November 2, 2009
is google playing dirty with logos?
A Google search for "Firefox 3.6 beta" offers this helpful result:
What's wrong with this picture?
reactions, thoughts, comments, etc.
Posted by: Daniel H. | November 2, 2009 7:13 PM
I believe they just grab the first image or so from the article. I don't get those results, but in the side that image links to:
http://www.ghacks.net/2009/11/02/5-google-chrome-extension-for-google-services/
Why that article shows up is anyone's guess, probably just a stupid algorithm or SEO spam.
Posted by: Justin Dolske | November 2, 2009 7:14 PM
I see it. It's there for news results also.
I don't care what the reasoning is for it appearing, it isn't relevant to the search query. Ok, so it's about a browser, but not the one that a user is inquiring about.
I don't like this.
Posted by: Ken Saunders | November 2, 2009 8:37 PM
I'm seeing it, but I think the question is more "is the Google news image selection algorithm somewhat mindless, automated, and arbitrary because clustering related articles is really hard?" (the answer to that would be yes :)
Posted by: Alex | November 2, 2009 8:59 PM
I get the same thing Asa does. Clicking on the image brings up a pro Chrome article that has nothing to do with Firefox.
Google is treading on dangerous waters.
Posted by: Omega X | November 2, 2009 9:29 PM
Alex: +1
Posted by: David Naylor | November 2, 2009 10:55 PM
I got a Firefox Cake..mmmmmm...
Posted by: Steve Farbota | November 2, 2009 11:00 PM
I see the firefox cake
Posted by: Todd | November 3, 2009 4:51 AM
No. This happens all the time on Google News. On this page:
http://news.google.com/news/more?pz=1&cf=all&topic=t&ncl=d9VRK0UqNxaswIM8NcydDeYi1V-7M
You see mostly Firefox where it should show Chrome.
Posted by: Ephilei | November 3, 2009 7:19 AM
I get the Firefox logo -under the image it links to the following article:
http://www.thelatestnews.in/firefox-3-6-beta-1-is-now-available/21172.html
..where the FF logo is the only logo there.
Posted by: Eddie Lopez | November 3, 2009 7:29 AM
I get sort of a hand-drawn, non-official Firefox logo from this site:
http://www.littleabout.com/news/42548,mozilla-brings-beta-version-firefox-36.html .
Posted by: VanillaMozilla | November 3, 2009 7:54 AM
I think this is probably coincidence rather than conspiracy. I get a Firefox logo (albeit the old one) and a link to this article:
http://www.thelatestnews.in/firefox-3-6-beta-1-is-now-available/21172.html
Posted by: Dan | November 3, 2009 9:13 AM
Go to the Google and search on "Chrome 4.0 beta". I get an screenshot image from gHacks (the same as your result with "Firefox 3.6"). The ironic thing is that when I click on the link, I get to a page that talks about Chrome's bookmark synchronisation feature with a Firefox ad on it. No foul play here. Besides, I've tried to search countless times on "Firefox 3.6" and I only get a Firefox logo that is being issued by gHacks. I don't see the problem here. Probably gHacks has paid good money to be on top with an image.
Posted by: Remy | November 3, 2009 9:33 AM
Not here, it shows the Firefox icon. I think Google's algorithm just picks an image related to the subject by some keywords. I once saw the FavBackup logo by an Opera article.