Google recommends Windows Live search

Dan Warne
06 October 2006, 10:31 AM


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In a strange turn of events, Google's I'm feeling lucky button is redirecting users to its direct competitor, Windows Live Search.


clover80.pngIn a strange turn of events, Google is directing users to Windows Live Search when they search for "search".

Don't believe it?

Try going to Google.com.

Type "search".

Click "I'm feeling lucky".

You'll immediately be transferred across to Microsoft's new Windows Live Search.

Similar oddities have happened in the past. For example, searching for "failure" and clicking "I'm feeling lucky" will take you straight to George W. Bush's official homepage.

Google says these results are entirely natural and based on the regular factors it uses to determine Pagerank. It says it hasn't manipulated the search results at all.

Now, amusingly, Windows Live Search is the top result for "search" on Google.

I can hear the wheels of the management-spanking machine at Google grinding into action right now.

On the other hand, if it 'fixes' the result, Google would tacitly be admitting to tainting results.
Decisions, decisions, for Google management.


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bala:

Google had many a times manipulated the search results using filters and in some instances even manually had removed the sites from the index, for many reasons including spamming issues, government requests, or some individuals writing to them pointing some cranky things! in the search results as you have pointed out now - (who knows "search" will take you to google.com in couple of hours !).

So its all in the game ! ;-)

cheers,
~BALA

29 February 2008, 8:29 PM (5 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Tin:

Meh... Google own Google, so if they decide to fix it so MS's search engine isn't number one, then I really couldn't care.

I doubt MS would hesitate if it had worked the other way round.

29 February 2008, 8:29 PM (5 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Richard:

It actually sends you to search.msn.com which then redirects you to the new window's live search. And if you search for 'search' in the new window's live engine, it's first two hits are www.peoplefinders.com and www.search.org. Since they don't have an "I'm feeling lucky" feature, you have to pick from your results. I hardly see how this constitutes an organization "recommending" something as the article title sugests. Poor article.

29 February 2008, 8:29 PM (5 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

PJ:

I agree with Richard. Come on, APC.. surely you have better things to do with your time than knit fragile conspiracy theories over how Google manages its index. :)

29 February 2008, 8:29 PM (5 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

TechGermz:

Interestingly, try selecting the "Pages from Australia" option, before hitting "I'm feeling lucky", and it takes you back to the same page i.e. "google.com.au"!! Supposedly Indicating that Google Search is No.1 in Australia, but MSN/Live Search is No.1 over the world, obviously as Microsoft attempts to default its browsers and other applications (Messenger, etc) to its own search, leading many people to their site, and thus increasing web traffic and gaining statistical advantage!

29 February 2008, 8:29 PM (5 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

someone:

try 'ultimate operating system' with I'm feeling lucky.

29 February 2008, 8:29 PM (5 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Chicko Roll:

strangley enough this magazine is in partnerships with microsoft (ninemsn). is this another scheme at knocking a competitor like ur blog on blu-ray suggests?

29 February 2008, 8:29 PM (5 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

Kit:

in addition to "someone's" comment, type 'ultimate operating system' and select Pages in Australia and I'm Feeling Lucky, and that'll bring you right back to this very page. Ever so slightly ironic.

29 February 2008, 8:29 PM (5 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

TechGermz:

Ha Ha... Bravo "Kit"... it indeed does...

29 February 2008, 8:29 PM (5 years ago)report abuse Send to a friend reply

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