GoogleProductSearch
Latest
Google Shopping to change formats, charge merchants
It's just about closing time for Google Shopping's free merchant listings. The iconic search engine has traditionally shown us products regardless of a commercial relationship with sellers, but they'll be required to fork over some coin if they want to join the party after the fall. Currently called Google Product Listings, the platform's name and format have evolved several times since the Froogle days. Google says the older model can lead to some shady and obsolete info, whereas charging vendors will "encourage them to keep their product information fresh and up to date." New shopping formats are already being tested with a small population of users and include bigger pics and the ability to fine tune the search based on brand or product type. As the song goes, every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end.
Google under fire for promoting own content ahead of competing websites
This isn't exactly a new allegation, but the idea's spreading fast: Google is tuning search results to favor itself, and perhaps that's not entirely fair. Though the European Union is already investigating Google for potential antitrust violations, a recent article in the Wall Street Journal cites several US businesses that aren't too happy themselves, claiming that Google Places, Product Search and the like took a big chomp out of their traffic. Google's defense, as usual, rests on its secret algorithms, which it claims aren't rigged in any way, adding that the prominent placement of location- and product-based search results are just a way to get users quicker answers to their queries. If you type in "day spa nyc," you're looking for some catered suggestions, right? And what of those who argue differently? Well, obviously they're in league with Microsoft.
Google Product Search gets local inventory information
It may still be Froogle in our hearts, but Google Product Search is hardly the modest price search engine it once was, and Google's now expanded it even further just in time for the holiday shopping season. The biggest addition is local inventory information, which will let you check up on the price and stock status of a particular product at nearby stores -- or at least those that are taking part in the service (there's about 70 retailers to start). Along with it comes a few other features "borrowed" from brick and mortar stores, including "popular products" and "aisles" that promise to help you discover products you might not be specifically looking for, and Google's even thrown in an updated Google Shopper Android app for good measure. Look for all of the new features to be available by the end of the week -- in the US only, unfortunately.
