I don’t know if many people remember this, but there was some drama a year ago with the launch of a new search engine called Cuil (pronounced cool… like cool beans!). The search engine was created by a former employee of Google, Anna Patterson and her husband, Tom Costello. When I used Cuil for the first time, I really didn’t think it was all that cool. To me, it seemed like a dark color spin off version of Google. (Go figure, right?)
Many years ago when Google took search by storm, I believe that they too also recognized the fact that “search” really isn’t the most important thing to people who use the Internet. Personalization and communication were vital too. While indeed there was a huge buzz about Google, many people just couldn’t make that official “switch” from setting their home page set from places such as Yahoo over to them. Reason being, Google didn’t provide everything an Internet user needed in order to be called home.
Google didn’t have email, they didn’t have forums and groups and they didn’t have news. Over the years Google has been quick to recognize this and has made efforts towards providing Internet users with these personalized features so that they indeed can called “Home”. Many people now set Google to their browsers home page. Granted, I don’t think Google does a very good job letting people know about their services, but at least they try. Cuil.com right now is what I would a black sheep duplicate of Google five years ago. Cuil.com’s home page is black with a search bar, while Google’s home page was — five years ago — white with a search bar.
So here we are, one year later, and what has Cuil done since then? I haven’t really heard any news about them other than the celebration of their first year anniversary and some more recent news that have rubbed a few people the wrong way. As it seems, Cuil decided to write a review and provide their opinion about Bing. In their post, they explained about how they performed various tests such as query tests and spam tests and issued out some fancy numbers that apparently is supposed to make Cuil look “Cool.” I am not really buying into it. But, most importantly… their review isn’t going to make me change my homepage from Google to Cuil. Nor would it make me change from Yahoo! or MSN or BING to Cuil. Nor would it even make feel compelled to actually use their search engine.
I have to admit, I’d bet the farm that Bing will find success quicker than Cuil (Actually, they already have.) I mean, really… why would anyone try to duplicate Google. Or, for that matter, why would anyone try to create a new search engine? I have to admire Cuil for trying, but things really don’t look very bright in their future. Perhaps, that is why they decided to use a black background on their site. Maybe Cuil would have a chance if they provided useful things to users. On the surface of things – and I am sure there is plenty below – it seems like Cuil is nothing more than a lower quality copy of Google. Seriously, what does Cuil have that Google, Bing, and Yahoo! don’t? If there is something I am missing, please… I would love to know. 