Ask.Com's New Look Competes Well With Google 214
Carl Bialik from WSJ writes "Ask Jeeves has been overhauled and renamed Ask.com. The Wall Street Journal's Walt Mossberg tested the new site against Google and found that Ask.com holds its own and even beats the search champ in some cases. 'It has some very nice features Google lacks, including previews of the sites it finds, an easy way to narrow or broaden your search results, and frequent top-of-the-screen answers that lead you directly to core information,' Mossberg writes."
The preview would be nice (Score:2, Informative)
Re:The preview would be nice (Score:2)
But if they're then effectively presenting the web site's content before you visit the site, they're open to all the same inevitable legal shenanigans that Google Cache is going to get slammed with sooner or later. If they're presenting a cut-down preview that doesn't potentially make the site itself redundant, they would seem to me to have a much safer position when it comes to fair use/fair dealing/whatever it's called in your jurisdiction.
Then again, the preview image for the front page of a fairly lar
Re:The preview would be nice (Score:2)
Re:The preview would be nice (Score:2)
Website time-lapse (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Website time-lapse (Score:2)
Re:Website time-lapse (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Website time-lapse (Score:2)
A simple search for "linux" [ask.com] and I have to scroll down just about a full page at 1024x768 to get to the actual results set below the "Encyclopedia Entry" (from wikipedia), 3 "Sponsored Results" (first being from Microsoft, of course), and "Latest News" (first being from ZDnet).
I just don't find a sponsored link from Microsoft or Linux "news" from friggen ZDnet to be particularly relevant to a search for "linux". The Wikipedia entry is at least a bit interesting... but it's not part of
Re:Website time-lapse (Score:3, Insightful)
These comparisons are meaningless if you just blindly submit queries you'd never
Re:Website time-lapse (Score:2)
' if (browserName=="Microsoft Internet Explorer") {'
If you're gonna pretend to be using IE then unfortunately you will be treated as if you use IE.
Feel free to send me a better script which differentiates between IE and Opera pretending to be IE but I don't think it is possible.
Re:Website time-lapse (Score:2)
For the lazy (Score:2, Informative)
I know it's not hard to type, but when doing an article about Ask.com [ask.com], it helps to provide a link to Ask.com [ask.com].
Oh, and it's nice. Unfortunately, I use Google because I like the results it provides. Can Ask.com compete with that, or is it just a nice look?
Re:For the lazy (Score:3)
I particularly enjoyed this Ask.com blog entry [ask.com].
Re:For the lazy (Score:2, Interesting)
I'm hoping someone will post some more detailed research on the actual search results.
Re:For the lazy (Score:4, Informative)
Re:For the lazy (Score:2)
This is exactly what I saw as well. Since my name is somewhat unusual, but not unique, I usually test search engines by entering my name, both unquoted and quoted, to see what the results are.
Entering my first and last names (unquoted) into Google gives me my web site, at its current URL as the first link.
Entering my name into Ask.com gives me my w
Re:For the lazy How is "preview" enabled? (Score:2)
I ran a search on my name and NOTHING about myself came up. Google brings back stuff on me most of the time.
I ran a search on 4 letters-hyphen-4 numbers and Ask returned back only THREE woefully-unrelated results.
Why ask Ask?
Maybe they need to "get their ask together?"....
funny... image word is "absconds"...
Re:For the lazy How is "preview" enabled? (Score:2)
But, how is "preview" enabled?
Re:For the lazy (Score:2)
Re:For the lazy (Score:5, Interesting)
What else is there?
With google I can do:
my doctor's last name my_city, state
Hit return, and at the top of the page there is the phone number to call. If only the number was hooked into an autodialer, when that comes, it will be cool.
Google has usenet searches.
Google has news searches (I get confused sometimes between news.google.com and groups.google.com, but...)
Google has search by domain searches. Very useful to do
Google is instantaneous. ask.com is slow right now.
Google has image searches.
Google has video searches.
Google will have music searches.
Google...
Yes, I'm a happy user. Thanks for Google having the best real estate on the web, and those greedy link parking whores that pay for my searching capabilities. Not to mention that its refreshing that I can buy ANYTHING that I search for at eBay while I'm at it. Very convenient.
Re:For the lazy (Score:2)
On Google [google.com]
On Ask [ask.com]
I don't know about you, but I found Ask's search more helpful than Google's simple redirection to Mathworld and Wikipedia.
Re:For the lazy (Score:2)
I use Google as well, but it's more force of habit. In fact, you have to wade through two or three screens of "paid links" before you get to anything non-commercial, in most cases.
For instance, if you're trying to find out something about, say, a particular musician, you first have to wade through a couple of pages of music download sites (mostly off-brand) and at least a page of things like GetLyricsToYourFavoriteSongsNow.com, before you can find anythin
Re:For the lazy (Score:2)
not about "quality" per se (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:not about "quality" per se (Score:5, Insightful)
Though a competitor may try to make advances against Microsoft Corporation with revampments, Microsoft's already got the golden brand and in this industry the guy who's at the top stays there as people feel more comfortable using what everyone else uses
Thank you.
Re:not about "quality" per se (Score:2)
You're referring to Unix, right?
Re:not about "quality" per se (Score:2)
I seem to remember a time when Altavista owned the search market, with Yahoo a distant number 2 and Google didn't even exist. It is possible. Large companies can be beaten when they become complacent - somethin
Re:not about "quality" per se (Score:2)
Tell that to AltaVista and Excite. They were both, at one time or another, king of the search hill. When was the last time you used either, though?
Granted that Google's been popular for longer than the others were, but it's not a foregone conclusion that someone else can't kno
Re:not about "quality" per se (Score:2)
heh... your new, aren't you? (Score:2)
Now I'm not saying Ask is going to take it. But plenty of search engines have had their day. And more have yet to come.
I think... (Score:2, Funny)
I used to use ask... but switched to Google cause all the cool kids were doing it. That, and the color red pisses me off!
The next thing for ask.com... change name to "Google_eats_souls_use_us.com"
While their homepage design may be a little simpler... Google still loads quicker. Cause I gotta have my extra 5 seconds with page loads... it is a matter of National Security.
Re:I think... (Score:2)
Yo Grark
Re:I think... (Score:2)
Yeah, that really Jeeves me out.
Re:I think... (Score:2)
You can't have underscores in domain names (RFC 1034 and 1035, I think)
Re:I think... (Score:2)
Doa few hundred searches every day and speed becomes the priority.
Re:I think... (Score:2, Informative)
In the P. G. Wodehouse novels, the dimwitted protagonist Bertie Wooster was wholly dependent on the practical and theoretical wisdom of his butler, Jeeves. As you note, though, that reference may have been lsot on most users.
Re:I think... (Score:2)
Re:I think... (Score:2)
They need to do a lot better than Google... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:They need to do a lot better than Google... (Score:2, Informative)
Depends... (Score:2)
People care about whether it provides them with what they want, not how much better it is/may be than Google.
Re:They need to do a lot better than Google... (Score:3, Interesting)
Many people have noticed their approach. First they provided fast search. Then they have provided more results. Then have started filtering results to artificially guess what you really want. Then have introduced "hacks" (and in fact they are still introducing them) for most of the often searched items.
E.g. "man ifconfig" as well as "msdn CreateWindow" on Google do what I want and expect from them - fetching me pages with technical documentation. When I search in Germany "Berlin Mue
Re:They need to do a lot better than Google... (Score:2)
Re:They need to do a lot better than Google... (Score:2)
Re:They need to do a lot better than Google... (Score:2)
Reasons why it is INFERIOR (Score:2)
Overall I am impressed (Score:2, Interesting)
One thing I am not so keen on is the adverts displayed at the top of the page, something you see all over the place now, but also at the bottom of the page, meaning, I had to view them twice, I imagine for the advertisers this is a major benefit but to me the user it is an annoyance to have to scroll further to view the next page of result
Poor Jeeves... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Poor Jeeves... (Score:4, Interesting)
http://sp.ask.com/en/docs/about/jeeveshasretired.
http://blog.ask.com/2006/02/thanks_jeeves.html [ask.com]
Oblig. Simpsons Quote (Score:3, Funny)
One big difference (Score:4, Informative)
Re:One big difference (Score:2)
This search [google.com] turns up three ads at the top before any actual search results. So what's the problem with Ask doing this, exactly?
Re:One big difference (Score:2)
Re:One big difference (Score:2)
If you run the same search [ask.com] on ask.com, you get three ads at the top, like google...and five more at the bottom between the last search result and the "next page(s)" button row.
I like the new layout, but the extra ads are a bit egregious, and the separation of the last non-paid result from the page controls irritates the shit out of me. It gives that same "real results squeezed be
I like it... (Score:3, Interesting)
But the new Ask.com site is the first real advance in web search since the original Google came out. My one gripe is that their banner ads on other sites (with the Google results whooshing by in a blur) are really annoying.
Re:I like it... (Score:2)
Re:I like it... (Score:2)
I don't understand -- Google has exactly the same thing! In fact, Ask.com's presentation of sponsored links is basically copied from Google.
I can sympathize, as a recent search on the Penduline Tit [slashdot.org] turned up some very NSFW ads, but the only difference in your case seems to be that no one has bought "latex chapter" from Google yet.
Re:I like it... (Score:2)
Ask.com Maps and Directions (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Ask.com Maps and Directions (Score:2)
It looks like ask.com will be kicking Google's ass. I think it's already right up there with Google, and considering that people say it has no Chinese operation, it may be a winner for me. We'll see.
Re:Ask.com Maps and Directions (Score:2)
Is it me, or did they copy Google completely?? I mean, I typed in my address and Ask gets it wrong the same way Google does (one nice improvement is the red arrow showing me which house is mine... but it's wrong!!).
Ok, they do have one feature that seems neat is the directions "playback", similar to Google Earth's "flyby" feature.
I think they need to improve their server response, though
Re:Ask.com Maps and Directions (Score:2)
Stealing [google.com] someone's ideas to make them better, and to make a positive dent in the world, isn't necessarily b
Broken in Firefox (Score:2)
Re:Broken in Firefox (Score:2)
Nope, it works. My had forgotten I had disabled the 'referrer'.
Firefox Extension (Score:2, Informative)
http://ackroyd.de/googlepreview/ [ackroyd.de]
Re:Firefox Extension (Score:2)
Google give you CHOICE in this matter.
Are we finally into the 'less is better' stage? (Score:3, Insightful)
Given the number of gaming sites I go to these days, I would love to see this design philosohpy adapted to more sites on the web. Not only does it help the user, but it can potentially save bandwidth and reduce overall traffic.
Re:Are we finally into the 'less is better' stage? (Score:2)
Perhaps I just suck at keeping a stright eye line.
Re:Are we finally into the 'less is better' stage? (Score:2)
Are you colorblind (not capping on you if you are! You just got some bad genes. Blame your parents. :-D) or using your own stylesheet, perhaps? The sponsored links I see have a light blue background, almost identical to the way Google does it.
In fact, it looks like Ask has virtually copied Google's UI, right down to the bug that I sometimes come across in Safari when I click a link it takes me back to the search engine's home page. One thing I think Ask has that Google doesn't that I like is the "narr
Re:Are we finally into the 'less is better' stage? (Score:2)
No, I'm not colourblind. But Ask.com forces me to go to uk.ask.com by default. Which doesn't have the blue background that the US site has.
How bizarre.
Re:Are we finally into the 'less is better' stage? (Score:2)
I like A9 (Score:2)
By default, I have a large Google search column, a thin image search column, and a fairly thin Wikipedia column. Every search entry I run finds related images and definitions for me, without me having to click more. I find this configurability and power something that Google's own "perso
works better than Google on at least one search (Score:2, Interesting)
ask.com is definitely going to be something I will consider using.
Unfortunately I can't post my search string, because it's personal, but I'll mention that it's three words: first two are my friend's nickname and the third ward is his first real name. My friend has a very unique nic
excellent engine, took me right (Score:3, Insightful)
now if MS can pull of something like this....
Re:excellent engine, took me right (Score:2)
Where do you fnord want go today?
Re:excellent engine, took me right (Score:2)
Now based on Teoma (Score:2)
I just gave it a try ("emperor constantine") and on that search it does seem to give notably crap-free results. I'll stick with Google, but I've added Ask.com to my search bookmarks that I resort to when the Goog fails me.
Only on the English version by now? (Score:2)
From TFA:
the top of the page, above the ads, featured a Smart Answer box that included a picture of Ted, an excerpt from a biography, direct links to his official site, an encyclopedia article and other images of him.
If I look on the Italian ask.com, I see nothing of all this. Just a dull grey thing bar. www.ask.com redirects me to it.ask.com, here.
However if I use the search query URL and I delete the "it." I see the described features.
It would be OK for me to use the English language version, but
Re:Only on the English version by now? (Score:2)
Why is "ask.com" a competitor? (Uses Google ads!) (Score:3, Interesting)
Ebay? (Score:2)
Google previews are available (Score:2, Informative)
Cannot search in... (Score:3, Insightful)
Customize your Google (Score:2)
Just saying.
Preview not on all links (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Preview not on all links (Score:2)
1) Just because it doesn't come for every site doesn't make it useless. It clearly has a use for pages that it works on. It may be less useful but it not useless.
2) The fact that it's not updated live does not make it useless either. It is quite useful, for instance, in quickly determining if a site is a link-farm or is going to load some awful flash piece of crap.
I'm sorry (Score:2, Insightful)
Aww great (Score:2)
You don't earn your fanboy wings for nothin.
More on Ask.com (Score:2, Informative)
Google vs. MSN vs. AOL vs. Yahoo vs. Ask (Score:2)
Google has one big advantage... (Score:4, Funny)
... what?
Google look-a-like (Score:2)
I liked to possibility to save some hits though and will give ask.com a try next time I need to search for something.
Re: Ask Maps vs Google Maps (Score:2, Interesting)
search: where's jeeves? (Score:2)
After ten years of service, helping millions of users find what they want, Jeeves has decided to finally retire from his duties. He felt the time was right, convinced by the vastly-evolved technology of the new Ask.com that he could take a well-earned rest from his work of the previous decade. All of us at Ask.com wish him well in his next adventure.
I just have to ask (Score:2)
Second, why pick on Google? MSN and Yahoo have been working with the chinese gov in quietly censoring material. That is, they censor and do NOT notify the user that they are doing so. OTH, Google does censor, but DOES notify the end user that they were censored. As a Freedom lover, I am not wild about the censoring, but far better to let the person know that they are being censored. Consider how many Ame
Re:I just have to ask (Score:2)
Ask is entering the China market (Score:2)
ask.com has no operations there.
At the same meeting Diller announced that Ask will begin operating in China next year... [searchenginelowdown.com] (Sept 22, 2005)
Re:Ask is entering the China market (Score:2)
Don't forget 14 countries, including Germany and France, have laws of their own forcing Google et al. to censor sear
Re:has no one (Score:2, Informative)
here you go... it's not a google product but it does add this functionality to Firefox.
Re:has no one (Score:2)