Microsoft Wants In On Social Search
February 4, 2013
Facebook’s Graph Search launched recently and quick as a hare Microsoft follows with its own social search. ZDNet reports that “Bing And Beyond: How Microsoft Is Attacking ‘Social Search.’” Microsoft is not a social networking company, but it does use Bing’s social sidebar to sync with Facebook. Microsoft now allows more Facebook content via the social sidebar. How much? An average of five times more information from links, status updates, photos, and all the usual Facebook content.
Microsoft and Facebook already have an ongoing deal and the PC-maker wanted to remind users of its existence:
“Microsoft officials played up the increased Facebook integration in a January 17 Bing Community blog post. Two days ago, when Facebook announced its Graph Search technology, the Bing team reminded users that Microsoft is still providing Web search for Facebook. Bing isn’t providing any of the back-end search for Graph Search, however.”
Microsoft and Facebook may be partners right now, but judging how Facebook is trying to compete with Google search by developing an in-house search tool. They might be closer to a dissolution than we think. Microsoft sounds like the gold star student, who is suddenly replaced by a new kid. Microsoft is standing in the back and waving its hand, “I can do that too! Don’t forget about me!”
Whitney Grace, February 04, 2013
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Beyond Search
Facebook Graph Search No Threat to Google Search
February 1, 2013
Contrary to some early predictions, it looks like Google has nothing to worry about from Facebook’s just-released “graph search” function. The Manila Times reports, “Facebook’s New Search Product Not Threat to Google – Analysts.” The brief write-up reports:
“After Facebook rolled out the friends-based search product on Tuesday, people began thinking about the question of how this new feature could affect Google, the king of search. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that ‘graph search’ is different from an all-purpose search engine. His view was agreed by experts, who said that compared with Facebook’s focus on the network of friends, the search function of Google takes a much more holistic approach. Analysts agreed that Facebook’s search tool is unlikely to challenge Google’s leading position in web search at least in the near future.”
The new feature allows users to tap into opinions and recommendations expressed by their “friends” when searching for information. Our own leader, Stephen E. Arnold, has observed that it functions better for some folks than for others, and that the less superficial the search, the less useful it is. Thanks, but no thanks.
If you’re getting a sense of déjà vu, it may be because of similar social-linked moves last year by Microsoft and, yes, Google itself. Microsoft tied recommendations from Foursquare into their Bing results, while Google connected Google+ data with its search (opting out is possible). All three implementations seem like either-love-it-or-hate-it propositions. But, hey, all is well as long as the advertisers are happy.
Cynthia Murrell, February 01, 2013
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
Business Think and the Social Media
January 31, 2013
I read “Which Social Media Work?” I get the dead tree edition, which is getting thinner and thinner it seems, of the Wall Street Journal. The story appears on B8 in the January 31, 2013, issue. You may be able to find the story online at www.wsj.com.
The main point of the write up is that the Wall Street Journal’s professionals have researched the subject, done a survey I think, talked to gurus, and produced a league table. Big finding: Small business is sort of on the fence. The “working” social media service is LinkedIn. The Losers include Google’s properties and Pinterest. Stuck in nowhere land—that is, the middle—are Facebook and Twitter.
Okay. Let’s assume the ranking is correct. The write up asserts:
Six out of 10 small business owners say they believe social media tools are valuable to their company’s growth—but most aren’t impressed by Twitter Inc.
I am not particularly social. I think I pay a paralegal to be “me” on social media. I am not sure because, I don’t talk to the paralegal. Remember. I am not social.
My take on the social media angle pursued by the Wall Street Journal is that using it is probably less of a challenge than tapping phones or performing some other interesting actions to get information.
However, the league table raises some questions for me:
First, isn’t LinkedIn a haven for job seekers, consultants trying to build a footprint, and marketers who are pushing every possible button to make a sale? I find that the baloney which flows to my email from LinkedIn is essentially useless. If I don’t “participate” in a group, I get told, “Hey, goose, you aren’t using this service. You’re out.” I feel like Heidi Klum is saying, “You aus.” Free LinkedIn, I believe, is different from for fee LinkedIn. Since I don’t pay, I am not 100% certain of this difference, but I am not looking for a job nor am I trying to create an impression in the social snow bank.
Second, isn’t Twitter a gem for the 20 somethings who live in Silicon Alley and Silicon Valley. Twitter does not do too much here in Harrod’s Creek. Ergo: Perhaps the value or perceived value depends on the tweeters’ location? Just a thought.
Third, Google is in the process of requiring people to join Google Plus. YouTube is on the path to monetization. Will Google charge for premium social services? Will Google just buy LinkedIn and get it over with? My point is that in terms of utility, Google probably deserves to be in the vast wasteland of the middle of the pack. I am not sure small business knows what Google’s trajectory is. If small business owners were clued in, there might be a different perception. Until then, Google is a solid C according to the write up.
Fourth, Facebook is near the top. But Facebook is only “sort of” for small business or any business. Facebook wants to sell ads. I am not sure if Facebook wants to serve small business with anything other than an invoice for messages pumped to the 800 million or more Facebook users.
Net net: Silly stuff because Google and Facebook are the big dogs. The other outfits in the league table are biscuits to be eaten or ignored. Honk and quack.
Stephen E Arnold, January 31, 2013
Graph Search Makes Facebook Rival Google
January 30, 2013
Facebook’s search application has never been very strong. Yandex’s Wonder application has urged Facebook to bump up its search development and launch the new Graph Search. Steve Cheny’s blog takes an in depth look at the new Graph Search in his post: “Graph Search’s Dirty Promise And The Con Of The Facebook ‘Like.’” Graph Search is supposed to compete with Google and allow users to search all of the content on their social networks. Cheny says that Graph Search is much weaker than Facebook wants to admit and most of the data it searches is outdated.
Cheny explains that Facebook has convinced companies that they need to buy fans, meaning “likes” on Facebook. Facebook’s users are not its customers, rather these companies are and they have spent 50% of their advertising budget on Facebook campaigns. All of this produces a lot of data and connections, but Cheny argues that it will not meet users’ real needs.
“The truth is Graph Search deserves the exact disclaimer FB gave it… it’s a beta product. Through time, iteration, and effort it can and will be a useful tool for FB power users who are well connected, to find people and to sift through memories. But the fact is we’re living in a web where services are unbundling, and social is unbundling too. You simply can’t roll up recommendations for people, places, and interests into a service that’s one size fits all. “
Of course Graph Search is a beta. It will not decide what you do, only try to influence your decision. Facebook have you failed in search?
Whitney Grace, January 30, 2013
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Beyond Search
Facebook Changes Privacy Policy Again
January 30, 2013
In light of the Facebook’s aim to improve its search and make more money, the social network Web site changed its privacy policy yet again. Quartz has more info on the change in the article, “Ahead Of Graph Search Launch, Facebook Removed The Ability To Opt Out Of Search Results.” Facebook changed the privacy policy due to a new search tool called Graph Search that allows users to search their networks for queries about restaurants, friends’ locations, and likes. It is a big step up for Facebook as its search functions have been extremely limited. Facebook hopes that advertising and use more of its user data.
Users cannot opt out fully from search results, but they can still control who sees their content. The Federal Trade Commission has been keeping tabs on Facebook and its privacy policy and has issued a heavy fine if the social network refuses to follow rules:
“The FTC settlement mandates that Facebook submit to annual privacy audits for 20 years and pay $16,000 per day for any violations. It also requires Facebook to “obtain the user’s affirmative express consent” when adding a feature that “materially exceeds the restrictions imposed by a user’s privacy setting.” The changes to Facebook’s privacy policy in December may have given Facebook clearance to debut Graph Search, although for now, at least, the company is also asking users to sign up for the feature.”
Facebook makes it hard to keep your information private, so always remember to watch what you post. It will come up in search when you least expect it.
Whitney Grace, January 30, 2013
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Beyond Search
Is Facebook a Rip Off of 16th Century Academics
January 28, 2013
To us, it seems Facebook has taken over the Internet. The giant social network that promotes sharing data and creating a web of relationships is a real innovation, rising above the crowd online and off. Or is it a ripoff of a 16th century monk? After reading “Facebook Concept Used by 16th Century Scholars, Researchers Discover” on Phys.org, we are not so sure.
The article states that our obsession with social networking is nothing new. Researchers say this idea of creating groups or networks and then exchanging information dates back to the 16th century where young scholars created nicknames and developed mottos and emblems to form groups where information was shared. We learn:
“Professor Jane Everson, Principal-investigator, said: ‘Just as we create user names for our profiles on Facebook and Twitter and create circles of friends on Google plus, these scholars created nicknames, shared – and commented on – topical ideas, the news of the day, and exchanged poems, plays and music.
‘It may have taken a little longer for this to be shared without the internet, but through the creation of yearbooks and volumes of letters and speeches, they shared the information of the day.’”
The discovery was made when a team of academics were cataloging the works of the Italian Academies. Too bad for the monks, this copycat system is alive and thriving with no thanks to these early scholars. We think the similarities between our societies is fascinating and salute these early monks for the innovation.
Andrea Hayden, January 28, 2013
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Beyond Search
Facebook Graph Search Finally Arrives
January 22, 2013
Graph search is finally here; the highly anticipated answer to Facebook’s abysmal user search experience. The announcement leaves users and experts alike wondering about the functionality, but on the surface, hey, you can now search Facebook. ComputerWorld offers a nice write-up in, “How Facebook Built Graph Search and What it Means to Social Media.”
After dealing with the user experience side of the coin, the discussion turns to the developer side:
“To create Graph Search, the engineers likely used some combination of open source tools that are available on the market, combined with internally-developed code written specifically for Facebook’s extremely unique use case, predicts Jeffrey Kelly, big data expert at The Wikibon Project. Tools like Apache Lucene Solr and Cassandra- used by Netflix to index its movie library in Amazon Web Service’s cloud. ‘FB doesn’t use straight off the shelf software and hardware,’ he says. ‘They can’t, they either customize open source technology or develops it in-house.’”
Open source continues to make headlines, and Facebook is of course a highly visible open source user. Apache Lucene supports a number of other highly successful products including an open source enterprise leader, LucidWorks. Enterprise search doesn’t always make the big flashy headlines, but it is an important lynchpin of successful, dependable business, and therefore a necessary investment.
Emily Rae Aldridge, January 22, 2013
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
Complex Facebook Analytics Tool Available from Wolfram Alpha
January 22, 2013
Wolfram Alpha is famous for its knowledgeable tools and widgets that involve highly complex algorithms and computations. However, many may be surprised to hear about the Facebook analytics tool which is available from the systematic knowledge engine. The article “Use Wolfram Alpha to Dig Up Cool Statistics About Your Facebook Account [Weekly Facebook Tips]” on MakeUseOf tells readers how to get detailed facebook information about their account.
The article shares:
“With the Wolfram Alpha Facebook analytics tool, you can find out a huge amount of information about your Facebook account. It’s quite fun to see which of your posts or photos are the most popular, who your top commenters are, who is sharing your posts the most and more interesting tidbits. Plus, it’s easy to use this tool and completely free. Why not have a go?”
I decided to have a go with the Facebook tool, and was overwhelmed with the amount of detailed information I was provided. Wolfram Alpha told me everything from the moon phase at the time of my birth to statistical data about the top contributors on my page. Of course, all of this information is readily available to anyone with access to my page. This tool is fun, but may encourage others to consider resetting the privacy settings on their accounts.
Andrea Hayden, January 22, 2013
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Beyond Search
Yandex Creates Powerful Facebook Search App
January 19, 2013
We know that Facebook is very protective of its services/ products and that their practices concerning user data are questionable. What will Facebook do, however, with Yandex’s new search app? Tech Crunch announced, “Russian Giant Yandex Has Secretly Built A Killer Facebook Search Engine App Codenamed ‘Wonder’.” The search engine app allows users to ask what content and businesses friends visited. Facebook prohibits search engines to use its data without permission. A spokesperson from Yandex was not able to comment on Wonder, but did confirm the company as interested in mining social data and building social products.
Wonder works by allowing its users to vocally search for information and it lists whether their friends have searched for it as well. Yandex so far has limited themselves to the Russian market, but Google and other competitors have eaten away at its revenue and so they are turning to other areas. Some areas are mobile, maps, and app discovery for services/products.
What does Facebook think about this? Facebook tried to allow its users to search friends’ content with Nearby. Also Wonder might use too much of Facebook’s user data and Facebook does not volunteer user information to search engines, which Wonder might do. Facebook is taking its own steps to get into search:
“CEO Mark Zuckerberg himself explained at TechCrunch Disrupt SF that Facebook is getting into search:
‘Search is interesting. I think search engines are really evolving to give you a set of answers’’ I have this specific question, answer this question for me.’ Facebook is pretty uniquely positioned to answer the questions people have. ; What sushi restaurants have my friends gone to in New York in the last six months and Liked?’ These are questions that you could potentially do at Facebook if we built out this system that you couldn’t do anywhere else. And at some point we’ll do it. We have a team working on search.’”
There are various options that Facebook could do with Wonder: buy it, make a joint partnership, grant permission, etc. but we will have to wait and see what will happen. We do know that users are demanding Facebook create a better search engine and Wonder is making them work faster to develop it.
Whitney Grace, January 19, 2013
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Beyond Search
Facebook Search: How Disruptive?
January 16, 2013
Lots of punditry today. Facebook rolled out graph search. A registered user can run queries answered by content within the Facebook “database.” How will it work? Public content becomes the corpus. Navigate to the BBC write up “Facebook Unveils Social Search Tools for Users.”
A comment by Facebook’s founder which caught my attention was:
“We look at Facebook as a big social database,” said Mr Zuckerberg, adding that social search was Facebook’s “third pillar” and stood beside the news feed and timeline as the foundational elements of the social network.
The former Googler allegedly responsible for Facebook’s search allegedly observed:
On graph search, you can only see content that people have shared with you,” developer Lars Rasmussen, who was previously the co-founder of Google Maps, told reporters.
So no reprise of the various privacy missteps the GOOG made. Facebook wants to avoid some of its fast dancing over privacy too.
How disruptive will Facebook search be?
First, the Facebook users will give search a whirl. The initial queries will be tire kicking stuff. Once some patterns emerge, the Facebook bean counters will slip the switch on ads. That, not search, may cause Google some moments of concern. Google, like Microsoft, has to protect its one trick revenue pony. Facebook won’t stampede the cattle, but those doggies will wander. If the pasture is juicy, Facebook will let those cows roam. Green pastures can be fragile ecosystems.
Second, search sucks. Facebook could answer certain types of questions better than the brute force Web indexing services. If users discover the useful functions of Facebook, traffic for the weak sisters like Blekko and Yahoo could head south. The Google won’t be hurt right away, but the potential for Facebook to index only urls cited by registered users could be a more threatening step. Surgical search, not brute force, may slice some revenues from the Google.
Third, Facebook could learn, as Google did, that search is a darned good thing. Armed with the social info and the Facebook users’ curated urls, Facebook could cook up a next generation search solution that could snow on Googzilla’s parade. Google Plus is interesting but Facebook may be just the outfit to pop search up a level. Google is not an innovator, so Facebook may be triggering a new search arms race.
Thank goodness.
Stephen E Arnold, January 16, 2013
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