Forum members are noticing a bit of a change in terms of presentation for Google Local results. One member was a bit disgruntled by the results presented when he performed a local search and found 10 links -- without the necessary map:
I am no longer seening a map and now I get the "top ten local results" instead of the 3 links and the map.
That observation piqued another response from someone who watches TV:
I have seen some commercials for Ask and think that Google needs to do more
(Really, now, beyond watching the tube, you should also be using Ask.com. Their local results rock!)
I can't reproduce the 10-link result and still see the standard map plus three links, but my guess is that Google is testing this feature out and looking for feedback. There's your feedback, Google. I still say that Ask.com works pretty darn well on the local front, though.
Forum discussion continues at Search Engine Watch Forums.