“Google search is making it more difficult to surface iOS applications using typical user queries, like ‘Whatsapp iTunes,’ ‘Whatsapp iPhone,’ or searches by app name, for example,” Sarah Perez reports for TechCrunch. “In the past, this would return a page of search results where the iTunes URL would be ranked highly. Today, those links are further down in Google’s results pages.”
“In Whatsapp’s case, the iTunes URL doesn’t even appear until close to the bottom of the second page of search results, when logged in while searching for ‘Whatsapp iTunes,’ and it’s at the bottom of page 3 when logged out,” Perez reports. “It’s even more difficult to find it using ‘Whatsapp iPhone,’ whether logged in or out.”
Perez reports, “This is but one example, of course. The search penalty, or search bug if that’s the case, doesn’t seem to affect all apps to the same degree. And the rankings also depend on what search terms are used, and whether the user is signed in.”
Read more in the full article here.
Google wouldn’t rest their corporate thumbs on the scales of internet search results, would they? I’m shocked! Shocked, I tell you!
Appears!???
Ha!!
The first page of a Google search has been useless for some time now, usually you have to go to page 2,3,or 4.
You were expecting some other result? It’s been sad to watch this company spiral down into evil behavior.
Who the F is down-ranking the above comments? A google shill? FFS, you know google will do anything to hurt Apple, it’s not like this is an atrocious lie. google has shown time and time again that they’re not above being scumbags.
The mole has his ass protected well as he points to Apple Goethe headlines.
Is this the “open” never do evil advantage?
If I’m not getting the results I’m looking for, maybe it’s time to switch my default search to Yahoo.
I almost hate to say it but Bing is better then Yahoo! search. I ditched gaggle long ago.
I’ve been using Bing and Yahoo effectively for the past few months, and I only try Google if the first two options don’t yield a result I need. Because of Google’s poor behavior toward Apple and Steve Jobs, I began to ask myself, “Why should I give Google my search query business, when there are effective alternatives?”
Ranks at top on Bing.
Notice the great rankings the reference to Google Chrome gets when searching for Angry Birds.
I just ran all three of my apps past Google, Bing, Yahoo and DuckDuckGo and Google did the best by far, regardless of whether or not I was signed in.
Gee what a surprise¡
A Google spokesperson issued the following statement to The Verge: “We’ve been having some issues fetching pages from the iTunes web servers, and as a result some people may have had problems finding iTunes apps in search easily. We’re working with the team there to ensure search users can find what they’re looking for.” Its Apple’s fault not Google’s, it would never be Google’s fault. With them its always someone else’s fault.
This from the people who openly solicit bribes to place your web page first. I run several sites and I’m deluged with offers and “advice” from Google and Network Solutions on paid placement. Google is almost useless when trying to find local wholesalers for this reason.
EU should issue $1 billion fine ticket to Google.
been over 18 months since I’ve used Google anything.
Scroogled! Look it up. Watch the videos. Boycott Google and Samsung. Karma will bite them one day!
People still use Google for search? Especially for iTunes content? The only time I use Google is if I want to find a local tradesman, so Google can throw up 2 pages of businesses who claim to work in my area but are hundreds of kilometres away. Google is quickly turning into the Yellow Pages
Here’s a good trick…..
Whenever I am at other people’s house…..friends, family,etc…..get a hold of their iPad, go to settings, safari, search and then select “bing” or “yahoo”. Then quit out of settings and give the iPad back.
They always ask…..”What are you grinning about?”.
I noticed this recently myself, and they don’t mark them as sponsored. Major bullshit. Google. Do evil.
So you all use Google search? You must, you all know how bad it is. I have never used Google search. And never will. Why would people who hate Google use Google search?
We don’t care about YOU vaseline boy.
Go away.
Search any app name + app and you always get the Play store before the Appstore.
Google is promoting their services and not the most popular ones.
That’s why I switched to Yahoo search.
Just went to bingiton.com and tried it. Here are my results:
Search term Winner
keynote app BING
angree birds app BING
angry birds iphone DRAW
please stay calm app BING
iphone app store BING
I based my selections on how close to the top an iTunes link appeared, whether it showed the page for the author of the app and whether it posted recent news about the search term. I really didn’t care who won since I’m not a fan of either Google or Microsoft, but I now see that I like Bing’s results better than Googles.