dusky - 10:04 pm on May 12, 2010 (gmt 0)

I no longer believe this is only about moving data to new infrastructure, it's also about a major algo change and improvement / deterioration whichever way you think. from the G* blog [googleblog.blogspot.com...]

Understanding the web to find short answers and "something different"

is a further solid proof as one of the algo changes and additions, long tail is a last option if "short answers" are the first option. The bit at the end

improved answers feature should finish rolling out by the end of the week

is an understanding that whatever is happening now, is a work in progress. Other features are probably in the same boat.