Google details 50 search enhancements
Google has tied together a raft of 50 recent tweaks to its search algorithms for the first time, alerting both searchers and those being searched as to precisely what has been changed behind the scenes.
Though individually each tweak is relatively minor their cumulative effect is rather significant as Google explain in their in-house blog.
Amongst the most important is the treatment of the ‘+’ character which is now regarded as a normal character, diminishing its role as an operator save when used as part of an equation.
In addition a greater degree of uniqueness now applies dependant on the web browser used to search with Android and iOS users receiving a different set of results for the same search term.
Sports fans also nowe benefit from better live scores from tournaments ranging from the UEFA Champions League to tennis and Russian Hockey.
Useability issues have also been addressed with users who log out of one Google service now automatically logged out of all (including search) and the +1 button will show in search results across an expanded range of territories and domains.
All the changes came into effect last month.