Cuil is a new search engine produced by a group of Google refugees. They claim their search index is three times larger than Google's. They are also saying they will guard user privacy better than Google does.
I played with Cuil today and I think their best feature is the way they lay out search results. Cuil results are displayed in a magazine like format and includes photos. While too early for me to tell if the search results are as good or better than Google or Yahoo, they are prettier.
Cuil's launch has not been without problems, leading some to say Cuil is not so hot. The service is slow and has been unavailable at times today. Information Week reports these problems and adds that the images displayed with search results are not always relevant. But since they just launched glitches like this are to be expected.
Cuil has raised $33 million in VC and joins a large number of other search start-ups chasing after Google.
I can't get to cuil very often. Usually won't come up at all. They should have bought some bandwith. They take pains to let you know it's pronounced "cool." I hereby pronounce it "swill."
Posted by: JS | August 11, 2008 at 04:41 AM
Chad:
Excellent point. I didn't even think about the relevancy rank. I too like the tabs and explore functionality. But you are right that in the end it is how good the search results are that will determine Cuil's fate.
Steve
Posted by: Steve | July 29, 2008 at 09:38 AM
Personally, I don't like the layout format. Are we to assume the most relevant result is in the top left and works its way down each column? Granted, with any new launch there are kinks to work out, but I haven't found relevant results (or pictures)--quality over quantity.
On a brighter note, I do like the idea of the tabs and Explore by Category function.
Posted by: Chad | July 29, 2008 at 07:37 AM