A few minor weaknesses Google has that most searchers ignore


Google weaknesses

First, as Google became larger and more well-known, the quality of its results seems to have slipped a notch. Perhaps this is because website producers have learned ways to optimize the system to get their sites higher up in the results lists. This points out an important search rules - always use more than one search tool.

Google only indexes the first 101 KB of a web page, but this is a limit you only notice when you are performing exhaustive research on a subject. Phrase searches do not always work right and sometimes words you search for simply do not show up in your results. You also cannot print out results by reverse chronological order and, despite using linking as a tool to determine page relevance, Google does not do a good job with a link: search.

As the best online searchers in the country point out, Google has always given inaccurate numbers of how many results it provides. It seems the Google folks know this problem exists, as they list all results as "about" some number. Another weakness is searching by date.

Google round-up

Its weaknesses are minor irritations. Google's quality and constant innovations keep it the top of the line. What helps make Google so good is that it keeps pushing the envelope. In early 2004, Google purchased Blogger, one of the leading weblog authoring tools. Google, as owner of the blogging software, could package it with its search appliance and license it for their corporate users, allowing people to create weblogs on a local network. It is that kind of smart thinking that keeps Google at the forefront of search tools.

Google now offers a product called Google Answers, where they charge you to post a question and then you can pay for the results - anywhere from US Dollars 2.00-$200.00. Be aware that these are not answered by Google staff members, but by anyone who wants to answer, and you cannot know what quality of information you will receive. Try asking a librarian at the public library instead; at least you will have a skilled professional helping you and it is free.

What is coming next from Google? They have done a whole lot of research and development on improving wireless access. Among the prototype ideas at Google Labs is Voice Search, which allows you to use your cell phone to tell your computer your search and it will return results via cell phone or wireless device.

They already have been working on establishing a wireless search capability for your cell phone, PDA, or wireless device, converting HTML pages into WAP usable pages. Google has also created a wireless version of its Froogle catalog service, allowing you to receive price, description, and company information on products to your wireless device.

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Note: This article was sent to us by: Landon Griffith at 08282010

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