Garett has discovered some newly registered domains from guess who, Google. It's a busy time. More new domains here, here, and here. Garett's post and commentary (always insightful) is here. GoogleArchives.com is one of the domains. Garett takes a couple of guesses as to what this might--and we mean MIGHT--mean:
A large web archive (Wayback Machine like). If this is what the domain is about, it should make Brewster and the Archive.org team full of comments. Brewster just commented the other day about Google Book Search (look at bottom of post).
Btw, several engines including Yahoo and Gigablast (click older copy link) offer direct links to The Wayback Machine right from the results list or cached page.
Another possibility? A place to sell full text "archived" articles. What kind? How many? Sources? All to be determined, and remember, this is just a guess from Garett Rogers. That said, ResourceShelf thinks he is in the ballpark. If Rogers was a horse racing handicapper, we would listen to him
This might be another potential revenue stream for Google.
We've heard that Google is working on something with the Associated Press as Philipp notes here. One issue to consider. Are the masses of web users, Google types to be specific, willing to pay?
We think it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to say that Yahoo's foray into charging has not been the success they hoped for. More about Yahoo Search Subscriptions here and here. The analogy might not be perfect, but we think it's close enough.
This service might also be in direct competition with services like HighBeam and in some ways LexisNexis, Factiva, and others.
Of course, these services and many others are likely to offer much more powerful searching options (fielded searching, deeper archives, etc.). Again pure speculation and that's putting it mildly. Other issues, licensing (group? individual?), worldwide distribution?
Other Choices, Options, and History
As we've said thousands of times, libraries also offer free access to articles, full text books, audio books, and much much more.
Take a look. You'll be impressed. 24X7x365 access and all you need is a library card. Need to find your library's web site? Try this Libdex or Libweb. Another tactic, get the phone number, call, and ask what's available.
This article by Gary from BetaNews offers links to at least give a taste of what's out there. This Forbes article by Steven Manes also offers some comments. Also, kudos to Garett for making mention of these services in his post. Btw, this is not just a U.S. big city thing. More and more libraries in the U.S. (small town), Canada, Australia, and elsewhere offer these services. Many also provide 24X7x365 live chat with a librarian.
As an example, one database that some can access through their local public library offers more than 57 million articles, most full text, many full image (PDF) in a database that's updated daily. Those of you with access to a university library have even more choices. The same goes for libraries located in corporate settings.
Again, all of what Google is offering is pure speculation. Stay tuned. What libraries offer is far from speculation and it's online and ready for personal use right now. Go get a library card. Oh, and don't forget the thousands of free articles that LookSmart offers via FindArticles.com. Fee-based articles are also available from FindArticles via HighBeam.
Here Today but Maybe Gone Later
It seems that everyday, especially in the past few weeks, Google is releasing something new. To some degree (many would argue, a large one) that's part of their success. However, we were reminded tonight of a July 2006 BusinessWeek article where Google's vice-president for search products and user experience, Marissa Mayer, estimated that up to 60% to 80% of Google's products may eventually crash and burn.
We anticipate that we're going to throw out a lot of products," says Mayer. "But [people] will remember the ones that really matter and the ones that have a lot of user potential."
ResoureShelf think's the 60%-80% / "crash-and-burn" concept is something that the library and information profession should think about and discuss (not spend all day focusing on) from time to time.
Some Pay-Per-Article History
For those of you into web search history, several years ago the much beloved but now defunct Northern Light (still avail for enterprise) left the scene. Their free database of web content and news offered a fee-based service that allowed users to purchase articles for a fee.
Historians might like to look at this page from Greg Notess and this archived page of the Northern Light Special Collection of fee-based articles from over 5400 sources. Here's a title list in txt format. Articles cost $1.00 to $4.00, with a some sources, such as WEFA and Investext reports costing more.
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