http://venturebeat.com/2011/01/12/google-search/
Some interesting points, but the facebook comparison is tenuous at best. The suggestion seems to be that a system that indexes less contentand ranks based on how many idiots click a blue button is by definition an improvement. Not sure what Mr Yared has been searching for lately, but I can't see that working too well for the sort of searches I do (honestly, their results for "porn" are pitiful) . Likewise if it gets any value I don't see any inherant protection from that being gamed (see same search)
I think he's got quite a rosey recollection of AltaVista as well. Even before Google went public it was broken. Even brand searches for fairly well known companies could often require click through several pages of results.
For the type of searches I do..to fix Google search quality -> Create an optional NO-Adsense, NO-affiliate sites filter
>Which we know they have been doing in reality
not very well then fortunately.. as an SEO I have other interests then as a searcher ;)
I remember being asked to get top ranking on AV for "Dating" because Udate.com had been banned.
I was offered $1000 a day for it, and decided it would be too difficult.... bloody idiot. It has never been as easy since!
I could have done it ... I think. Sign. So agreed AV was broken then.