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Baidu launches Chinese handwriting input search
17
Jun
Jun
China's leading search engine Baidu launched a new service allowing users to search the web via a Chinese handwriting input method.
Baidu's handwriting input method
If you go to Baidu.com, you now have the possibility to use the handwriting input method. It means that you can use your computer mouse to write down the strokes of the Chinese character keywords in the search box.
Based on the shapes of the Chinese characters, Baidu's Chinese character recognition and keyword association functions will provide several possible characters for users to choose. In addition, users can make changes and deletions to the input content.
The new service doesn't require the installation of any web plug-in and can be started by a simple click on the search engine page (手写).
Social search service
A representative in charge of Baidu's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program explained that though the growing number of Internet users in China, Chinese Internet population is still diversified.
Some people, notably old and young users, might not be familiar with the existing input methods mainly based on Pinyin. It could be hard for them to complete searches on Baidu.com by inputting keywords with keyboards.
Moreover, it can be difficult to search for information related to some rarely used words with the Pinyin input methods if people don't know the pronunciations of these words.
Baidu's new web handwriting input method aims to solve these problems.
Google site wide Search Box in SERP
14
Jul
Jul
Google added site wide search box in SERP. It's the same thing as searching in google using "site" operator. for example (site:them.pro seo) will show you all the pages of this website about search engine optimization. Google started testing this feature last year, and now it's live.
As you can see on the example above, when you type microsoft, there is a search box in the search engine response page (see it here). They use it mainly for the very very big websites... maybe someday will it appear on them.pro.
The logic behind it is that "when you type imdb, it is more likely you are looking for a specific film page" ... well, that sounds wise to me.
It's also a way for google to make you (and me) use their search functions instead of the ones imbed in the targeted website, and that's smart too. king of search (aka google) is not ready to let his place to yahoo, baidu or bing as it seems... who doubted that anyways.
Google Search Box Links
8
Jul
Jul
Google introduced links in its search box. I think it's a very smart move, and here is why :
1) Many (millions) of people type the address of a website in the search box of google instead of typing it directly in their browser's address bar (internet explorer, firefox, chrome, opera or safari). So, if google puts a link, then they don't have to click the search and then chose the first response. They can directly click the link without search. Less clicks = Better service.
2) Google will lose money, still they do it to improve their service and their clients satisfaction. This is at the heart of their philosophy (remember there is no ad on google home page ;o). why will they lose money? because when you make a search, on the right side you have the ads (and thus money for google). so if you click on the link in the search box without doing the search... then you never see the ads, you never have the chance to click on the ads, so they don't earn money! But since they care more about the user experience... they do it anyways.
3) There is no doubt that in the long run, this strategy is better. you are one click away from another search engine, the more they improve their service, the more likely you will stick to them... and they know it... and more important, they act according to what they know. I think these kinds of decisions are hard (because you lose money), but they are better in the long run. and google wants to compete for the long run, no one doubts that...
