The planned changes announced by Yahoo last week to its homepage have begun to take shape for a small number of users, according to reports.

At the heart of the changes will be a greater emphasis on opening Yahoo up to the rest of the web. One early change now being integrated is a feature that allows users to save bookmarks on the left hand column of the Yahoo homepage. According to Tapan Bhat, the SVP at Yahoo who is helming the overhaul, the links will serve as a kind of alternative method of web navigation.

"We are going to put what matters to you most at your fingertips," Bhat said.

An early screenshot of the redesign is available here.

The redesign comes amid massive changes at Yahoo, which has been struggling to reinvigorate its startup spirit after narrowly escaping a takeover bid from rival Microsoft.