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Google’s top search result is Google

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Re: Google’s top search result is Google

#281

Post by andrepd »

s3r3nity wrote: post #258
andrepd wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Out of curiosity which flight search is better than flights.google?

Not sure if you’re serious or just a Google Simp (maybe they’ll see this and give you a job someday.) TripAdvisor, Expedia, Kayak...hell even the specific airlines will give me better deals if they know I’m a regular customer and/or cardholder.

??? I'm asking a genuine question, what sort of comment is that?

I have used expedia and kayak and kiwi in the past, I've never got a better quote than google flights. I've also never got a better quote from the airline directly than via google flights. Hence my (obviously very stupid) question...

Re: Google’s top search result is Google

#282

Post by Jasper_ »

baddox wrote: post #196
onion2k wrote: post #182

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Once it is an arguably better product, then yes, Google should definitely link to it first. Google Search should list the websites that best match the user's search terms ordered by a fair Pagerank score that doesn't emphasise Google's own properties. That's it. Google shouldn't be making subjective decisions about "site quality" (objective factors like speed, mobile optimization, malware etc are OK..). If I search f…

What about click through rate and time spent on site? Those are objective, Google probably has the data in many cases, and Google’s own products (like Maps) probably do the best on those metrics.

If I spent a lot of time on a site, does that mean I am enjoying the site and rewarding it with time, or having trouble finding information and need to use it for longer?

Data doesn't tell you everything.

Re: Google’s top search result is Google

#283

Post by Jasper_ »

edoceo wrote: post #142
athenot wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The thing is, increasingly I'm catching it returning wrong answers. A few days I was looking up the approximate weight of a cup of flour to do a recipe conversion, and the "helpful answer" was pulled from some random site and was about 15% off-base compared to the median from a handful of other sites, including from flour companies. I've observed similar bad results when looking up information about medications… I fe…

Well, one cup (volume) of flour can vary pretty widely in weight (108-138g in my notebook). Bleached, whole, Rye, AP, etc and even same type across brands. A variance of 15% is not too odd from my baking experience.

The helpful answer should mention that.

Re: Google’s top search result is Google

#284

Post by chris92de »

chimen wrote: post #23

Many of them save me extra clicks which is convenient. Google translate, maps and search has no competitors that even come close in terms of quality. I will get mad when those products have better alternatives but it's not the case. Build better alternatives and I'm on board. In the end, Google is a business - I would promote my own shit on the first vertical as well. One thing that pisses me off is the AMP ordeal bu…

> Google translate, maps and search has no competitors that even come close in terms of quality.

At least for Translate I can wholeheartedly recommend DeepL as competitor.

Does it lack languages? Sure, but the quality of translations seem subjectively better than that of Google Translate - especially for longer texts.

Re: Google’s top search result is Google

#285

Post by jefftk »

6510 wrote: post #265
jefftk wrote: post #195

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Google maps didn't start out great or even good That is not my memory. Google maps used AJAX to let you pan around. It was fluid, and really nice. What I had been using up until then was MapQuest, where you needed to click an arrow to move around, with long delays. Disclosure: I work for Google

Google Earth was originally developed at Intrinsic Graphics in the late 1990s. October 2004, Google acquired Keyhole. Google maps started February 8, 2005. It would have been easy to offer kml links and "force" the users into Google Earth. Before it was tinkered into a steaming pile of shit Keyhole was a truly fantastic product, with a lovely community, arguably the greatest thing since web browsers (with picasa & he…

> It would have been easy to offer kml links and "force" the users into Google Earth.

How so?

Re: Google’s top search result is Google

#287

Post by [deleted] »

chimen wrote: post #23

Many of them save me extra clicks which is convenient. Google translate, maps and search has no competitors that even come close in terms of quality. I will get mad when those products have better alternatives but it's not the case. Build better alternatives and I'm on board. In the end, Google is a business - I would promote my own shit on the first vertical as well. One thing that pisses me off is the AMP ordeal bu…

[deleted]

Re: Google’s top search result is Google

#288

Post by pwdisswordfish2 »

chimen wrote: post #23

Many of them save me extra clicks which is convenient. Google translate, maps and search has no competitors that even come close in terms of quality. I will get mad when those products have better alternatives but it's not the case. Build better alternatives and I'm on board. In the end, Google is a business - I would promote my own shit on the first vertical as well. One thing that pisses me off is the AMP ordeal bu…

This is a very typical response on HN in response to articles/blog posts about issues raised by the Google business.

When these sort of comments rise to the top of HN threads, I am at a loss how to interpret the meaning.

1. Does it mean the commenter and HN voters do not care about the issue (e.g., anti-competitive behaviour)?

or

2. Does it mean they normally would care about anti-competitive behaviour but because they "like" this particular company they do not care?

If the commenter means #2, then it seems like there are some assumptions being made. For example, one assumption might be that if Google is held accountable for anti-competitive behaviour then it will affect the commenter's "web user experience".

However, I cannot see how to arrive at that conclusion. In fact, the commenter states "Build better alternatives and I'm on board."

What if anti-competitive behaviour was an impediment to others seeking to "[b]uild better alternatives"? If holding Google to account for anti-competitive behaviour would remove such impediments, then it seems that the commenter is more likely to mean #1.

The commenter appears to desire the most convenient and quick "service" he/she can get, and is impartial to who provides it. He/she acknowledges that others could build better alternatives to Google. If holding Google accountable for its conduct helps others build better alternatives, this would meet the commenter's needs.

Without further clarification from the commenter, I am going to assume that #1 better represents his/her meaning.

Re: Google’s top search result is Google

#289

Post by CarbyAu »

res0nat0r wrote: post #245
addicted wrote: post #226

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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?

His point is those are the best.

Maybe that isn't his point. A lot of people don't use UI optimally.

They "Go to google, type what they want, google gives it to them."

Sure, you could click on the 9 dots on the top right and select maps for google maps.

But is that always there on every device, on every web browser, whether signed in with google account or not?

Re: Google’s top search result is Google

#290

Post by ehsankia »

Jasper_ wrote: post #282
baddox wrote: post #196

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What about click through rate and time spent on site? Those are objective, Google probably has the data in many cases, and Google’s own products (like Maps) probably do the best on those metrics.

If I spent a lot of time on a site, does that mean I am enjoying the site and rewarding it with time, or having trouble finding information and need to use it for longer? Data doesn't tell you everything.

I'm assuming when they see when a search click is the final click vs when the user comes back to click on something else instead. I'm assuming for most people, Maps/Translate widgets are their final destination.
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