> up until today or not, but in that case, I suppose you could say that CSS was involved.

Reason might be their announced redesign of the new bar. A drop-down menu nested under the Google logo. http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/next-stage-in-our-red...

I cannot click the logo neither on Chrome nor Firefox. Have you tried with empty cache on all browsers?

By the way, have they forgotten to change the topbar on video search? http://www.google.com/videohp?hl=en

They're breaking all kinds of internet laws with that.

Interesting. Does this have to do with pushing SPYW/G+, since it encourages retyping queries next to the "personal" results?

It will go back to being clickable when Google has a graphic/special logo.

Hopefully Larry will put back the aliens... :)

What's the matter with these people?

Oi. you old people. Click the "search" button. :P