Category Archives: Search Engine News

Although Google’s “I’m Feeling Lucky” button is pretty irrelevant to most users (only 1% of users actually use it), the company recently gave it 8 new options for fun.

If you’re never used it and aren’t sure what the button is all about, typing in a search query on Google.com then clicking “I’m Feeling Lucky” instead of “Google Search” takes you to the website in the first position of the results for that query. You don’t go to the search results page at all. If you click the button without typing a search query, you’ll be taken to Google’s collection of Doodles.

If you’re not feeling lucky, now you can try one of these on for size:

• I’m Feeling Artistic takes you to a random Google Art Project
• I’m Feeling Hungry takes you to a search for restaurants
• I’m Feeling Wonderful takes you to a random World Wonders project
• I’m Feeling Stellar takes you to Google Earth
• I’m Feeling Playful takes you to an interactive Google Doodle
• I’m Feeling Doodly takes you to a random Google Doodle
• I’m Feeling Puzzled takes you to a Google-a-Day site
• I’m Feeling Trendy takes you to Hot Searches

To try these out, just go to Google.com, put your cursor over the “I’m Feeling Lucky” button and watch the phrases change. Click them with or without typing in a search query and see where the button leads you.

Have you ever used the “I’m Feeling Lucky” button?

Google recently updated its search algorithm to take into consideration the number of valid copyright removal notices it receives for any given site. Websites with high numbers of removal notices may appear lower in Google results, according to a post by Amit Singhal, Google’s Vice President of Engineering, in the Official Google Blog. The update is meant to help users find legitimate, quality content when searching on Google rather than pirated, copyright violations.

This algorithm change follows heavy criticism Google has been receiving from the entertainment industry about copyright infringement.

According to the blog, Google re-booted its copyright removals two years ago and is now getting more data from copyright owners about infringement online. Google plans to use this data in its search rankings from now on. The blog points out that although the changes to the algorithm will influence the ranking of some search results, Google will not remove any pages from the results unless it receives a valid copyright removal notice from the rights owner.

“Only copyright owners know if something is authorized and only courts can decide if a copyright has been infringed. Google cannot determine whether a particular webpage does or does not violate copyright law,” wrote Singhal.

What do you think of the new algorithm update?

According to Business Insider, Yahoo! CEO, Marissa Mayer, recently warned shareholders that she might not return the $4 billion Yahoo is going to get selling its stake in Chinese Internet company, Alibaba.

The original plans included returning the after-tax money to shareholders. However, according to an SEC filing, Mayer is currently reviewing the plans for the money, which may lead to changes to the current plans:

“On July 17, 2012, Marissa Mayer became the Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of Yahoo! Inc. (the “Company”). As reported in our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2012 filed today with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Ms. Mayer is engaging in a review of the Company’s business strategy to enhance long term shareholder value. As part of that review, Ms. Mayer intends to review with the Board of Directors, among other things, the Company’s growth and acquisition strategy, the restructuring plan we began implementing in the second quarter of 2012, and the Company’s cash position and planned capital allocation strategy. This review process may lead to a reevaluation of, or changes to, our current plans, including our restructuring plan, our share repurchase program, and our previously announced plans for returning to shareholders substantially all of the after tax cash proceeds of the initial share repurchase under the Share Repurchase and Preference Share Sale Agreement we entered into on May 20, 2012 with Alibaba Group Holding Limited.”

Mayer’s move suggests that she plans to use the money toward something that will help breathe new life into the company. Perhaps buying a start up that will help with their social, local, mobile efforts. What do you think?

Category Archives: Search Engine News

Google Adds More Phrases to “I’m Feeling Lucky” Button

Google Updates Its Search Algorithm to Punish Copyright Violators

Mayer Announces Yahoo May Keep $4 Billion It Will Get for Selling its Stake in Alibaba