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Have you seen the new Google Search within Search feature ? Google has updated its Web Search so that when you search for certain sites (Wikipedia, Nytimes and a number of others) a search box is presented along with the standard results to allow you to search within the site right there and then !

You have always been able to limit your search within a site by using the (”site:”) operator (as discussed in a previous post), so there is nothing new here. However, this is one of those small things that can:

1. Help those people who DO NOT know about the existing site specific search functionality
2. Saves you the trouble of typing out the “site:” operator if it is your intention to site within the site

continue reading "Search Within Search from Google"

When it comes to basic dictionary definition lookup for words, Web users are spoilt for choices. Dictionary.com, Wikipedia, heck Google even provides a definition link after you do a web search and do the word lookup for you without you telling it! I guess it’s there just in case you don’t know what you are searching for and Google trying to be the end to all search experience.

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Chances are, you already know these Google tricks, in which case, it is always good to be reminded what they are and how they work. If you don’t know these tricks, as the title suggests, you HAVE TO know about them by now as they will improve the effectiveness of your searches on Google (and just about all other search engines!) exponentially.

BTW, these are basic search options that I use on a daily basis. If you learn them your searches will be more effective because:

1. Instead of doing 5 searches with 5 different keywords, you are likely to find your answer in the first search, thereby saving you time and effort
2. At times, you simply can not zone into the correct combination of keywords to get what you are looking for, chances are you need to apply some basic operators to open the right door, read on !
3. At times, you simply do not know how to include all the possible keyword synonyms in your search so that you are not missing out on your results, well, you don’t have to!

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The launch of the highly anticipated Wikia search engine has received unprecedented coverage on the Internet. The general consensus around the web is that it has been a disappointment and even a “Complete Letdown.” considering the sister site that it evolved from Wikipedia was such a huge success. My brief personal experience with it can be summed up in two words - “It sucks!” The quality of the result sets simply does not give me what I am looking for… not even close.

The two main features of the search services that was supposed to differentiate itself are:

1. It is open source, meaning that anyone interested and bored enough can look through its core search algorithm and therefore making it an open system as oppose to the other search engines which are essentially a black boxes.
2. User are able to provide feedback and ultimately effect the results of searches. It is argued that, in the same way that people power have made Wikipedia one of the most used and trust knowledge repository, it would also make Wikia Search a reliable and trusted search engine by unleashing the social aspects of search.

I am interested in the point that “People Power” would make a better engine.

continue reading "Would People Power Make Better Search Engines ?"