This Search Engine Does Not Look Cuil

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I am reading a lot of press about a brand new search engine called Cuil, pronounced as “cool”, that was created by a former employee of Google, Anna Patterson and her husband, Tom Costello. I haven’t had a chance to actually use Cuil.com that much yet but when I did, needless to say, it looked ok, but I wouldn’t call it cool. And yet again, I wait aimlessly for the next Google rival to show their ugly face. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy Google a lot but Google needs some serious competition. It just isn’t healthy otherwise.

Earlier this year when Ask.com announced that they were bailing out of the competition, I got a little disappointed because I really felt like Ask.com had a chance. I enjoyed using Ask.com but have since stopped using them. While Ask.com had a really neat search engine and some cool features they really lacked in providing features that would allow me to make them my home page. With that said, that leads into my opinion about Cuil.com.

Many years ago when Google took search by storm, I believe that they too also recognized the fact that “search” really isn’t the most important thing to people who use the Internet. Personalization and communication were vital too. While indeed there was a huge buzz about Google, many people just couldn’t make that official “switch” from setting their home page set from places such as Yahoo over to them. Reason being, Google didn’t provide everything an Internet user needed in order to be called home.

Google didn’t have email, they didn’t have forums and groups and they didn’t have news. Over the years Google has been quick to recognize this and has made huge efforts towards providing Internet users with these personalized features so that they indeed can called “Home”. Many people now set Google to their browsers home page. Cuil.com right now is what I would a black sheep duplicate of Google five years ago. Cuil.com’s home page is black with a search bar, while Google’s home page was — five years ago — white with a search bar.

I believe that Cuil.com will never push forward unless they provide Internet users with more than just search engine. Whether their search engine indeed is actually better than Google’s, I really don’t think it matters. Will Google.com finally have some heavy competition in the search market? As much as I would like them to, I don’t think so. And for sure if they did, I just don’t see it happening with Cuil.com. Again, I think competition is very healthy for any industry.

ZDNet.com Senior Editor Says Cuil Just Isn’t Cool.

Sam Diaz, the Senior Editor of ZDNet.com provided his review and opinion about Cuil.com in a recent story. Diaz said, “The launch of the product was premature, and I don’t believe that Cuil has what it takes to be a contender.” - Read full story.

All in all, if you want my opinion, I really hope to see something amazing happen from Yahoo in 2009. Yahoo already blows Google out of the water with their mobile services and they have always been very focused on personalization. Google Mobile is ok but I have some really cool fun on my Blackberry with Yahoo Mobile. I am a huge Yahoo fan, but over the years have slowly migrated over to Google because of their advancements in search as well as their developments in personalization and tools. Oh, and let’s not forget to mention the fact that they send me boat loads of free traffic and also put food on the table for my kids. Both of which Yahoo fails to do.

What do you think? Can Cuil.com provide some serious competition against Google.com? Wouldn’t you like to see good old Yahoo do something for you in 2009? Drop a comment and lets talk about it.

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Tags: Cuil.com Search Engine News, Google Mobile Services, Google Personalized Search, Google Search Engine News, Search Engine News, Yahoo Mobile Services, Yahoo Personalized Search

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Christine Senter Wrote a Comment:

Date/Time: 8-2-2008 23:33:50 Comment #17638

I’d love to see Yahoo do something cool. I still have Yahoo set as my homepage, though I usually use Google for all my searching. I’ve heard of the new search engine, but I haven’t even tried to use it.

This is a great article. Very nice.

Check out Christine Senter’s last blog post..Searching For Creativity

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Garry Conn Wrote a Comment:

Date/Time: 8-2-2008 23:40:28 Comment #17639

I am what you call an “In The Closet Yahoo User”. I have my iGooogle as well as MyYahoo! set to open in two tabs on my Firefox. I absolutely love Yahoo, but can’t stand their email service. I am a true fan for life of GMail as well as GTalk. Although, Yahoo Instant Messenger still provides a more personalized instant messenger than Google. It’s ironic to see how popular GTalk is over YIM. But really, thinking more about it, YIM might still have GTalk beat. I have more contacts in my YIM than I do GTalk, but I almost force my contacts to download GTalk instead.

When I am out and about, I use my Yahoo Mobile on my Blackberry. Yahoo Mobile is so freaking awesome. It really does knock the socks off Google Mobile.

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Ginevra Figg Wrote a Comment: Subscribed to comments via email

Date/Time: 8-3-2008 12:43:31 Comment #17655

Cuil is definitely going for it, but it’s hard to imagine them doing anything but incremental changes to what Google’s done. And even that would take years of effort.

Me.dium.com has taken a different tack. We have a full web index, but we change the results based on the surfing activity of our user base (now over 2,000,000). It’s in alpha, but I’d be curious to hear your thoughts. http://me.dium.com/search

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Dale Wrote a Comment:

Date/Time: 8-3-2008 16:15:27 Comment #17658

Agreed on your assessment of cuil. I have always used google but it wasn’t until i started using gmail and igoogle that basically everything i do now revolves around google online. I definitely think it would be good to have some competition, but i don’t know if cuil will be it.

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JK Swopes Wrote a Comment: Subscribed to comments via email

Date/Time: 8-3-2008 21:19:59 Comment #17674

I’ve only heard a little bit about this search engine, looking at the page I guess for a search engine only it’s okay. However, I agree with you that people want a lot more than just a search engine anymore.

iGoogle is definitely changing things….and for anyone to contend they will need to have similar or better functionality.

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Jake Wrote a Comment:

Date/Time: 8-24-2008 21:17:23 Comment #19458

Google search results are going downhill. I’m tired of seeing nothing pages, such as unanswered questions (forum posts, WikiAnswers, etc.) and low quality Knols getting high rankings.