Bloomberg.com was redesigned recently. Someone on the online-news mailing list threw it out there today, asking for comment. I took a five minute look around, and was surprised to see such clean, colorful design. US markets were closed, of course, so maybe I’m not seeing the site at its busiest, but I expected more data density. I have never used a Bloomberg terminal, nor the Windows application which is replacing the terminals in some (many?) instances, but the Bloomberg service is famous for the richnes and complexity of its data, and applauded for the contortions through which you can twist said information. Is it all a ruse? I doubt it. Bloomberg has little interest in competing with themselves with their public website, and little incentive. The site is decidedly more consumer-friendly than the reputation.
But if you don’t stay true to the Bloomberg identity (dare I say, brand?), isn’t this a bit shortsighted? I’m kibitzing from the outside, but I manage a news website, so… we’ll see. It will take a couple of years to see whether I’m right or wrong here.