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Search Engines: Ratings of Sources
Total of 26 Sources
For an explanation of how we rank reviews, see our ratings criteria page.
Testing the New Google Killer
by Thomas Weber
by Thomas Weber
Our AssessmentIn a comparative test against Blekko and Bing, Google produces the most relevant results, based on scoring of 100 real-world search queries. Blekko, a relative newcomer to the browser industry, does well in some areas -- particularly finance -- but is unable to match Google for relevance.
Recommended Search Engines
by University of California staff
by University of California staff
Our AssessmentThis review chart by university librarians ranks the top three search engines in order. Google leads the ranking. The librarians call it the best search engine for most purposes, but suggest using Yahoo or Exalead for second opinions. Search engines don't get individual reviews, but full specs are listed.
Google vs. Bing vs. Yahoo
by Carolyn Duffy Marsan
by Carolyn Duffy Marsan
Our AssessmentGoogle, which handled more than 70 percent of the searches in the United States at the time of this post, continues to innovate to stay ahead of the competition, mainly Yahoo and Microsoft's Bing search engine. The article discusses some of the new features Microsoft has brought to Bing including tabs and an answer box as ways to distinguish its search results from Google's.
The 10 Best Search Engines of 2011
by Paul Gil
by Paul Gil
Our AssessmentThis About.com roundup doesn't make a pick, but it does provide useful descriptions of the top 10 search engines as chosen by readers. The results are not ranked in any particular order. The reviewer suggests each search engine is worth trying. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation)
Searching Beyond Google
by Tushar Kanwar
by Tushar Kanwar
Our AssessmentEditor Tushar Kanwar names 10 alternatives to Google including DuckDuckGo and Blekko. Kanwar recommends DuckDuckGo for privacy protection and less spam in search results. He likes Blekko for search refinement tools.
An Engine's Tall Order: Streamline the Search
by Damon Darlin
by Damon Darlin
Our AssessmentIn this overview of Blekko, Damon Darlin discusses the new search engine's methods for improving search results, including human input to identify the best sites and the use of slashtags, which the user can use to narrow down a search.
Search Insurgents Pair Up Against Spam…and Google
by Ryan Singel
by Ryan Singel
Our AssessmentRyan Singel describes the efforts of Blekko and DuckDuckGo, which have partnered to provide search results with less advertising spam than Google. DuckDuckGo leads the Web in privacy protection, while Blekko's slashtags are helpful for narrowing searches.
2011 About Web Search Readers' Choice Awards -- The Winners!
by Contributors to About.com
by Contributors to About.com
Our AssessmentDuckDuckGo is the About.com readers' choice for the best search engine of 2011, earning 48 percent of the vote. Google finishes second with 45 percent. Bing (3 percent) and Yahoo (2 percent) come in third and fourth place respectively. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation)
Search Engine Relevance -- an Empirical Test
by Brendan O'Connor
by Brendan O'Connor
Our AssessmentThis blog entry is dated but includes still-valid comparisons of Google and Yahoo that match more recent findings. Microsoft has since replaced Live.com with Bing, though, so its results are no longer relevant.
Search Engine Reviews
by Contributors to Viewpoints.com
by Contributors to Viewpoints.com
Our AssessmentViewpoints ranks search engines based on ratings. GoodSearch.com, which is powered by Yahoo, is ranked highest by users, slightly ahead of Google. GoodSearch donates money to specified charities as users conduct web searches.
Google Steps Up Its Search-Engine Game
by Harry McCracken
by Harry McCracken
Our AssessmentThis article discusses several ways Google continues to upgrade its search engine to stay ahead of the competition. In particular, it describes the Google voice search feature, improvements to image searching and Instant Pages, which starts to download and render top search results before the user clicks on them.
Bing vs. Google vs. Yahoo: Feature Smackdown
by Tom Spring
by Tom Spring
Our AssessmentThis slideshow compares Bing, Google and Yahoo. Editors consider several features including homepage, search results, airfare search, search refinement and shopping. Bing takes the lead in most categories.
Why Bing "Likes" Facebook
by Paul Boutin
by Paul Boutin
Our AssessmentContinuing to look for an edge against Google, Bing now features social searching, which checks recommendations from a user's Facebook friends for more refined, personalized results. The review says the social search ability gives Bing the potential to distinguish itself from Google. Bing also offers helpful tools for booking travel.
Blekko, the "Slashtag" Search Engine is Slow, Cumbersome and Just Plain Broken
by Matthew Rogers
by Matthew Rogers
Our AssessmentMatthew Rogers takes a thorough look at the Blekko search engine, but finds it sluggish and not very easy to use. He can't find a reason to recommend it as a search tool.
Microsoft Bing
by Michael Muchmore
by Michael Muchmore
Our AssessmentPCMag's lead software analyst Michael Muchmore gives Bing an in-depth review shortly after the search engine's release in 2009. While he is impressed with Bing, he says its basic search results are similar to Google and Yahoo.
Blekko
by Jeffrey L. Wilson
by Jeffrey L. Wilson
Our AssessmentSoftware analyst Jeffrey Wilson reviews Blekko, but doesn't compare it to competing search engines. He says Blekko's search tools aren't very easy to use and its results aren't great.
Search Engine Wars Redux
by Ellysa Kroski
by Ellysa Kroski
Our AssessmentPosted shortly after Bing's debut, this article describes Microsoft's effort to unseat Yahoo as the number two search engine. (Bing now powers Yahoo's search.) Wolfram Alpha and Facebook and Twitter search engines are also covered.
Bing Grabs Market Share from Google Over Past Year
by Lance Whitney
by Lance Whitney
Our AssessmentThis article reports that Bing has taken some of the market from Google in the last year. While Google's share has dropped to 63.6 percent from 73.9 percent (as of May 2011), Bing's share has rocketed to 17 percent from 9.7 percent (a 75 percent increase).
Privacy on the Web
by Eric Risberg
by Eric Risberg
Our AssessmentThis slideshow highlights privacy issues with many Web companies, including Google, Bing, Facebook, Twitter and Apple.
Upstart DuckDuckGo Challenges Google With Strong Privacy, Cool Tools and Quackpot Name
by Chris Sherman
by Chris Sherman
Our AssessmentChris Sherman reviews DuckDuckGo, comparing its methods with Google in terms of privacy. While DuckDuckGo offers more privacy, Sherman points out that storing a user's search history (like Google does) can help provide relevant results in future searches.
List of the Best Search Engines on the Internet
by Editors ListOfSearchEngines.info
by Editors ListOfSearchEngines.info
Our AssessmentThis site ranks the top search engines based on the number of unique visitors it gets each month. Google leads with 150 million, followed by Yahoo with 137 million and Bing with 80 million.
Search Apps
by Editors of AppAppeal.com
by Editors of AppAppeal.com
Our AssessmentThis site, devoted to web apps, looks at all the top search engines and gives each a rating of 1 to 5 stars. Google gets a perfect score (5 stars), while Bing and DuckDuckGo each get 4 stars. Reviews are based on features, not formal testing.
Eric Schmidt: Google Wants to Get So Smart It Can Answer Your Questions Without Having to Link You Elsewhere
by Joshua Benton
by Joshua Benton
Our AssessmentNiemanJournalismLab.org, which covers journalism in the digital age, discusses a recent statement from Google that the company is moving toward direct answers to search questions, rather than just a list of sites. Contributor Joshua Benton talks about how this could impact news websites in particular, in addition to sites that depend on search traffic.
Google Voice Search Offers Natural User Input
by Jay Greene
by Jay Greene
Our AssessmentReviewer Jay Greene tests the new Google Voice Search feature and is able to get relevant results searching the hard-to-pronounce name Zbigniew Brzezinski. He recommends using it in a quiet place, as nearby conversations can trip up the engine.
Yahoo Lets Users Take Notes
by Jessica E. Vascellaro
by Jessica E. Vascellaro
Our AssessmentWhile Google and Ask.com have note-taking features, Yahoo's new Search Pad tool sets itself apart by automatically launching if it detects that you might be doing research. The Search Pad will collect relevant web pages and allows users to add notes and save it to their Yahoo accounts.
Search Tools Chart
by
by
Our AssessmentThis chart, at a site designed for librarians, provides details of how to make the most of three traditional search engines as well as meta-search engines and subject directories.
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