ResourceBlog Article: Google Bits: Google Custom Search goes Global But Remember What Avi Says; U.S. EPA Displays Air Quality Information on Google Earth

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Tuesday, 20th November 2007

Google Bits: Google Custom Search goes Global But Remember What Avi Says; U.S. EPA Displays Air Quality Information on Google Earth

+ Google Custom Search goes global But Remember What Avi Says (via News.com)

Google's hosted search service for business users has been extended worldwide for the first time. Previously available only in the U.S., the Google Custom Search Engine platform lets users add Google search capabilities to their Web sites. A free, ad-supported version is available but the paid-for business edition gives administrators more support while allowing greater customization.

Now, what does Avi as in Avi Rappaport have say about Google Custom Search Engine and GCSE Business Edition, have to say?

Back in August Avi discovered and wrote that Google CS has problem handling more than three domains.

She writes and also links to a document from Google that says that if you build a search tool using more than three sites with Google Custom Search Engine (and CSBE, Custom Search Business Edition) the results might be different than what’s returned when using Google.com. Here’s the documentation from Google.
From the post:
It attributes this to including more than three sites in the CSE, and says that the CSE is using a subset of the Google.com index. As of August 16, 2007 [and November 20, 2007], the support note says “We’re working to bring more complete results to all Custom Search Engines.”

See Also: Of course, the time will come when Google CSE has no problems handling more than three sites. Nevertheless, this also points out why other custom search engine tools can be useful now and in the future. Why? Each database uses a different underlying corpus of content as well as different algorithms to produce results.

+ Rollyo
The first major, build your own custom engine. Uses the Yahoo database.

+ Yahoo Search Builder
Again, the Yahoo Database.

+ Create your own search engine
Using the Live.com database from MSN.

U.S. EPA Displays Air Quality Information on Google Earth

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s real time scientific air quality information is now available on Google Earth. The information tool accesses the AIRNow database hourly so that the Air Quality Index displays the most current air quality conditions. Public health officials, media outlets and the general public can now view timely air quality information, by city, on Google Earth.

Everyone, particularly asthmatics, children, and other sensitive populations who depend on accurate pollutant information to make decisions about their activity levels, can benefit from using the tool to get information on a daily and hourly basis. For example, a mother of an asthmatic child can check the current AQI to decide if her child should go outdoors to play soccer. Health care providers can urge sensitive patients and the public to consider the AQI in planning outdoor activities. Media outlets can also show pollutant readings on Google Earth.

+ AirNow & Google Earth

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

+ Google U.S. Web search share jumps to 58.5 percent (via Reuters)

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