Yahoo finally rolled out its homepage makeover that's been so long in the works, and it's receiving almost universally positive responses. It is, Tapan Bhat, Yahoo's SVP of Integrated Consumer Experiences, said on All Things D, "the most fundamental change to the homepage ever."

The primary goal, it seems, is increased customizability. Sixty-five applications in the "My Favorites" area allow users to float pertinent information, and not just from Yahoo. Scrolling over the mail link, for example, allows users to not only view their Yahoo mail inbox, but Gmail and AOL mail, as well. Facebook and MySpace activity are options, as are eBay searches and customized sports and news updates. All without actually clicking anything; simple rollovers surface each user's customized content.

Click the "Add" button and content from a staggering number of providers, from Barron's to Epicurious to the New York Times, can be integrated with ease.

It's a clear improvement. Because all this content is so well managed, the site actually becomes cleaner and simpler. With hundreds of millions of unique users each month, Yahoo's homepage is no small target, and this is certain to drive traffic further. It's a clear example of a major media company giving up the ghost as far as efforts to drive every piece of content it delivers, and instead cede control to users, in new and innovative ways.

"Yahoo's future is at stake here," wrote Anthony Massucci in DailyFinance. "It needs to do something to spark interest in its brand . . .Yahoo!'s reputation, and future, hangs in the balance."

"It marks the beginning of a renaissance of Yahoo," said Bhat on All Things D, "a renaissance where every pixel matters."

For a look at how every pixel mattered (or didn't matter) over the years, head over to Kara Swisher's look back at Yahoo homepages of the past.