Conservative Rumblings

Several Ex-Google engineers have banded together to create a new search engine to challenge Google.

Cuil’s creators claim that their engine will index more sites than Google. Since the site has only been online for a few hours, it’s something to keep our eyes on, but I have to say I am impressed by the layout of the site at this point. It’s very much like browsing a newspaper website or something of the like. Whether that design is really the next generation of search results listings remains to be seen.

I think they still have some algorithm problems, of course; they claim that their site will focus more on content and less on the link-building and ‘popularity contests’ that drives rankings on Google.

However, whatever they are doing isn’t quite right just yet. If you run a search for “ian essling,” my website isn’t even on the first page. Maybe I’m biased, but I tend to think that ianessling.com should be the first result for “ian essling.”

Google right now is the #1 online company, hands down. Within the next ten years, I really expect them to launch a full-scale attack on Microsoft for the title of #1 software company. Cuil is fighting a battle that is beyond uphill; they have the talent to backup their endeavor and not completely embarrass themselves, but they most likely will not be able to stand toe-to-toe with Google any time soon. What they are doing is more important than that, though.

With Google now firmly entrenched at the top of the heap, Cuil, hopefully, will exist to challenge them, just as Google has begun to challenge Microsoft. Why else would the latter be trying to completely revamp their online business model? Just like political parties left in power too long, when a company is left on the top, with no challengers, for too long, they get fat and lazy and make things like Windows Vista. Here’s hoping people like Cuil can save Google from the same fate.