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-- Posted Tuesday, 29 July 2008 | Digg This Article | Source: GoldSeek.com

Rick’s Picks

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

“Phenomenally accurate forecasts” 

So much for Cuil (pronounced “cool”), a search engine that supposedly was going to give Google a run for the money.  The brainchild of three ex-Google employees, Cuil debuted on Monday with a public relations drum roll and $33 million in venture backing. By late afternoon, however, the drum roll had segued into “Taps,” and it was back to the drawing board. In tests by an initially fawning press, not only did Cuil produce merely hum-drum search results for Barack Obama; after scanning a reported 120 billion Web pages, Cuil reportedly couldn’t find evidence that St. Louis, MO, even exists.  The Obama search turned up mostly links to the candidate’s Web site – not exactly what you’d be looking for if you wanted varied information on the guy.

We always thought Google was overrated because of its vulnerability to competition from any upstart that comes along with a more powerful algorithm.  But if $33 million in start-up capital can’t produce a search engine capable of finding St. Louis, then perhaps we were wrong. Cuil certainly looked the cocky upstart when the day began, and its launch was a headline item on the Web Monday morning, including on Google news pages. But the initial reviews were so atrocious that it may not be possible for Cuil to return to the market again under the same name.  But who would know if the same bunch of promoters were to come along in two months with a re-engineered algorithm and a new name even cuiler than cuil?  Meanwhile, with all the cuil stuff Google packages with its search engine, including 3-D photos taken from outer space of the homes we live in, a competitor may have to give away $100 bills, or free beer, to get users to switch.   

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Information and commentary contained herein comes from sources believed to be reliable, but this cannot be guaranteed. Past performance should not be construed as an indicator of future results, so let the buyer beware. Rick's Picks does not provide investment advice to individuals, nor act as an investment advisor, nor individually advocate the purchase or sale of any security or investment. From time to time, its editor may hold positions in issues referred to in this service, and he may alter or augment them at any time. Investments recommended herein should be made only after consulting with your investment advisor, and only after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company. Rick's Picks reserves the right to use e-mail endorsements and/or profit claims from its subscribers for marketing purposes. All names will be kept anonymous and only subscribers’ initials will be used unless express written permission has been granted to the contrary. All Contents © 2008, Rick Ackerman. All Rights Reserved. www.rickackerman.com 

-- Posted Tuesday, 29 July 2008 | Digg This Article | Source: GoldSeek.com

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