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 Fagan Finder's Blog
Online information, search engines, and other net happenings. Updated frequently and organized by topic. Old entries are constantly updated so you can follow the whole story.

 
Search Engines Should be Honest
An article in Guardian Unlimited about the issue of search engines selling positions in their search results. The writer asks if perhaps search engines should be public utilities rather than private companies.
• How the search engines sold out [article: Guardian Unlimited, July 7 2002]
Topics: PPC Engines
Date: Saturday, July 06, 2002   |     |   permalink

 
1Do3 - New UK Directory
1Do3 is a new website, similar to a directory; they call themselves a "shortal." There are 16 categories, each of which has a list of actions, and a number of links for each action. Examples of actions include "bank online," "create a website," "get a job," "keep a pet," and "find out how things work." The design is slightly confusing, but the organization and links are very good, even if you aren't in the UK. Registering (free) allows you to keep your favourite links (if they are on 1Do3), customize the page, and other benefits.
• 'Shortals' herald search friendly search engines [article: PC Advisor, July 5 2002]
Topics: New Websites, Alternative Search Tools
Date: Friday, July 05, 2002   |     |   permalink

 
Overview of Lycos & AltaVista Improvements
Amazingly, an article about search engines which does not mention Google. It discusses the recent changes at Lycos and AltaVista, and their revenues.
• Search engines find new ways [article: Business Today, July 5 2002]
Topics: AltaVista, Lycos
Date: Friday, July 05, 2002   |     |   permalink

 
View Related Pages Graphically
TouchGraph has created Google Browser, a Java applet which displays related pages (using the Google API) in a web. See their website for other similar tools. Via Daypop Top 40.
• TouchGraph GoogleBrowser V1.00 [forum thread: Webmaster World, June 4 2002]
• TouchGraph GoogleBrowser V1.00 [tool: TouchGraph]
Topics: Google
Date: Thursday, July 04, 2002   |     |   permalink

 
Colleges to Build Online Archives
Several colleges are encouraging their professors to put their work online. Via VAS&ND.
• 'Superarchives' Could Hold All Scholarly Output [article: Chronicle of Higher Education, July 5 2002 issue]
Date: Thursday, July 04, 2002   |     |   permalink

 
All-Species Database Planned
A database is being planned, which is to list every living species. Via ResearchBuzz.
• All Species Names Being Collected [blog entry: ResearchBuzz, July 4 2002]
• New database collecting all species names [article: United Press International, July 2 2002]
Date: Thursday, July 04, 2002   |     |   permalink

 
People Use Search Engines
Yet another survey (this one by Pew Internet Project) has found that a lot of internet users use search engines. This one, however, found a few other things. Men use search engines more than women, and experienced internet users more than novices. Many have searched for their own name or someone else's, and the most common queries are for "health advice, government information and religious information."
• Net users seek first and surf later [article: BBC, July 5 2002]
• More users now rely on search engines [article: ElectricNews.net, July 4 2002]
• US Internet users seek info via search engines [article: Nua Internet, July 4 2002]
• Search Engines: A Pew Internet Project Data Memo [press release: Pew Internet, July 3 2002]
Date: Thursday, July 04, 2002   |     |   permalink

 
Notess Reviews FindArticles and MagPortal
A good article on Online by Greg Notess, about the two free, large, article-finders on the net. Via VAS&ND.
• Free Full Text: FindArticles and MagPortal [article: Online, July/August 2002 issue]
Topics: Alternative Search Tools
Date: Wednesday, July 03, 2002   |     |   permalink

 
Google Adds SafeSearch to Google Groups
Google has added an option to filter offensive content from search results on Google Groups (usenet). The option is available on the advanced search page. Google's SafeSearch has long been available on their web, image, and several other advanced search pages.
Topics: Google, Kids Internet
Date: Wednesday, July 03, 2002   |     |   permalink

 
ResearchBuzz Makes Fresh Pages Easier to Find
Tara Calishain has written two nice programs to make it easier to search for recently updated pages on Google and AltaVista, and to monitor for new results. Now to create a tool to do both at once...
• AltaFresh - Query Recent Additions to AltaVista! [tool: ResearchBuzz]
• GooFresh - Query Recent Additions to Google! [tool: ResearchBuzz]
Date: Wednesday, July 03, 2002   |     |   permalink

 
Slashdot's Interview with Craig Silverstein
As previously mentioned, Slashdot e-mailed Google's Director of Technology. He has now responded. Questions he answered include (paraphrased) "how does Google innovate?", "how does Google keep cool?", "is Google centralizing the internet?", and "what was the goal of the programming contest?". It is a good read, and is followed by comments. Via Google Weblog.
• Craig Silverstein answers your Google questions [interview: Slashdot, July 3 2002]
Topics: Google
Date: Wednesday, July 03, 2002   |     |   permalink

 
July Google Newsletter
The July issue of google-friends, Google's newsletter, is out. Mentions include Google's Doodles, their Search Appliance, their new office in France, interface languages, the Webby Awards, and that they are hiring.
Topics: Google
Date: Tuesday, July 02, 2002   |     |   permalink

 
Teoma Database Update
Search engine Teoma has updated their database, which means that it is larger and more up to date, both good things.
• Major Teoma Update [forum thread: Webmaster World, July 2 2002]
Topics: Ask Jeeves
Date: Tuesday, July 02, 2002   |     |   permalink

 
WiseNut Redesign
Search engine WiseNut has redesigned the look of its search results. Also, the top two results (clearly identified) are paid listings from owner LookSmart. Unfortunately, WiseNut's database is still very out-of-date. Via Webmaster World.
• Wisenut has new look SERP's [forum thread: Webmaster World, July 2 2002]
Topics: Alternative Search Tools, Website Design
Date: Tuesday, July 02, 2002   |     |   permalink

 
Yahoo! Internet Live Magazine Ends
August will be the last issue for Yahoo's magazine.
• Ziff Davis' Yahoo Internet Life to fold [article: C|Net, July 2 2002]
• A Death for Yahoo! Internet Life [article: Internet.com, July 2 2002]
• Yahoo! updates! [forum thread: NeoWin.net, July 2 2002]
• Yahoo! Internet Life Magazine Closes [article: Washington Post (AP), July 2 2002]
Topics: Yahoo
Date: Tuesday, July 02, 2002   |     |   permalink

 
Yahoo's Beta Design Moves to Home Page
Yahoo, which has been tesing a new home page design, now has the design on their home page. Thanks to VAS&ND for the last link.
• Yahoo Launches their New Home Page [blog entry: ResearchBuzz, July 3 2002]
• Yahoo's Beta is now the norm [forum thread: Webmaster World, July 2 2002]
• Yahoo relaunches with streamlined look [article: C|Net, July 2 2002]
• What's New about the new Yahoo! home page? [source]
Topics: Yahoo
Date: Tuesday, July 02, 2002   |     |   permalink

 
AT&T Now Using Google Search and Ads
Read the press release for details. Via Google Weblog.
• AT&T Selects Google to Provide Complete Search Solution [press release: Google, July 2 2002]
Topics: Google, PPC Engines
Date: Tuesday, July 02, 2002   |     |   permalink

 
More AltaVista Improvements
Note, many of these improvements were first mentioned a few weeks ago. In addition to Prisma, AltaVista has made several improvements. They have once again changed their boolean policy, and now it is always AND. AltaVista's now index contains 1.1 billion items, however this includes their multimedia indexes. According to SearchDay, they now crawl "'tens of thousands' of key non-commerce-based, editorial, educational, non-profit, governmental and military sites four times per day." Their news search, which added images to some results several months ago, is now adding about 800 images to their image search every day. For some time now, AltaVista has been rewriting part of your query with quotation marks if it was found in their phrase database (AllTheWeb now does this also). Now they are working on software to find phrases through web analysis to enhance their phrase database. Read the article on Pandia, for good editorial about AltaVista's rise/fall/rise?
• AltaVista Launches New Search Engine Features [article: ResearchBuzz, July 2 2002]
• AltaVista launches Prisma [article: Pandia, July 2 2002]
• AltaVista Introduces Prisma Results [newsletter: SearchDay, July 2 2002]
• AltaVista slaat verrassend teru [article: Voelspriet, July 3 2002, Netherlands]
Topics: AltaVista
Date: Tuesday, July 02, 2002   |     |   permalink

 
AltaVista Prisma Offers Term Suggestion
AltaVista has released a a term suggestion tool called AltaVista Prisma. When you perform a search, you are presented with a list of terms to add to your query or to replace your query with. The terms (a maximum of 12) are created from the top 50 pages which match your original query. Prisma only works in English now, but AltaVista plans on adding other languages in the next few months. AltaVista previously had a similar tool, and this time around it was written about first in SearchDay (see April link below).
• AltaVista unveils new search facility [article: Web User, July 3 2002]
• AltaVista Launches 'Prisma' [article: Internet.com, July 2 2002]
• AltaVista unveils new Internet search technology [article: iWon (Reuters), July 2 2002]
• AltaVista Prisma - New Suggestion Tool [forum thread: Webmaster World, July 2 2002]
• New From AltaVista: AltaVista Prisma [article: VAS&ND, July 2 2002]
• AltaVista Launches New Search Engine Features [article: ResearchBuzz, July 2 2002]
• AltaVista launches Prisma [article: Pandia, July 2 2002]
• AltaVista Introduces Prisma Results [newsletter: SearchDay, July 2 2002]
• AltaVista slaat verrassend teru [article: Voelspriet, July 3 2002, Netherlands]
• AltaVista Testing "Paraphrase" Tool [newsletter: SearchDay, April 16 2002]
• AltaVista Prisma FAQ [source]
• AltaVista Prisma Help [source]
Topics: AltaVista
Date: Monday, July 01, 2002   |     |   permalink

 
Google Gained 4 Million Viewers in May
Yet another measurement of Google's success. The data comes from Nielsen//NetRatings. The biggest rise in rank from April to May was by Symantec and Gator.
• Google's magic formula [article: Silicon.com, July 8 2002]
• Google keeps on growing [article: IT-Director.com, July 4 2002]
• Google gains four million extra visitors [article: Nua Internet Surveys, July 2 2002]
• Google Gains Four Million Unique Audience Members in May [article: Northern Light (Business Wire), July 1 2002]
• Nielsen NetRatings Report [article: Nielsen//NetRatings, July 2002, PDF]
Topics: Google
Date: Monday, July 01, 2002   |     |   permalink

 
Finding People with Google
An article in the Chicago Tribune reports that Google is trying to publicize their ability to find people's phone numbers and directions to their house. Google has had this feature for some time.
• Google helps find who you're searching for [article: Chicago Tribune, July 1 2002]
Topics: Google
Date: Monday, July 01, 2002   |     |   permalink

 
Openfind Now the Largest Search Engine
Taiwanese search engine Openfind formally launched (in beta) this week, with a database of 3.5 billion web pages, and with their sites set on Google. This compares with the second and third largest databases, Google and Fast, with about two billion pages. Database size is certainly not the only factor in search engine success, but it is important. Apparently, Openfind uses "Polyranks," which take seven factors into account when ranking pages. One interesting option on their advanced search (click on 'preference'), is the ability to sort results by relevance, date, or size. Competition is good, but don't expect Openfind to knock Google's monopoly any time soon.
• Openfind surpasses Google as world No. 1 [article: Taipei Journal, July 12 2002]
• Search Engine Openfind Enters Beta Test [article: ResearchBuzz, July 4 2002]
• Suchmaschine Openfind [article: @-Web, July 3 2002]
• Largest Search Engine in the world opens [forum thread: Webmaster World, July 1 2002]
• Openfind touts its efficiency [article: TaiwanNews.com, July 1 2002]
• Openfind.com launches as major search engine [article: TaiwanNews.com, July 1 2002]
• Openfind [source]
Topics: Worldwide, New Websites
Date: Monday, July 01, 2002   |     |   permalink

 
Google Catalogs Now has Over 4,000
Google Catalogs now has about 4,100 catalogs. Compare this to the approximately 300 catalogs that they had when Google Catalogs first went live. Via VAS&ND.
Topics: Google
Date: Monday, July 01, 2002   |     |   permalink

 
Ranking Higher in Google
I usually don't post news about SEO (search engine optimization), but this article on Business 2.0 provides an overview of Google's success and how their ranking works.
• Top of the Heap [article: Business 2.0, July 2002 issue]
Topics: Google, SEO & Spam
Date: Monday, July 01, 2002   |     |   permalink

 
Google Ads 3 Interface Languages
Faroese, Sudanese, and Uzbek have been added to Google, making a total of 77 interface languages (if you include Bork, bork, bork! Elmer Fudd, Hacker, Klingon, and Pig Latin). According to Google, Bislama, Mongolian, Punjabi, and Sinhalese are coming soon. Via SearchDay.
Topics: Google, Worldwide
Date: Monday, July 01, 2002   |     |   permalink

 
Sergey Brin Named a Marketer of the Year
Technology Marketing has named Sergey Brin, cofounder and now president of technology at Google, as one of their marketers of the year. The article, which includes a short interview, describes Google's success by having a good product, and marketing by word of mouth. The article mentions that when Google teamed up with Dilbert, people wrote in asking that the logo not be changed.
• Sergey Brin [article: Technology Marketing, July 2002 issue]
Topics: Google
Date: Sunday, June 30, 2002   |     |   permalink

 
 
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