Halloween

If you are bored, go to --
Halloween dot com --

http://www.halloween.com/

Cuil

Cuil is not cool as a search engine. It is advertising and little else.

The above is the review I would have given a year ago. They have cleaned up their act a little. And the results page is appealing to the eye. Rather nice actually.

But they flunked my test phrase (like Google did also).

Still have to give them decent marks for very improved because I know how bad they were.

127 billion web pages? Isn't Google up around one trillion?

Cuil --
http://www.cuil.com/

Exalead

Exalead once bragged that it would have more pages than Google. Like Godzilla, size matters with search engines. I started using Google for no other reason than because I heard it was huge, meaning lots of pages/sites/et cetera indexed or spidered or whatever they do to access them.

I have not used Exalead much. That may change. Just a few seconds ago I typed in my standard test phrase. I figure if they can find that obscure website that I know exists (because I can go to it by typing in the URL), then they pass the acid test.

Sorry Google. You couldn't find the exact phrase even in the top 25 results. Exalead found my test site as result number three. A really good search engine should find that obscure site as result number one. But after testing a lot of search engines, Exalead rates highest. Congratulations, Exalead --

http://www.exalead.com/search/web/

Postscript -- It should be exalead dot com not with that suffix, Microsoft Search and a few other major search engines used to do that nonsense. That's why MSN Search is now Bing.
Google people, gotta give them credit though. I typed in "wwwgoogle.com" and other bad spellings without a dot or spliced in the wrong place and Google still came up.

Surfwax

Surfwax features wiki search, news search (unimpressive), RSS feed search, and a blog search where you have to log in. You can sort alphabetically, by relevance, and by source.

I always laugh (not necessarily out loud or NNOL) at "relevance" wordage at search sites. If it isn't what I want it is all irrelevant. The various search engines and the people who write their algorithms are doing the best they can . . . well actually they aren't. Somebody like me who knows exactly what they want down to the punctuation is frustrated by so-called exact phrase searches. They toss out articles like "the" or "an" which may be essential to the phrase. Exact string search is what I want because I know what I want. Apparently no one else does because search engines get away with second guessing you. The internet used to have search engines that did exact string but enough ranting [somebody give me a couple of million and I'll code the next big search engine]. Needless to say, Surfwax does not have exact phrase or if they did I couldn't find it and it should be easy to find if you have it in an advanced search. Surfwax has something called Focus, meaning their focus words. Overused and most annoying word: "Whatever!"

Surfwax --
http://www.surfwax.com/

Releton

The "rele" refers to your relatives and the "ton" refers to the electronic nature of this derivative search engine.

Releton
http://www.releton.com/

Qwerky

No, I', not on a Q kick. I was working off an alphabetical list for about one day.

What are the quirks of Qwerky? Does it use a QWERTY keyboard?

Quirks:

• Notebook of the Weirdest New Web 2.0 Names!
• Would You Give Your First Born To Name Websites Like These?
• funny one
• 10 Worst Web App Names

Yes it uses a standard keyboard.

Qwerky --

http://qwerky.stellify.net/

Quintura

Quintura bills itself as a visual search engine. It's okay. I rate newbie Bing higher on visual search. For you parents, they have Quintura for kids.
Quintura
http://www.quintura.com/


The people behind this started with a different URL --
http://qube.qelix.com/

If you are a geek into browserless search and social networking, then you may want to download this and become a beta tester.

If you are from the Q Continuum, then all this will seem primitive and quaint.

Prase Us

"We have come to bury Caesar not to praise him."

On the day I tried Prase Us , today, a few seconds ago, it gave error messages and no results. Its meta tags identify it as a page rank assisted search engine that draws upon Google, Yahoo! and MSN (guess they haven't heard of Bing).

Maybe your experience will be different and yes I know it is unfair to judge people on their worst day but cops only see people on their worst day hence they often shoot people (even off-duty cops) and get off with a slap on the wrist. Actually my own experience with police officers and other law enforcement officers has been very pleasant and helpful (even saved my life once). Anyway off the tangents and see for yourself. Praise them?

Prase Us --
http://www.prase.us/

Omgili

It's Omgili silly. Omgili allows search of forums and boards. I couldn't find a discussion board that I submitted to all the engines so I am underwhelmed by Omgili.

Now there are web search engines, blog search engines, and image search engines but few board/forum search engines so naturally my ears perked up when I came across this. My dog was impressed that I could perk my ears.

The direction this site is headed is, in their words, tapping into people's personal experiences, solutions to problems, ideas and opinions.

Omgili --
http://omgili.com/

They're obviously after our brains like the pods in Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

Product and Service Reviews

If you detect a note of paranoia in my blog, there is a reason. Prior bad experience (never was given a reason or an explanation). It left me being overcautious. If there were twenty of me, I might do a blog about what being overcautious does to a nation (it destroys it). However, I am only willing to do things that might result in money to pay bills and I deliberately ignore the fact that I see my country going over a cliff. [This ain't a political blog so I'll leave the subject with this: It is NOT the current occupant of the White House's fault. Its the one before him.]

Which brings me to this self-plug. If someone want me to sell something, I ain't cheap but I can be had. Go over to Product and Service Reviews ---
http://productservicereviews.blogspot.com/

Next time: back to other peoples' sites. One down, a trillion more to go.

Nextaris

A search engine big on sign-up and membership. I've actually known about this for years but mentally lumped it with Nexis and Lexis, the big legal/corporate/academic information service because the name sounded similar.

Actually Nextaris is owned by SurfWax another name that is a blast from my past. I'll be reviewing Surfwax separately so on with the review.

Nextaris allows search, capture, tracking, online folders, sharing, collaboration, and you can publish web pages and blogs. Sort of like Google.

Disclosure: Blogger is owner by Google so I am sticking my head in a noose to even acknowledge that there is a world outside . . . nevermind. This blog is about reviewing websites wherever they are and whoever owns them. Don't shoot the messenger.

Nextaris --
http://www.nextaris.com/

Makidi

No, I'm not kidding. Makidi is a useless search engine. It might conceivably be of use if you're into SEO speak and search engine marketing. If you're a civilian, it is totally useless.

I call'em like I see'em.

Makidi --
http://www.makidi.com/

Ice Rocket

Update on Ice Rocket. I am re-reviewing Ice Rocket because I had second thoughts about the short shrift I gave them. In addition to blog search, they also have Twitter Search and MySpace Search. "So what?" you say and I would agree that you can search Twitter at Twitter and MySpace at MySpace. But it also has news search, image search and something called Big Buzz. The total package is kinda helpful because Ice Rocket found me timely news and information that I was able to put to immediate use. Useful sites make be grateful (they are so rare) hence the re-review.

Ice Rocket is found here --
http://www.icerocket.com/

Ice Rocket

Put your rockets on ice with Ice Rocket.

No, I don't get the name either but this is a search engine for blogs. [In some future post, I'll have to tell you about this really sweet blog search engine I used once on an obscure subject. I forget the name of it but the results I got were very useful].

Right, I'm not reviewing that other blog search engine. Most blog search engines are crap pure and simple.

File Ice Rocket under adequate.

http://www.icerocket.com/

Factbites

Factbites is a nifty site for getting facts quickly. I was doing research on tornadoes and Wikipedia, Ask and the usual suspects weren't giving me the information that I needed. Although Factbites lacks a Boolean search capability, I was able to compare and contrast wall clouds and shelf clouds. I don't impress easily but that impressed me. Pictures I can get elsewhere, I wanted the facts and this site gave them to me.

Go to --
http://www.factbites.com/

Prefound

Prefound can no longer be found. It was supposed to be a search engine.

Do a Google allintitle search to learn more.

Most Popular

The folks responsible for this lens have apparently not given up on it. They added two new sections.

http://www.squidoo.com/Most_Popular

Guide for Young Entrepreneurs

It will be interesting to see how this lens evolves. How about one for us old people over 21?

http://www.squidoo.com/guideforyoungentrepreneurs

Guide to Privacy

Very lean, needs more content.

http://www.squidoo.com/PrivacyGuide

"Your Favorites"

Anyone can review good websites, so I thought I'd review a not-so-good website. The makers are obviously trying to find a niche for themselves and this is one of their efforts.

The focus here is on favorites, theirs, yours, anybody's. Philosophically, this goes to show that most of life is fluff. Case in point, the YouTube videos featured in this lens. Have no idea what potential this lens has but right now it is unrealized.

http://www.squidoo.com/Your_Favorites

Guide to Dating

"Why does an innocuous site like this get an adult splash page?

Answer: Squidoo has become an old maid and has not only kicked off the X-rated sites but anything else with a pulse.

This lens attempts to categorize the many ways people go about mate hunting, especially what criteria people use.

If you are single, this might be worth a visit. And if you don't see your catgegory, tell them since they'll probably add it.

http://www.squidoo.com/guide-to-dating

Urgent

A new lens that examines urgency

http://www.squidoo.com/Urgent

"Guide to Immortality"

This Squidoo lens is trying to get away from the boring approach that most immortalist and life extensionist site take: namely that of take a lot of pills and supplements. If you're going to live forever, it ought to be interesting.

It is true that you have to lay down some foundations like the nuts and bolts of staying alive when their are wars, terrorists, random crime, automobile accidents, and the plane you are on can crash. This lens begins to address some of these issues but it badly needs participation. The problem is basic: young people have the energy but not the interest since they think they're going to live forever anyway (without doing anything to make sure that happens) and old people see the need to do something but have let their health run down.

It will be interesting to see how this site progresses and what it will be like in two years from now.

http://www.squidoo.com/guide-to-immortality

"Controversial Topics"

Want to play a prank on a co-worker?

1. While they are away from their desk, surf to this site (or a porn site or a Michael Vick dogfighting site). Get past the adult splash page. Then navigate or scroll to the most embarrassing part of this lens.
2. Bring the co-worker's boss over to their desk so that they can see what your co-worker is doing on company time.
3. Stand back and watch the fun begin.

This site is looking for the most controversial of controversial issues. Help them out. Send them material or links.

http://www.squidoo.com/controversialtopics

Sarah Connor Chronicles Fan-made Videos Project

From the people who brought you the "Guide to the Sarah Connor Chronicles" comes a second separate lens for fans who want to makes their own episoes since Fox TV and Warner Brothers Television and Halcyon Company can't seem to syndicate this show or put it out in magazine form.

Magazine form would be straight-to-DVD's that people could subscribe to like pay TV or cable. After a full third season, people could buy the compilation of the whole Third Season in a set. Oh, I almost forgot, I was supposed to be reviewing this site. It is a noble effort by the fans. Let us see what befalls them:

"Sarah Connor Chronicles Fan-made Videos" project is at
http://www.squidoo.com/SCCFanVideos

Guide to the Sarah Connor Chronicles

There are several websites dedicated to the now defunct (cancelled) Fox TV show "The Sarah Connor Chronicles." Many have been closed or abandoned after the cancellation. This site however is still maintained and has actually increased in both size (which makes it slow-loading) and readership. Not enough readership however for certain departments and sections (called modules) within it to really flourish. I am thinking of the Guestbook, Rumor Mill, News, Convention, Connoisseur, and Fashion Sections in particular.

It would be a hoot if the Wedding and RPG sections took off also. Since the characters in SCC (Sarah Connor Chronicles) wore street clothes just like you and me, the Cosplay section seems overreaching a bit but, for all I know, the lens is read in Japan where that is big. There is an international section in this "Guide to the Sarah Connor Chronicles" and I know for a fact that there are lots of fans of the show in other countries.

http://www.squidoo.com/The-Sarah-Connor-Chronicles

Reality Checks and Balances

In the "Why didn't I think of that?" department, I report Emeraldstone's "Reality Checks and Balances" blog post.

To answer the question, why didn't I think of that, the answer is that I'm a newbie and no one reads my blogs so the thought of inviting others to share their blogs or links would seem pointless to me.

With millions and millions of blogs out there, I suppose the factors are luck, persistence, and being interesting.