I mentioned back on September 22 that search engine Alltheweb was collecting information on search terms entered by users and selling them to Doubleclick, a company notorious for selling and collecting personal information. In response to pressure from privacy groups, FAST Search hasn’t stopped this practice, but it has posted a privacy policy so users
Internet Search
Need to search message boards? Here’s a way
By Tom Mighell on
Posted in Search Engines
Search Engine Showdown reports on BoardReader, a search engine that covers Web-based bulletin boards, discussion forums, and the like.
Tired of searching? Hire an expert
By Tom Mighell on
Posted in Internet Search
This article from the SF Gate reviews “expert” services offered by Google, Yahoo, and Keen. I have always wondered about the viability of such services — a long time ago, I signed up to be a so-called “expert” at AskMe.com, and I was amazed at two things: 1) how much of a time…
Search Engine Showdown gets a facelift
By Tom Mighell on
Posted in Search Engines
I’m so glad to see that Greg Notess has given his Search Engine Showdown a redesign — he really provides some great reviews and other information on search engines.
Did AllTheWeb pull a FAST one?
By Tom Mighell on
Posted in Privacy, Search Engines
CNET is reporting that a complaint has been lodged against Fast Search and Transfer, alleging that its AllTheWeb search engine is collecting information on its visitors and sharing them with DoubleClick.
China’s Google-Blocking Continues
By Tom Mighell on
Posted in Search Engines
Last week I reported that China was blocking Google to its citizens — now it appears that when someone in China requests the Google website, they are taken to a completely different search engine or website.
MetaCrawler Updated
By Tom Mighell on
Posted in Search Engines
Do any of you use meta-search tools? I don’t use them all that often, but lately I’ve been finding them useful to get a good overall idea of what the Internet has to offer on a subject. One of the oldest meta-search tools, MetaCrawler, just announced a new redesign (and hopefully, better search results).
Google Inaccessible in China?
By Tom Mighell on
Posted in Search Engines
There are multiple reports today that China appears to have blocked Google from its residents, apparently because web searches could bring up porn links. Hmmm.
Searching Booknotes
By Tom Mighell on
Posted in Internet Search
I just love Booknotes — the weekly C-Span program on new books is terrific, and although I don’t catch it on TV I always listen to the streaming version online. Now you can search through years of Booknotes transcripts with its Advanced Search page. (Via Virtual Acquisition Shelf and News Desk)
::Gasp!:: You mean not everyone loves Google?
By Tom Mighell on
Posted in Search Engines
In a Salon article today, A San Antonio webmaster describes Google’s PageRank feature as “uniquely tyrannical,” because it discriminates against new web sites in favor of more established ones. Check out his rants at Google Watch.