Google’s top search result is Google • Hacker News Board

Re: Google’s top search result is Google

#221

Post by lern_too_spel » Tue, Jul 28, 2020, 6:25 PM UTC

reaperducer wrote: post #186

elpool2 wrote: post #178

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It was a while ago, but I remember Google maps being far better than any other map service when it first launched.

The reason Google Maps was successful in its early days wasn't because of its quality, it was because it was free. The other options were just as good, but often you had to pay for them. With Google, you could repeatedly refine the bad results until you found something useful, because there was zero additional cost involved.

What nonfree maps were you using before? I used MapQuest and Yahoo! Maps before Google Maps. Both were free.

Re: Google’s top search result is Google

#222

Post by Mirioron » Tue, Jul 28, 2020, 6:25 PM UTC

unethical_ban wrote: post #174

Mirioron wrote: post #170

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But if Google search didn't send me to Google maps when I was looking for maps then I would explicitly go to Google maps. In that case there would be no chance for any competitor to do better.

Your logic is faulty. You weren't going to go to a competitor from the search page anyway.

That's what I'm trying to say. When I search for "maps" I'm trying to go to Google maps. The same happens when I search for "translate".

Re: Google’s top search result is Google

#223

Post by ss7pro » Tue, Jul 28, 2020, 6:27 PM UTC

Sorry but google flights have no competition. There is no better or more flexible and fast flight search than Google. No wonder why they won. Expedia should invest more in their flight search if they want to win.

Re: Google’s top search result is Google

#224

Post by ss7pro » Tue, Jul 28, 2020, 6:32 PM UTC

_jal wrote: post #159

boogies wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Google translate, maps and search has no competitors that even come close in terms of quality. This is patently false, and probably a reflection of the Google bubble you live in. DeepL is pretty objectively superior to Google, as evaluated by journalists who natively speak the languages it translates in the articles linked on their website. You can find plenty of in depth reviews online, and every one I've read has…

Anyone remember the 90s-era Windows rants about how it was simply objectively better at , as demonstrated by a lack of competition? Good times.

It had competition from Apple and IBM. But look Windows domination was ended by Android and Apple IOS. Same happen with Explorer which was killed by ooensource products like Firefox and later Chrome

Re: Google’s top search result is Google

#225

Post by elpool2 » Tue, Jul 28, 2020, 6:33 PM UTC

chris_f wrote: post #211

elpool2 wrote: post #180

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But this website also deemphasizes search results in favor of curated answers, just like Google.

"But this website also deemphasizes search results in favor of curated answers, just like Google." That is not correct. On desktop, organic search results take up the middle 60% of the screen with nothing above them. The curated results are in the sidebar.

I was viewing it on mobile, where it's still very deemphasized.

Edit: To be fair, you're right that on desktop Google could show curated content without pushing search results off the page. It's a lot harder to do on mobile, but I think it's still possible (after all people have pretty big screens on their phones these days).

Re: Google’s top search result is Google

#226

Post by addicted » Tue, Jul 28, 2020, 6:37 PM UTC

Mirioron wrote: post #222

unethical_ban wrote: post #174

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your logic is faulty. You weren't going to go to a competitor from the search page anyway.

That's what I'm trying to say. When I search for "maps" I'm trying to go to Google maps. The same happens when I search for "translate".

Why would you want to go to goofle translate or google maps when you search for translate or google? Wouldn’t you want to go to the best service you could get?

Re: Google’s top search result is Google

#227

Post by baby-yoda » Tue, Jul 28, 2020, 6:37 PM UTC

Google (as well as Facebook) are becoming AOL 2.0 - users only know the service and not the mechanism or source. All info comes from G (or F). Syndicated or outright copied from all over the web but appearing with the “friendly, familiar and welcoming Logo our users know, love and trust” /s

Re: Google’s top search result is Google

#228

Post by addicted » Tue, Jul 28, 2020, 6:39 PM UTC

ss7pro wrote: post #224

_jal wrote: post #159

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Anyone remember the 90s-era Windows rants about how it was simply objectively better at , as demonstrated by a lack of competition? Good times.

It had competition from Apple and IBM. But look Windows domination was ended by Android and Apple IOS. Same happen with Explorer which was killed by ooensource products like Firefox and later Chrome

The death of IE was helped greatly by antitrust action by the EU.

If you think MSFT wouldn’t have snuffed out Firefox and Chrome the moment they got a chance you’re greatly mistaken.

Re: Google’s top search result is Google

#229

Post by swagatkonchada » Tue, Jul 28, 2020, 6:42 PM UTC

ss7pro wrote: post #223

Sorry but google flights have no competition. There is no better or more flexible and fast flight search than Google. No wonder why they won. Expedia should invest more in their flight search if they want to win.

"no competition" i guess you meant this figuratively. But in fact there is a ton of competition and the point of the article is that G is suppressing that competition by unfairly giving themselves the space which needs the least number of clicks to reach.

Re: Google’s top search result is Google

#230

Post by drusepth » Tue, Jul 28, 2020, 6:43 PM UTC

Makes sense to me. Google Flights is amazing, Google Stocks is better than my broker (and way easier/faster), Translate doesn't even have a decent competitor, and Restaurants isn't perfect but just makes it easier to get to Google Maps.

As a consumer, this is great.

As a small business owner, I'm not very concerned about Google usurping pieces of my site into a widget. If the entirety of a business/site can be replaced with a free single-action widget, it's probably better for the consumer to do so.

If I were a big business (Expedia, Yelp, etc) affected by this, I would be more concerned about improving my product than a competitor simply copying functionality.