Comments on: Surf Canyon Launches Discovery Engine for Search http://blog.surfcanyon.com/2008/02/19/surf-canyon-launches-discovery-engine-for-search/ Unleash the Power of Search Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:25:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Happy Birthday to Us! http://blog.surfcanyon.com/2008/02/19/surf-canyon-launches-discovery-engine-for-search/#comment-11772 Happy Birthday to Us! Thu, 19 Feb 2009 22:04:13 +0000 http://blog.surfcanyon.com/2008/02/19/surf-canyon-launches-discovery-engine-for-search/#comment-11772 [...] Canyon has been around since April of 2006, however, it was one year ago today that we launched our application to some very flattering reviews. Since then, there have been a [...] [...] Canyon has been around since April of 2006, however, it was one year ago today that we launched our application to some very flattering reviews. Since then, there have been a [...]

]]> By: Vijay Krishna Ramesh http://blog.surfcanyon.com/2008/02/19/surf-canyon-launches-discovery-engine-for-search/#comment-10450 Vijay Krishna Ramesh Thu, 18 Dec 2008 22:14:22 +0000 http://blog.surfcanyon.com/2008/02/19/surf-canyon-launches-discovery-engine-for-search/#comment-10450 Oh, also (just noticed this) Google has a "promote/remove" feature for logged in users (never noticed this before, but i guess it uses that data to tailor search results in the future) - however, when using Search Canyon, if I click on page 2 and it loads the page inline, the "promote/remove" buttons are not accessible for the later pages. One other thing (and here I'm getting a bit nitpicky, but I really dig this plugin and want to get the most out of it) - when clicking on a page other than 2, it loads all the intermediate pages inline as well (eg, clicking page 7 loads pages 2-7). I understand why this is the default behavior, but couldn't there be an option to not load inline to avoid this? [Editor's Note: The "promote/remove" is Google's SearchWiki that was launched a few weeks ago. We are exploring how to add this functionality to our recommendations and subsequent pages of results. Having all of the subsequent pages inline was a product of technical considerations, but we're exploring ways around that as well. Once again, thank you for your feedback!] Oh, also (just noticed this) Google has a “promote/remove” feature for logged in users (never noticed this before, but i guess it uses that data to tailor search results in the future) – however, when using Search Canyon, if I click on page 2 and it loads the page inline, the “promote/remove” buttons are not accessible for the later pages.
One other thing (and here I’m getting a bit nitpicky, but I really dig this plugin and want to get the most out of it) – when clicking on a page other than 2, it loads all the intermediate pages inline as well (eg, clicking page 7 loads pages 2-7). I understand why this is the default behavior, but couldn’t there be an option to not load inline to avoid this?

[Editor's Note: The "promote/remove" is Google's SearchWiki that was launched a few weeks ago. We are exploring how to add this functionality to our recommendations and subsequent pages of results. Having all of the subsequent pages inline was a product of technical considerations, but we're exploring ways around that as well. Once again, thank you for your feedback!]

]]> By: Vijay Krishna Ramesh http://blog.surfcanyon.com/2008/02/19/surf-canyon-launches-discovery-engine-for-search/#comment-10449 Vijay Krishna Ramesh Thu, 18 Dec 2008 22:09:08 +0000 http://blog.surfcanyon.com/2008/02/19/surf-canyon-launches-discovery-engine-for-search/#comment-10449 Love the extension, it has helped me figure out what I want to know both for work and school on innumerable occasions. One feature request though - I don't like how it ajaxifies Google's results so that selecting page 2 extends page 1 instead of displaying in a new page. I somewhat get why it does this (the idea being instead of having linear search results, you use the top results plus the Search Canyon bullseyes to delve "horizontally" into the topic) but sometimes none of the top 10 results are quite what I wanted, and I'd prefer to view page 2 alone than added on to page 1. Maybe make an option to extend search results vs load on new page? Otherwise keep up the good work! [Editor's Note: Excellent request! The current functionality was more an artifact of technical rather than design considerations, but we're exploring possible ways around it. Having all of the results on one page does have some advantages, such as being able to scan everything that you've seen so far, either visually or with a ctrl-f. Thank you for your feedback!] Love the extension, it has helped me figure out what I want to know both for work and school on innumerable occasions.

One feature request though – I don’t like how it ajaxifies Google’s results so that selecting page 2 extends page 1 instead of displaying in a new page. I somewhat get why it does this (the idea being instead of having linear search results, you use the top results plus the Search Canyon bullseyes to delve “horizontally” into the topic) but sometimes none of the top 10 results are quite what I wanted, and I’d prefer to view page 2 alone than added on to page 1. Maybe make an option to extend search results vs load on new page?

Otherwise keep up the good work!

[Editor's Note: Excellent request! The current functionality was more an artifact of technical rather than design considerations, but we're exploring possible ways around it. Having all of the results on one page does have some advantages, such as being able to scan everything that you've seen so far, either visually or with a ctrl-f. Thank you for your feedback!]

]]> By: JMc http://blog.surfcanyon.com/2008/02/19/surf-canyon-launches-discovery-engine-for-search/#comment-9648 JMc Sun, 02 Nov 2008 04:12:28 +0000 http://blog.surfcanyon.com/2008/02/19/surf-canyon-launches-discovery-engine-for-search/#comment-9648 Excellent extension - very useful, well integrated. However, it doesn't work in combination with Web Of Truth or McAfee SiteAdvisor extensions. Any results brought forward by SurfCanyon has the bulls-eye covering the icons from these two extensions, and I'm not all that keen on sacrificing that extra security for convenient searching. Any chance these can be resolved? Cheers. [Editor's note: We're working on it! In the meantime, you can operate Surf Canyon with the bull's eyes turned off. (Look under Tools-->Surf Canyon Options.) You obviously will no longer be able to click them, but you'll still get recommendations when you click a result and then return to the search page. Update (12/18/08) - This was resolved in <a href="http://blog.surfcanyon.com/2008/12/09/v200-welcome-to-mysurfcanyoncom/" rel="nofollow">v2.0.0</a> released a couple weeks ago.] Excellent extension – very useful, well integrated.

However, it doesn’t work in combination with Web Of Truth or McAfee SiteAdvisor extensions. Any results brought forward by SurfCanyon has the bulls-eye covering the icons from these two extensions, and I’m not all that keen on sacrificing that extra security for convenient searching. Any chance these can be resolved? Cheers.

[Editor's note: We're working on it! In the meantime, you can operate Surf Canyon with the bull's eyes turned off. (Look under Tools-->Surf Canyon Options.) You obviously will no longer be able to click them, but you'll still get recommendations when you click a result and then return to the search page. Update (12/18/08) - This was resolved in v2.0.0 released a couple weeks ago.]

]]> By: Aloha From Hawaii http://blog.surfcanyon.com/2008/02/19/surf-canyon-launches-discovery-engine-for-search/#comment-7475 Aloha From Hawaii Mon, 29 Sep 2008 20:36:52 +0000 http://blog.surfcanyon.com/2008/02/19/surf-canyon-launches-discovery-engine-for-search/#comment-7475 LOVE IT! Mahalo :)! LOVE IT!

Mahalo :) !

]]> By: Deepak http://blog.surfcanyon.com/2008/02/19/surf-canyon-launches-discovery-engine-for-search/#comment-601 Deepak Mon, 07 Jul 2008 11:46:48 +0000 http://blog.surfcanyon.com/2008/02/19/surf-canyon-launches-discovery-engine-for-search/#comment-601 It does not work if I used the link to open in another Tab. :( Editor's Note: Recommendations are generated by either clicking on a result or clicking the bull's eye associated with a result. Using the right-click menu to open a search result in either a new window or new tab will not produce recommendations. We consider this to be a feature and regret any inconvenience. It does not work if I used the link to open in another Tab. :(

Editor’s Note: Recommendations are generated by either clicking on a result or clicking the bull’s eye associated with a result. Using the right-click menu to open a search result in either a new window or new tab will not produce recommendations. We consider this to be a feature and regret any inconvenience.

]]> By: Habib http://blog.surfcanyon.com/2008/02/19/surf-canyon-launches-discovery-engine-for-search/#comment-521 Habib Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:23:30 +0000 http://blog.surfcanyon.com/2008/02/19/surf-canyon-launches-discovery-engine-for-search/#comment-521 It's a really good extension for Firefox, but it interferes with the extension "Customize Google". All additional options that Customize Google would show on a second page won't be shown with SurfCanyon. Perhaps you could fix that behavior. Editor's Note: Only some of the CustomizeGoogle features are "incompatible," but we're working on a solution. Unfortunately, it is not straightforward, so in the meantime we might suggest disabling those particular features of CustomizeGoogle or, perhaps, accepting the result the way it is. We regret any inconvenience. It’s a really good extension for Firefox, but it interferes with the extension “Customize Google”. All additional options that Customize Google would show on a second page won’t be shown with SurfCanyon. Perhaps you could fix that behavior.

Editor’s Note: Only some of the CustomizeGoogle features are “incompatible,” but we’re working on a solution. Unfortunately, it is not straightforward, so in the meantime we might suggest disabling those particular features of CustomizeGoogle or, perhaps, accepting the result the way it is. We regret any inconvenience.

]]> By: Ralph http://blog.surfcanyon.com/2008/02/19/surf-canyon-launches-discovery-engine-for-search/#comment-408 Ralph Sun, 11 May 2008 23:33:03 +0000 http://blog.surfcanyon.com/2008/02/19/surf-canyon-launches-discovery-engine-for-search/#comment-408 I was doing some research on a new project when I ran into a typical problem. The key search words were too common to be helpful in getting to what I really wanted. The one article that was somewhat close that appeared in the first two pages, ended up giving Surfcanyon all it needed to find another 8 relevant hits. Then the ball was rolling. Thanks Ralph I was doing some research on a new project when I ran into a typical problem. The key search words were too common to be helpful in getting to what I really wanted.

The one article that was somewhat close that appeared in the first two pages, ended up giving Surfcanyon all it needed to find another 8 relevant hits. Then the ball was rolling.

Thanks
Ralph

]]> By: Sandy Sanderson http://blog.surfcanyon.com/2008/02/19/surf-canyon-launches-discovery-engine-for-search/#comment-380 Sandy Sanderson Tue, 15 Apr 2008 05:15:32 +0000 http://blog.surfcanyon.com/2008/02/19/surf-canyon-launches-discovery-engine-for-search/#comment-380 I have been working on a research project this weekend defining the video advertising market and it’s competitive aspects. I have been using Google as a primary search tool. In the past the ‘Google-search’ process required an extensive use of manual adjustments of the search terms to narrow down the relevant information amount the millions of returns. Even with the Google Advanced Search functions I am quite sure there are specific sources that I can not identify or sort out of the large returns from the searches. My suspicions seem to be validated. I use SurfCanyon for all my searches with some interesting results. I found that I did not need to do every increasing advance searches to find relevant information. The SurfCanyon returns were always on the mark for the primary finding as well as bringing up topics that were across a range of pages that I may have not gotten to. I believe SurfCanyon reduced my search time by many hours and increased the quantity and quality of the information I found. SurfCanyon has truly made the Internet searchable again. I have been working on a research project this weekend defining the video advertising market and it’s competitive aspects. I have been using Google as a primary search tool. In the past the ‘Google-search’ process required an extensive use of manual adjustments of the search terms to narrow down the relevant information amount the millions of returns. Even with the Google Advanced Search functions I am quite sure there are specific sources that I can not identify or sort out of the large returns from the searches. My suspicions seem to be validated. I use SurfCanyon for all my searches with some interesting results. I found that I did not need to do every increasing advance searches to find relevant information. The SurfCanyon returns were always on the mark for the primary finding as well as bringing up topics that were across a range of pages that I may have not gotten to. I believe SurfCanyon reduced my search time by many hours and increased the quantity and quality of the information I found. SurfCanyon has truly made the Internet searchable again.

]]> By: Andy M. http://blog.surfcanyon.com/2008/02/19/surf-canyon-launches-discovery-engine-for-search/#comment-371 Andy M. Wed, 09 Apr 2008 00:20:42 +0000 http://blog.surfcanyon.com/2008/02/19/surf-canyon-launches-discovery-engine-for-search/#comment-371 An excellent addition to any search engine, and a must for any serious internet user. An excellent addition to any search engine, and a must for any serious internet user.

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