Is "Something Different" New in Google Search Results?

[raj1094]

HI,

When I search for a query in Google. In the Left Hind Side bottom it is displaying like "Something different". Is this New ?

[phranque]

i think it was first discussed here a few weeks ago in this thread:
Google search results are plain horrible of late, getting worse?:
http://www.webmasterworld.com/google/4181458.htm [webmasterworld.com]

[Robert Charlton]

Yes, in that thread from about the 52nd post on, depending on how you paginate.

It takes a very general search, usually just one-word, to trigger it off, and it variously suggests different categories, synonyms, or brands that relate on a somewhat equivalent level. Eg...

For [sports]

Something different

football
basketball
tennis
entertainment
golf

For [media]

Something different

art
communication
education
entertainment

For [history]

Something different

geography
philosophy
economics
psychology
chemistry

Definitely a mixed bag, some suggestions more interesting than others.

[phranque]

in the case of brands or sports teams, for example, "something different" typically means a list of competitors.

[Robert Charlton]

:)

For [niners]

Something different

bucs
colts
vikings
seahawks
bengals

[phranque]

even more interesting, for [google]

Something different

yahoo
altavista
lycos
excite
hotbot

.. but not bing!

[Robert Charlton]

.. but not bing!

Probably based on the full database, so the data is skewed by many years without Bing. Niners and Bengals, eg, were Superbowl opponents... one of the great games I've ever seen... but not generally seasonal opponents.

They could slice it historically if they wanted to... as they're doing in various date-range searches.