Google search reportedly 'de-ranking' direct iTunes app store links
Reports on Tuesday point to a possible "de-ranking" of direct iTunes App Store links in Google's search results, with some titles not showing up for six or more pages unless the word "iTunes" is entered in the text box.
Search for "Facebook" while not logged in.
First spotted by TechCrunch, the purportedly recent change in operation seems to affect apps differently and is not a wholesale downgrading of URLs leading to iTunes. A number of variables, including app popularity and whether a user is logged in with their Google account still factor into the search engine's results, though on the whole, links to Apple's App Store appear to be buried below less relevant results.
AppleInsider was able to confirm that signing into Google did cause an app link's location to change slightly, even if the app was a huge title like Facebook. In that example, a search for the term "Facebook" was executed when not logged in, resulting in a first-page hit for the Android store link to the app. The iTunes link showed up on page 7 of the query. Performing the same search after logging in, Facebook for iOS showed up on page 6, while the Android version was still in the top-5 on page one.
Interestingly, time seems to play a factor in Google's algorithm, as a repeated test of the Facebook search yielded different results just minutes after the first query was completed. While the exact nature of Google's search algorithm is largely a mystery, and the company has been known to modify the code, the "de-ranking" of direct iTunes links has raised a few eyebrows.
The results could very well be a bug in Google's latest
search algorithm, as the popularity of Apple devices and sheer number of users seeking out apps for iOS is likely large.
One method of getting to the iTunes preview of an iOS app is to include the term "iTunes" in the search bar, though this method may not be obvious to consumer unfamiliar with the Apple's App Store ecosystem.
Search for "Facebook" while not logged in.
First spotted by TechCrunch, the purportedly recent change in operation seems to affect apps differently and is not a wholesale downgrading of URLs leading to iTunes. A number of variables, including app popularity and whether a user is logged in with their Google account still factor into the search engine's results, though on the whole, links to Apple's App Store appear to be buried below less relevant results.
AppleInsider was able to confirm that signing into Google did cause an app link's location to change slightly, even if the app was a huge title like Facebook. In that example, a search for the term "Facebook" was executed when not logged in, resulting in a first-page hit for the Android store link to the app. The iTunes link showed up on page 7 of the query. Performing the same search after logging in, Facebook for iOS showed up on page 6, while the Android version was still in the top-5 on page one.
Interestingly, time seems to play a factor in Google's algorithm, as a repeated test of the Facebook search yielded different results just minutes after the first query was completed. While the exact nature of Google's search algorithm is largely a mystery, and the company has been known to modify the code, the "de-ranking" of direct iTunes links has raised a few eyebrows.
The results could very well be a bug in Google's latest
search algorithm, as the popularity of Apple devices and sheer number of users seeking out apps for iOS is likely large.
One method of getting to the iTunes preview of an iOS app is to include the term "iTunes" in the search bar, though this method may not be obvious to consumer unfamiliar with the Apple's App Store ecosystem.
Comments
Of course, Google's Android FB app always shows on the first page.
I'd bet money the android apologists sipping too much of their own koolaid will somehow spin this to suit their iHating agenda.
Easy... iTunes sucks at doing SEO for URLs
iTunes: Facebook
Play: Facebook
All Apple needs is about 2 million servers and an algorithm (or 2)...then create their own search/ad company. Why not?
No problem for me. I always type "iTunes" as part of my search anyway when I'm looking for media. If Google's idea is to eventually compete against iTunes, they've got a long way to go before they can match its convenience and integration.
Well, I really want to blame google, but they are just using their strengths. Apple is no little boy, they have everything (rightfully) now. Don't like it? Then make a better search engine.
What bothers me is that Apple always tries the nice guy approach and are risking nothing at all. I would like something like google secret labs, previous at&t (bell?) labs, etc from apple. If some projects are total failures (they can't be, there's always something of substance... some great ideas that can be used on other projects) what's the harm? A billion less in net profit? that's nothing for Apple. They could invest on pretyy much anything and still being not harmed (as a company) by failures. 10 billion profit each quarter and a 150 billion wallet + 0 debt. What are they waiting for? Why isn't Apple buying Tesla, space X, building a flying and free transportation infrastructure, deploying free and ultrafast internet (that's vital for the cloud, afterall), etc?
Hell... Look at SAMSUNG (lol). Shit products, but selling tons of them because of ads alone. Why doesn't Apple do the same? I never saw a public Apple ad here. Meanwhile, I can't take a shit without having the word samsung 10cm away.
Solar power already powers the whole planet. Why not buy and improve the whole solar industry? lol Look at solarcity!
Elon Musk is the right man to be Apple's CEO.
*samsung instead of "something". typo
Just because we don't hear about "Apple labs" or because Apple doesn't run yelling about whatever stupid project they're working on doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pendergast
Just because we don't hear about "Apple labs" or because Apple doesn't run yelling about whatever stupid project they're working on doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
IF you never heard of it, if it isn't being used, it does not exist.
Hell, look at this (0:13):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d96eGWviEx0
"watch wrestlemania like never before on your samsung devices" followed by an iPhone, an iPad and a generic TV. It's hillarious.
Why isn't Apple suing them to oblivion?
http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-22003551
Quote:
Originally Posted by malta
Easy... iTunes sucks at doing SEO for URLs
You shouldn't need back links to the specific query string when your domain and subdomain are as popular as Apple.
From an SEO basics perspective the page is well constructed with respect to <meta><keywords><description><title><h1><h2>
Perhaps Apple should put a Google+ link on their page. That'll get them bumped up a couple pages /s
Quote:
Originally Posted by Crosslad
Why is it that the more bad publicity Google gets the higher their share value goes?
http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-22003551
Because they are fighting with everything they can, even spending 25 billion on Android (with 0 return) just to become more relevant and impossible to avoid. That's a good thing.
With Android (as long as samsung does not stab them) they have power. Dozens of companies depend on Android and please, let's not pretend that forked versions have any chance to survive if google stops developing Android. Google is inevitable.
They risked half of their money on Android. If Apple spends 1/135th of their cash on something, looks like the world will end. /s
Apple should monetize Android and become inevitable too. How? Create their own Android Store, deploy iTunes ecosystem and profit. Make safari for Android (it isn't hard to make a better mobile browser than chrome). Create accessories. Create a better search engine. Put the much superior (technologically, info comes with time) Apple maps on Android. On the process, advertise the hell of it, and make users "learn" how great Apple is. It worked before, on Windows.
one more: Go berserk with iWork and put it on windows and Android.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mstone
Perhaps Apple should put a Google+ link on their page. That'll get them bumped up a couple pages /s
Lol
Quote:
Originally Posted by pedromartins
Because they are fighting with everything they can, even spending 25 billion on Android (with 0 return) just to become more relevant and impossible to avoid. That's a good thing.
With Android (as long as samsung does not stab them) they have power. Dozens of companies depend on Android and please, let's not pretend that forked versions have any chance to survive if google stops developing Android. Google is inevitable.
They risked half of their money on Android. If Apple spends 1/135th of their cash on something, looks like the world will end. /s
Apple should monetize Android and become inevitable too. How? Create their own Android Store, deploy iTunes ecosystem and profit. Make safari for Android (it isn't hard to make a better mobile browser than chrome). Create accessories. Create a better search engine. Put the much superior (technologically, info comes with time) Apple maps on Android. On the process, advertise the hell of it, and make users "learn" how great Apple is. It worked before, on Windows.
one more: Go berserk with iWork and put it on windows and Android.
Hey not bad !
Cant ever see it happening but then again - why not ?
What much superior technology is Apple using for it's maps? Vector graphics? The Android version of Google Maps used that technology for a while now and now the iOS version uses it.
You sure that you're not a closet Google-head? Because you want everything for free.
1) They say "these digital devices" and the only one with a Samsung logo is the TV, the others say mobile or tablet below them and I think they have some WWE logo on their displays.
2) Pro tip: You can post exactly where you want people to start playing a clip by adding &t=XXhXXmXXs to the URL. For example: