Just when you thought search couldn’t get any crazier, Google comes along and allows searchers to manipulate their product. In a blog post released yesterday, Google announced this initiative, dubbed SearchWiki, that lets searchers vote up or vote down search results while they are logged into their Google account. Searchers are also given the option to make notes or comment on the search results. Since you are already logged into your Google account, Google will track these votes and adjust your search results the net time you search. Google is also allowing you to see how other searchers are voting on given results.

Get ready to see changes in Yahoo’s search engine listings early next week. Search Engine Land just released an announcement from Yahoo, noting that there will be “some changes to [Yahoo’s] crawling, indexing and ranking algorithms over the next few days and expect the update will be completed soon.”

(more…)

This coming November 4th, America will be voting on its future. This future not only lies with the 2008 Presidential election, but also with the FCC’s upcoming vote on the rules of the “white spaces” spectrum.

(more…)

Microsoft recently announced the release of their new “SearchPerks” program, which provides incentives to users to search on the MSN/Live by rewarding them with “tickets” that can be exchanged for prizes.

Each time a user performs a search they receive one ticket. Users can collect up to 25 tickets per day, and you can receive 500 tickets just for signing up. The program, which runs from October 1st to April 15th, will allow participants to cash in their tickets at the end of April. Prizes will include items such as ringtones, music downloads, books and even frequent flyer miles.

(more…)

TechCrunch has posted an article noting that Cuil has lost its VP of Product. Louis Monier has apparently moved on and the speculation is that it stems from a disagreement with Cuil’s CEO on the product roadmap. Cuil continues to stumble out of the starting blocks and this most recent setback only continues the trend.