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Amazon's A9.com Search Engine Goes Live

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the competition-benefits-everyone dept.

scapermoya writes "Today was the official launch day of Amazon's A9.com search engine, which has been in public beta for some time now. It uses results from Google, and adds some personalized features, like bookmarks and search history. Its Java-heavy inteface reminds me of Gmail, which is nice. It doesn't seem like it was designed to supplant Google, but rather to flesh out some things that a certain demographic of people might like."

196 comments

  1. No Toolbar For Gecko Users by DrunkenTerror · · Score: 3, Informative

    The A9 toolbar only works in Microsoft Internet Explorer.

    A9 bowls a Googly


    Karma: Coma, mostly due to Massive Attack

    1. Re:No Toolbar For Gecko Users by aster_ken · · Score: 1

      I read the article to which you linked. Does that not read like a propoganda piece? It puts positive spin on every feature except the A9 Toolbar where a neutral "only works with Internet Explorer" is used instead.

      I wonder if Amazon's marketing guys wrote this.

    2. Re:No Toolbar For Gecko Users by baeksu · · Score: 2, Informative

      from http://toolbar.a9.com

      quote:

      *** Currently the A9 Toolbar runs only on Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 or above. We are working to extend the toolbar to other browsers. ***

      endquote

      Give them some slack, they said they're still working on making toolbars for other browsers, too.

      --
      Gnome: A never ending quest to make unix friendly to people who don't want unix and excruciating for those that do.
    3. Re:No Toolbar For Gecko Users by ricotest · · Score: 2, Informative

      According to the site itself:

      *** Currently the A9 Toolbar runs only on Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 or above. We are working to extend the toolbar to other browsers. ***

      Also:

      Note: We are working on toolbars to support other browsers and other operating systems (and we're looking for great developers to join our team).

      If they are hiring people to port the toolbar over, we should see a XUL or similar port very soon. Which apparently is required for some of the more advanced features of the site, such as adding diary entries.

    4. Re:No Toolbar For Gecko Users by webpro · · Score: 1

      Yes, Google did the same... first they launched it for IE and they supported the development of the Gecko plugin. Yet I hate that they have a different layout, shourtcuts... maybe A9 will be better.

    5. Re:No Toolbar For Gecko Users by dracken · · Score: 2, Informative

      By the way, "Googly" is a cricket term. Some leg spinners (who usually turn the ball from the leg side of the batsman to the bat side of the batsman) can turn the ball in the opposite direction (from the bat to the leg) using their usual action. Usually it leaves the batsmen confused. So to "bowl a googly" is used in the sense of "play a trump card" or "leave the opposition confused".

      -Dracken

    6. Re:No Toolbar For Gecko Users by Old+Wolf · · Score: 1

      Looks like the image thumbnails only work in MSIE too? On the 'Images' section all I see is a bunch of white rectanges.

      (Normally I wouldnt care, but someone in another thread noted that if you search for 'asdf' you get a picture of some big tits)

    7. Re:No Toolbar For Gecko Users by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Google haven't made the toolbar for Mozilla yet, either.

    8. Re:No Toolbar For Gecko Users by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And for completeness: the off-spinner has an equivalent delivery, the doosra; which spins from the leg-side to the off-side (as opposed to the regular off-spin delivery which moves from off to leg).

      This is a very unusual delivery, being practiced at international level by only two players -- Saqlain Mushtaq (who seemingly invented it) and Mutiah Muralitheran. However, in the case of the Muralitheran it is more accurately termed the chukka.

  2. java!=javascript by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    not the same thing, not even nearly.

    1. Re:java!=javascript by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      exactly what i was thinking

    2. Re:java!=javascript by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Heh, I was going to post the EXACT same thing!

      Anywho, to describe more, Java is a "platform" by Sun. You write a java application or applet, it runs in a virtual machine, therefore on any platform with a Java VM.

      Javascript was created by Netscape around the same time Java was, and uses the Java name soley for marketing. The actual name is ECMAScript, as it's a standard. Microsoft, to avoid trademark issues, calls it Jscript.

    3. Re:java!=javascript by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually, there is one striking similarity between them:

      They both suck and the Web was a better place before their existance.

    4. Re:java!=javascript by One+Childish+N00b · · Score: 1

      It's a sad day when the spiritual Mecca of self-respecting nerds gets this wrong. Really.

      --
      Dealing with lawyers would be a lot less tedious if they all looked like Casey Novak.
    5. Re:java!=javascript by Code+Dark · · Score: 0

      I believe that they were correct in referencing java, though...

      --
      - Code Dark
  3. Font? by modifried · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Wow. Do some of the links look horrible on it for anyone else using Firefox 1.0PR? The font is so small that pieces of the letters are actually missing.

    1. Re:Font? by Donny+Smith · · Score: 2, Informative

      yes it does, and if you bothered to look at the few links they have on their home page, you would have seen you can set customized preferences which include font size setting

      Oh, well...

    2. Re:Font? by thamaht · · Score: 1

      http://a9.com/-/search/prefs
      If you have an amazon login, log in, and change the font size.

    3. Re:Font? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why do I have to set PREFERENCES on their WEB PAGE just to fucking READ IT?

  4. Two problems... by neiffer · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I see two problems with this. First, let's face it, since they are searching text of Amazon books, it's an ad site. Sure, it's useful, but it's an ad site. Second, I tested it by typing "Helena" (my home town, the state seat of Montana) and there isn't a single picture of Helena, Montana among the first page but rather pages of women in swimsuits. I don't think adding images without asking for them adds much to searching, that's why I like Google as I can pick the content.

    1. Re:Two problems... by ClippyHater · · Score: 4, Informative

      Unclick the Images button on the right side. Problem solved. And since the service seems to cater towards personalization, perhaps it'll remember that you don't want images included in your results?

      The books button was not automatically selected for me, so you actually have to actively be looking for info in books, it doesn't just serve up Amazon results.

      So, in conclusion, pick the results you want.

    2. Re:Two problems... by dollargonzo · · Score: 3, Insightful

      what you are saying doesn't really make sense. how are you picking the content with google any more than a9? doing an image search on google gives the same results (not suprisingly) as a9 images do.

      --
      BSD is for people who love UNIX. Linux is for those who hate Microsoft.
    3. Re:Two problems... by TedCheshireAcad · · Score: 1

      It's like Google and Yahoo had a bastard child. Sickening.

    4. Re:Two problems... by neiffer · · Score: 1, Redundant

      OR...even better...just stick with Google. That's the point: if I have to play with the interface so much why not just go to the source of the important results?

    5. Re:Two problems... by baeksu · · Score: 4, Insightful

      So don't play with the interface, sheez... The point is that this is not taking anything away from people who prefer google. It's just something that other people might find more to their liking.

      If you love google so much, stick with it. No one is forcing you to use anything else.

      --
      Gnome: A never ending quest to make unix friendly to people who don't want unix and excruciating for those that do.
    6. Re:Two problems... by psyco484 · · Score: 4, Interesting
      Because I hadn't used it before and didn't need to search for anything, I just typed in asdf. The results contain a weird picture that may or maynot be 'safe for work.' They should think about incorporating google's safesearch if they want to include images with every result. Definitely can't use this search engine from anywhere but home if there's a chance a pair of tits are going to flash on the screen when I'm searching for something from the library or my workstation...

      Other than that it seems to work as expected (I'm not noticing the problems other firefox users are complaining about?), maybe in another few months.

    7. Re:Two problems... by ClippyHater · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Guess it depends on what's useful to you. I know a bunch of folk who despise google. They don't want to "learn" how to use an efficient search engine. They want buttons to do the majority of things they're interested in. They want a search history so that if they're repeatedly looking for things, they can find it.

      What's interesting to me is the meta data they have on sites. For instance, I typed a search on Gentoo, and, of course, the Gentoo home page was first on the list. But then I saw a "Site Info" button next to the link. Clicked on it, and was taken to an Amazon (?!) page that told me semi-interesting facts about the site. For me, very cool!

      With the A9 toolbar, the site becomes even more useful to those folk it's targeting. The ability to take notes on sites seems like it could have interesting possibilities.

      Anyway, I think the sites pretty useful. Since I have broadband, the "bloat" doesn't bug me one bit. I also compile modules into my kernel :)

    8. Re:Two problems... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If pictures of women in swimsuits disappoints you, then don't try this query : query at A9.

      don't like pictures .

      whatever.

    9. Re:Two problems... by sfire · · Score: 1

      and the google search makes said image pop up first So I guess you will stop using google too. This was done with "Moderate SafeSearch is on"

    10. Re:Two problems... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's all well and good, but I didn't ask for images to be displayed when I searched, it displayed them by default, something google doesn't do. Yeah it's possible to tell it after the fact to not display images, and it's probably possible to set not displaying them as the default if you sign up for an account...but I'll be damned if I'm logging into my search engine.

    11. Re:Two problems... by moonbender · · Score: 2, Informative

      The web site information is provided by Alexa, a subsidiary of Amazon. They are an internet directory of sorts, they also have a ranking of the most popular web sites. On their homepage is yet another web search engine... powered by Google.

      --
      Switch back to Slashdot's D1 system.
    12. Re:Two problems... by doofusclam · · Score: 1

      I see two problems with this. First, let's face it, since they are searching text of Amazon books, it's an ad site. Sure, it's useful, but it's an ad site. Second, I tested it by typing "Helena" (my home town, the state seat of Montana) and there isn't a single picture of Helena, Montana among the first page but rather pages of women in swimsuits. I don't think adding images without asking for them adds much to searching, that's why I like Google as I can pick the content.


      I know what you mean. I live in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire in England. A nearby beauty spot is called Shab Hill, and is a nice place where you can park the car and take in some nice views of the hills round here. Searching for

      "shab hill"gloucestershire


      will bring up a dogging site as the first link. Dogging, for those not familiar, is the practice of hanging out in carparks waiting for others to make out in their cars nearby. Whereupon the viewers gather round the car and play with their genitals hoping to get asked to join in. Honestly, i'm as open minded as the next man with his organ stuck in a chicken, but these lot piss me off. You can even bring your girlfriend up there for a quiet smoke and grapple, it's not very nice having people hanging around outside my car watching for what i'm going to fumble with next.

    13. Re:Two problems... by doofusclam · · Score: 1
      You can even bring your girlfriend


      By 'can' I obviously mean't to say "can't". Damn Freudian slips.
    14. Re:Two problems... by spacehug · · Score: 1

      It uses Google's SafeSearch to filter images, settable in your a9 preferences. The default is 'moderate'.

    15. Re:Two problems... by irc.goatse.cx+troll · · Score: 1

      I never logged in once. It picked up on my amazon cookie and went from there, really convinient.

      --
      Pain lasts, kid. Its how you know you're alive. Sometimes I think this growing up thing is just pain management-TheMaxx
    16. Re:Two problems... by TwistedSpring · · Score: 2, Funny

      I live in a small town called "Porn" in Russia. When I searched for it on google and A9, all the results were naked ladies!

    17. Re:Two problems... by dswensen · · Score: 1

      I wonder if it's worth mentioning that the same search for "Helena" in Google produces the same result you're complaining about.

      So I guess you have to give up on Google now too? :)

    18. Re:Two problems... by ndoss · · Score: 1

      > They should think about incorporating google's safesearch Go near the bottom of the preferences page. There's a section entitled: Filter web and image results with: with a note that says: Note: A9.com uses Google's SafeSearch

    19. Re:Two problems... by darthtrevino · · Score: 1

      But IN SOVIET RUSSIA, wouldn't "Porn" live in you?

    20. Re:Two problems... by empaler · · Score: 2, Funny

      I wonder how many 'Helena'-searches that post triggered...

    21. Re:Two problems... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      and also Alexa is targeted as spyware/dataminer and all the popular spyware removers identify it as such
      i expect the Amazon toolbar to be classified the same if Alexa is involved

      google search on Alexa's relationsihip with spyware

    22. Re:Two problems... by h00pla · · Score: 1
      Hahahahahaha. That's the funniest thing I've read in a month!

      Would some moderator please give this man a point for 'funny'. Thanks.

      --
      I've been swashdotted -- Elmer Fudd
    23. Re:Two problems... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Goohoo?

    24. Re:Two problems... by jrockway · · Score: 1

      Alexa used to be Gator, right!? I don't think I'll be installing their toolbar.

      --
      My other car is first.
    25. Re:Two problems... by trouser · · Score: 1

      Since the Internet is 90% naked girls, 9% girls in swimsuits and 1% all-the-other-stuff and at least a few of those girls are called Helena I'd reckon it's inevitable that your home town is going to get lost in the noise.

      You could try searching for 'Helena, Montana'. Or you could move. The possibilities are endless.

      --
      Now wash your hands.
    26. Re:Two problems... by levander · · Score: 1

      If you click the reference button on the right side of the results page, the city of Helena, Montana is listed. You click on it, the local weather, an encyclopedia entry for the city, and a dictionary entry are available.

    27. Re:Two problems... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Gator are now Claira. Alexa were (and still are) makers of their own spyware.

    28. Re:Two problems... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't want to be a douche, but the 10th picture returned was a map of Helena, Montana, and there was only one picture of a woman in a swimsuit.

    29. Re:Two problems... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just be glad you don't live in Blue Balls, Pennsylvania.

  5. as someone said last time... by fresh27 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    ...A9 is pretty bloated. It looks nice, but its a little too much for me compared to the slick and minimal style that Google has. A search for 'America' yields a 52.64 KB result page in A9, while that same search yields a 4.36KB page in Google. Size isn't necessarily a problem for me, but I think A9 is trying to pack too much stuff into what should be a simple process. If I want to find movies, I'll go to IMDB, if I want to find books I'll go to Amazon. A9 complicates it rather than simplifying things.

    --
    http://ipod.fresh27.net/
    1. Re:as someone said last time... by slungsolow · · Score: 1

      Well, I am sure that there are people who think otherwise. Perhaps they are making this to cater to people who are hard-core researchers. It is really a good thing if you want multiple different types of information from one source.

      It's essentially just a search aggregate anyway, and its definitely convenient.

    2. Re:as someone said last time... by ScrewMaster · · Score: 1

      So what you're basically saying is that Amazon has successfully managed to Yahooize Google!

      --
      The higher the technology, the sharper that two-edged sword.
    3. Re:as someone said last time... by Finuvir · · Score: 3, Interesting

      It simplifies it for people who can't or don't want to remember all of the various sites you or I would use. A single text box that can find anything is easier than a list of specially-tuned searches.

      --
      Why is anything anything?
    4. Re:as someone said last time... by glitch23 · · Score: 1

      Size isn't necessarily a problem for me

      Lucky for you

      --
      this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom. -- Lincoln, Gettysburg Address
    5. Re:as someone said last time... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      i think you are full of shit!!!

  6. Get a 1.57% discount at Amazon too! by bgarcia · · Score: 5, Informative
    If you log into Amazon, and then go to a9.com and do a search, you will then get an automatic pi/2 discount on every purchase you make at Amazon!

    More details available here

    --
    I'm a leaf on the wind. Watch how I soar.
    1. Re:Get a 1.57% discount at Amazon too! by TedCheshireAcad · · Score: 1

      Amazon is trying to be Google, but they're not quite getting the point. This is reminiscent of the {first 10 digit prime in consecutive digits of e}.com, but in a commercialized way. So close, but so far.

    2. Re:Get a 1.57% discount at Amazon too! by DrEldarion · · Score: 3, Informative

      Some people seem to be having trouble getting the cookie. Going here helps.

    3. Re:Get a 1.57% discount at Amazon too! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I just tried it, and got all the way to the 'Place Order' page, and I didn't see no stinkin discount.

    4. Re:Get a 1.57% discount at Amazon too! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Aw, sucks to be you, eh?

  7. Java-heavy interface? by jpkunst · · Score: 3, Informative

    Its Java-heavy interface

    You mean Javascript-heavy interface?

    JP

    1. Re:Java-heavy interface? by nick-less · · Score: 5, Funny

      > Its Java-heavy interface
      >
      >You mean Javascript-heavy interface?

      Thats slashdot logic: if its slow and ugly, it must be java...

    2. Re:Java-heavy interface? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      " Its Java-heavy interface

      You mean Javascript-heavy interface?

      JP"

      Well, seeing as it goes to a JSP they weren't 100% wrong... :)

    3. Re:Java-heavy interface? by sploo22 · · Score: 1

      Ugly? I agree, the Metal look and feel leaves much to be desired, but have you tried Java 1.5 yet? Or the JGoodies theme?

      --
      Karma: Segmentation fault (tried to dereference a null post)
    4. Re:Java-heavy interface? by Isbiten · · Score: 1

      >Thats slashdot logic: if its slow and ugly, it must be java...

      I thought it was slashdot's users who were slow and ugly ;)

      --
      I fought the corporate America, and the corporate America bought the law.
    5. Re:Java-heavy interface? by scapermoya · · Score: 1

      I did mean javascript, and recognized that once i submitted, alas i was very tired when submitting, too bad there isnt an edit feature. Please forgive, scapermoya

      --
      Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun the frumious Bandersnatch.
    6. Re:Java-heavy interface? by Old+Wolf · · Score: 1

      Hondas are powered by java?

    7. Re:Java-heavy interface? by cpeterso · · Score: 1


      JavaScript is a subset of Java. Sun worked with Netscape to create JavaScript, hoping to later upsell web developers to 100% Pure Java.

      --
      cpeterso
  8. Mod parent up by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    It's rather disgusting how people confuse Java and Javascript. THEY ARE NOT THE SAME THING! You're techies, you should know this stuff!

  9. THIS SOUNDS GREAT!!!! by ferrellcat · · Score: 5, Insightful

    You mean I get to tie ALL of my web searches to a verified identity of myself (Amazon account) complete with credit card and mailing address??? OH BOY!!!!

    1. Re:THIS SOUNDS GREAT!!!! by Jugalator · · Score: 1

      I actually don't think this is a problem for PR reasons.

      --
      Beware: In C++, your friends can see your privates!
    2. Re:THIS SOUNDS GREAT!!!! by janbjurstrom · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Exact same thought. Plus their "Diary" function. Personal thoughts and links tied to an Amazon account (and whatever else), bookmarks, etc. Their "market research division" must be salivating.

      Mmmmm...I'm leaning towards 'no-way-in-hell' myself.

      --
      668.5
  10. so basically.... by SpootFinallyRegister · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ...its google repackaged with some amazon ads thrown in and plenty of bloat. gee, where do i sign up?

    1. Re:so basically.... by AndroidCat · · Score: 1

      And useful additions like "People who have searched for 'goat sex' have also searched for these items..."

      --
      One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
  11. "java-heavy"? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Come on people, it's 2004 and it's time to learn the difference between Java and JavaScript.

    The interface works just fine in Firefox for me.

  12. CNET- by thewldisntenuff · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Had a blurb on this....Apparently it brings porn to your searches.....

    For example, if you search "Frontpage SEO", pr0n shows up in the image toolbar....I've seen it, but haven't played around with it much.....

    Link to the story
    http://news.com.com/2061-1032-5371766.html?tag=xtr a.ml/

    --
    My MythTV HowTo
    1. Re:CNET- by iotaborg · · Score: 2, Insightful

      If you care to do the google image search for "frontpage seo", you will also find that it gets porn. In fact the images are pretty much the same under google's 'moderate filtering' from what you get on A9 (seeing that A9 uses google...)

    2. Re:CNET- by gl4ss · · Score: 2, Interesting

      well.. just try to search for "girls" :)

      what's different in this vs. google is that when you keep all the bars on you're quite likely to see the porno without even trying to get to see it.

      --
      world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
  13. Today? by Noksagt · · Score: 1, Redundant
    Today was the official launch day of Amazon's A9.com search engine
    Sorry to be pedantical, but I see no changes since ars technica announced the official launch a few days ago.
    1. Re:Today? by bjpirt · · Score: 2, Funny

      that would be "Sorry to be pedantic..." then ;-)

    2. Re:Today? by empaler · · Score: 1

      Jesjes, ju må altso learn to tale english before you tæller gryn!

    3. Re:Today? by Noksagt · · Score: 1

      It doesn't have to be--although rarely used,pedantical is a perfectly acceptable adjective meaning the same thing. I like using it--would-be pedagogues can learn that I'm not "stupid," but rather a "stupid-ass."

    4. Re:Today? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      I what a beautiful example of irony you used.

      And yes, before you pedants flame me, Noksagt did indeed use irony in this sense:

      irony \I"ron*y\, n.[L. ironia, Gr. ? dissimulation, fr. ? a dissembler in speech, fr. ? to speak; perh. akin to E. word: cf. F. ironie.]

      1. Dissimulation; ignorance feigned for the purpose of confounding or provoking an antagonist. ...

      [Free Trial - Merriam-Webster Unabridged.] Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.

  14. I would tend to disagree... by GillBates0 · · Score: 2, Interesting
    Its Java-heavy inteface reminds me of Gmail, which is nice.

    with that statement. I don't entirely agree with using "heavy" JavaScript/etc for simple webpage based applications like search engines, which should be as lightweight and minimalistic as much as possible, allowing me to access results without having to rely on helper applications or specific interfaces

    I should be able to use lynx or other interfaces (Google API) to access results without undue overhead, if I so desire.

    It's sad lynx comes up with the following when pointed to http://www.a9.com:

    Alert!: Unable to connect to remote host.
    lynx: Can't access startfile http://www.a9.com/

    --
    An Indian-American Hindu committed to non-violent thought/speech/action alarmed by the global explosion of radical Islam
    1. Re:I would tend to disagree... by ggvaidya · · Score: 1

      Lynx to http://www.a9.com/ is working for me. It's quite neat too, with text results followed by image results, etc. Try it yourself. This webpage degrades nicely :)

    2. Re:I would tend to disagree... by u38cg · · Score: 1

      Guess their page will be inaccessible to search engines then. Oh, wait...

      --
      [FUCK BETA]
    3. Re:I would tend to disagree... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "I should be able to use lynx or other interfaces (Google API) to access results without undue overhead, if I so desire."

      Absolutely. The web should forgoe any useful enhancements so the whole five remaining Lynx users will be able to render a page correctly.

  15. Old News by moofdaddy · · Score: 4, Informative

    Didn't we already read about this a couple of days ago?

    --
    Be better in bed. Wikiafterdark!
    1. Re:Old News by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're right. That is old news. So are you.
      --
      Get a free Ipod?
      Goddammit. Go the fuck away.

  16. Skewed results? by dealsites · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Amazon has one of the best affiliate programs in existance. Anyone with a website can easily sign up with Amazon to make some money off selling items. I wonder if A9 will automagically find sites that have amazon links and rank them higher? It seems like they could help mazimize their revenue that way.
    --
    The Sunday deals are rolling in, check them out live.

    1. Re:Skewed results? by JimDabell · · Score: 1

      I wonder if A9 will automagically find sites that have amazon links and rank them higher?

      You might just as easily wonder if Google automagically finds sites that have Google Adsense ads and rank them higher.

      If A9 does this, and it is less useful as a result, people aren't going to switch to it.

    2. Re:Skewed results? by supabeast! · · Score: 1

      I honestly doubt that this was the motivation behind A9. I say this because there are a ton of assholes who make money as amazon affiliates endlessly spamming google to make their worthless pages appear as legitmate search results. If pointing to affiliates is all Amazon is trying to do, it would be far less expensive to just publish a free e-book on google spamming and update it on a regular basis.

  17. Great! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Just typed in linux and saw that you also get to see pictures and what did my unbelieving eyes find?

    http://www.wejher.pl/mpx/pic/apple-mac10a-linux. jp g

    Great, just great!

    Now I don't dare to search for IANAL...

    1. Re:Great! by ScrewMaster · · Score: 1

      Reminds me of an old one from back in Netscape's heydey that had a picture of nickel-plated 45 caliber automatic and the caption "Download Netscape Negotiator now!"

      --
      The higher the technology, the sharper that two-edged sword.
  18. Better than newgals.com :D by elh_inny · · Score: 2, Informative

    A9 seems a very good tool in searching some decent naked pictures. If by any chance it finds two similar pictures in a row then you can be sure there is whole series you're dealing with.
    Unfortunately I've also found it to a perfect tool for all sickos. When I enter "nude girls" or similar term, plenty of the pictures showed girls that weren't even in their teens.
    Of course I had all the content filters turned off, but I had no intention in watching such pictures and still I had to.

    1. Re:Better than newgals.com :D by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      plenty of the pictures showed girls that weren't even in their teens

      I can't find a single image that matches that description?

    2. Re:Better than newgals.com :D by elh_inny · · Score: 1

      Perhaps you have your filters enabled, just check the preferences...

    3. Re:Better than newgals.com :D by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I turned the filters off, still... no pre-teens here.

  19. Er... by herichon · · Score: 5, Insightful
    From their current privacy policy here:
    Use of Third Party Service Providers: We may, from time-to-time, employ other companies and individuals to perform functions on our behalf. Examples include sending e-mail and analyzing data. They have access to personal information needed to perform their functions, but may not use it for other purposes.
    Business Relationships with Third Parties We Do Not Control: We work closely with some third parties. In some cases, we will include offerings from these businesses on A9.com. In other cases, we may include joint offerings from A9.com and these businesses on A9.com. Click here for examples of co-branded and joint offerings. You can tell when a third party is involved in the offering, and we share customer information related to those transactions with that third party.
    My Amazon history + my credit card number + my web searching history (all searches are saved on A9 servers) + Amazon's stated intent to share information with third parties = a little too close to home for me. No thanks, A9... I'll stick with the relative anonymity of Google.
    1. Re:Er... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nice, now you can't just buy stuff with One Click(tm), you can also loose all your privacy with One Click(tm).

      How long till we will see a patent on this one?

    2. Re:Er... by it_is_L-O-S-E_dammit · · Score: 1
      I'm on a mission...

      --
      It's "lose," not "loose." Please adjust your head accordingly.
    3. Re:Er... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So A9.com is finally live. I decided to try it out, realizing all along that Google is their backend.

      I entered for my first search in Cyrillic, [doesn't display], and got expected results of Russian web sites about Chechnya similar to a Google search. However, there is one glaring difference -- the familiar Amazon.com personal greeting with my real name appeared at the upper-right corner of the results page.

      This is a startling compromise of privacy as far as I'm concerned.

      After several other searches in Cyrillic, e.g., (Beslan), I finally go back to the A9.com home page, and displayed there are all of my recent searches. Convenient? Yes. But unlike Google, these searches, and the corresponding results, are all now associted with me, a known real person according to the Amazon.com customer database. This is too much reality for me.

      Sorry, Amazon.com. I may continue to be an online customer of yours, but I value my privacy outside of that role too much to become an A9.com user.

      I would hate to read in the news next year that the A9.com search results data warehouse has been turned over to TSA for use in CAPPS II.

  20. Size Matters Folks! by rainman_bc · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I use google as my home page for a few reasons, but the main one is size; I hate waiting for my browser, and I'm notinto about:blank.

    Google's 1.9kb. A9 is 20kb. Doesn't sound like much, but Google just loads faster because of it.

    --
    09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0
    1. Re:Size Matters Folks! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      I hate having google set as the home page as it steals focus from the address bar and more often then not I know where I want to go when opening my browser.

    2. Re:Size Matters Folks! by irc.goatse.cx+troll · · Score: 1

      No it doesnt, not unless you're on a SLIP 8000baud connection from iraq. On a modern connection with a modern computer, they both load within the same timeframe: instant.
      When you're on a 3mbit connection (average cable) with a reasonably fast machine they'll both load far faster than you'll be able to notice, something to the tune of 500ms

      If you can actually notice a difference in loadtime, its time to upgrade. Even after going through mozilla's adblock filters it still loads just as fast as google.

      --
      Pain lasts, kid. Its how you know you're alive. Sometimes I think this growing up thing is just pain management-TheMaxx
    3. Re:Size Matters Folks! by rainman_bc · · Score: 1

      Hmmm... Don't forget your browser needs to parse the html and render it to your screen. That also takes some time. Granted not much, but ever used msn.com as your home page? It'll feel like shit because your browser has to work that much harder to parse it. And msn.com is the same size as A9.com.

      --
      09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0
    4. Re:Size Matters Folks! by irc.goatse.cx+troll · · Score: 1

      Hate to reply twice, but also: whats the point of using google as your homepage? you can type search terms into the google bar (firefox or downloaded ie plugin) just as quickly. Frankly I've not even used a homepage since back in the days when lynx was my primary browser. In windows (or KDE, probably a gnome alternative too): Star->run-> http://whateveryouwanttogoto.com and just launch your browser directly to the website. Why load a start page that you dont intend on using?

      --
      Pain lasts, kid. Its how you know you're alive. Sometimes I think this growing up thing is just pain management-TheMaxx
    5. Re:Size Matters Folks! by rainman_bc · · Score: 1

      And for you, about:blank works just fine. For me, i can afford to wait a second for google to load; i use google groups and images a lot...

      --
      09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0
  21. The wrath of Google? by theluckyleper · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Does this not enrage Google? I mean, I know there have been meta search engines around for ages, but none that was so clearly bent on replacing Google itself.

    How is A9 getting the Google results? Screen scraping, or using some kind of API? I don't see what Google could possibly get out of this, since there are no Google ads on A9 to compensate them. A9 even links directly to Google's cache pages! This seems absurd to me.

    Am I missing something?

    --
    Visit the Game Programming Wiki!
    1. Re:The wrath of Google? by Eriky · · Score: 3, Informative
      You can use google commercially like this if you pay them. You can actually use google with the use of API's for free, for non commercial use.

      See Google APIs for details

    2. Re:The wrath of Google? by Finuvir · · Score: 2, Informative

      Yes, you're missing the fact that Google makes most of its money from sub-licensing its search technology, including letting other engines serve their results for a fee.

      --
      Why is anything anything?
    3. Re:The wrath of Google? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Any evidence that this accounts for "most" of its money?

    4. Re:The wrath of Google? by Finuvir · · Score: 1

      Nope, just notoriously unreliable memory.

      --
      Why is anything anything?
  22. Not that interesting by Eriky · · Score: 2, Interesting

    They just combine a few searches, like image searches and web searches. The movie search function just searches IMDB, which I can do perfectly well without a9 by just going to imdb.com. I don't need a search history either, my google toolbar takes care of that. (or the saved form info on any other browser). In my eyes, this is just an attempt to increase amazon sales, by getting some free advertising from the launch of this search service and hopefully (for them) getting some people who will actually keep using A9 though is not that great.

  23. + 63kb of script library by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful


    just teh script library is 63k so that page of yours is actually over 100k, couple that with undoubtable datamining going on (looking at their privacy policy and the "save history" function) and this looks like another MSN search engine but dare i say it, worse.
    this engine has minor benefit to the user but every benefit to Amazon, it even has the cheek to remind me to put cookies on forcing me to click an "ok" to continue

    thanks i will stick to less greedy companies who tend to treat people as people, not as products

  24. search for "amazon" by coshx · · Score: 3, Informative

    A search for "amazon" gives me the ad:

    How to Cheat Amazon

    and a search for "used books" doesn't even show amazon on the first page of results.

    so either:
    1) they're being fair and not taking advantage of their position (yet)
    2) they're not business savvy enough

    1. Re:search for "amazon" by LBArrettAnderson · · Score: 1

      I think it's both 1 and 2.

    2. Re:search for "amazon" by toddestan · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Typing in "search engine" doesn't even yield A9 in the first page of results. Actually, after playing around in A9 some, I kind of like it. Sure, it's a bit more bloated than Google - but with 2Mbit DSL I don't notice it, and the extra bloat is actually useful.

  25. i wonder by OklaKid · · Score: 0

    is it a handy dandy friend?
    or, big brother watching you?
    now where did i leave my tinfoil hat...

  26. insane? by gstone · · Score: 5, Funny
    Here is my user experience:


    ummm ... OK? Seriosuly, are these guys insane including unfiltered image search results by default?
    1. Re:insane? by OwlofCreamCheese · · Score: 1

      yes.... you do need someone to tell you that... he or she should be called 'your boss' because you should have a job, instead of liveing in your mother's basement

      --
      -You're wasting your time. Alfador only likes me.
    2. Re:insane? by Jugalator · · Score: 1

      Seriosuly, are these guys insane including unfiltered image search results by default?

      Sounds sane to me. Default censorship of naked people sounds more insane to me. But then again, I'm not from USA.

      --
      Beware: In C++, your friends can see your privates!
    3. Re:insane? by ckswift · · Score: 1

      a9 gets their results from google....
      Try searching for "anything" using Google Image Search even with SafeSearch on...
      and you will see the same picture that was on a9.

      Moral: Don't search for images on the web if you are afraid of seening p0rn.

      --Christopher

    4. Re:insane? by HedonismBot · · Score: 1

      On the plus side, you also get a pic of Christina Ricci in 'Anything Else', which is quite the treat for the male eyesight.

      --
      Sailors. Oh man!
    5. Re:insane? by logic+hack · · Score: 0

      of course, two naked woman and a9 would be heralded as the new hero of slashdot.

    6. Re:insane? by glitch23 · · Score: 1

      get a picture of two naked men embracing

      get used to it. That is the status quo nowadays

      --
      this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom. -- Lincoln, Gettysburg Address
    7. Re:insane? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      rolleyes

  27. English Anyone? by earthstar · · Score: 1
    Today was the official launch day of Amazon's A9.com search engine

    How could Today be "WAS"?
    Isnt that supposed to be " IS" !!!!

    --

    Why does yahoo do this
    1. Re:English Anyone? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Isn't a question like Isnt that supposed to be " IS" supposed to end with a question mark?

      (Let alone include an apostrophe somewhere)

  28. rock out. by michael+path · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Karma: Coma, mostly due to Massive Attack

    Jamaican Aroma?

  29. Linux, Firefox and its crap font handling by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    looks fine in windows, in lunix its look awful i think this is because of linuxes terrible default font handling, i have spent hours in firefox messing with minimum font sizes to correct it (which i should never have to do)
    but pages still look like shit with or without the MS fonts, slashdot looks ok in nix but in win its "times new roman" which it should be
    linux/firefox really needs to have consistant font handling cross platform, until then we will have to suffer
    this a9 page really does look better in Win32

    1. Re:Linux, Firefox and its crap font handling by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's working fine on my Slackware and Fedora systems so please check your own font setup before criticising Linux.

  30. Like... Dohhhh! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    scapermoya writes>.... It uses results from Google... It doesn't seem like it was designed to supplant Google

    Like...doh! It is based on Google (like many other SEs) so can't supplant the thing that feeds it.

    Is it too much for the editors to do some simple sanity checks on /. posts?

  31. A9 gets my recommendation... by srcosmo · · Score: 1
    I did a search for lol and got Japanese porn within the first 3 image results

    I've been won over :P

    --
    free speach
    Did you mean: free speech
  32. Blame NetScape by dozer · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This confusion is intentional. NetScape's client-side scripting language was originally going to be called LiveScript. A fine name. However, just before shipping it, they decided that they wanted to tie in with Sun's new marketing juggernaut even though, aside from some superficial syntax similarities, the two languages have nothing in common. Hence Java/JavaScript. Pure unadulterated idiocy!! Don't blame clueless users for this one -- this confusion is exactly what NetScape had in mind when they chose the name.

    1. Re:Blame NetScape by smcd · · Score: 2, Informative

      Sun has also said since that it is the biggest mistake they ever made with the Java brand. It would be so much "purer" for the Java brand if JavaScript was still called LiveScript.

    2. Re:Blame NetScape by GarfBond · · Score: 1

      It should be worthy to note that the standards body ECMA now controls the Javascript standard, and can be referred to as ECMAScript (now up to 1.5 I believe)

    3. Re:Blame NetScape by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative
      This confusion is intentional. NetScape's client-side scripting language was originally going to be called LiveScript. A fine name. However, just before shipping it, they decided that they wanted to tie in with Sun's new marketing juggernaut even though, aside from some superficial syntax similarities, the two languages have nothing in common. Hence Java/JavaScript.

      (As long as we're gonna take a rip at intentionally confusiing users here):

      Then in barges the 100-ton sweating gorilla which clarifies it all through marketing b.s. and obfuscation by calling it JavaScript "Active-X" in all their "browser" settings and warning messages ("This page requires Active-X ..." - WTF?).

    4. Re:Blame NetScape by los+furtive · · Score: 1

      ECMAScript is up to version 3, with a version 4 in draft. JavaScript 1.5 is supposed to conform to ECMAScript 3 and JScript 5 as well.

      --

      I'm a writer, a poet, a genius, I know it. I don't buy software, I grow it.

    5. Re:Blame NetScape by JamesGecko · · Score: 1

      Active X is *Not* JavaScript. It's more like an expansion to Javascript or Flash thats much more insecure and only works in IE

  33. JSP = Java; Re:java!=javascript by g_braad · · Score: 4, Informative

    But the page IS made on Java Server Pages/Servlets. So the reference to Java is correct. That it also uses Javascript is very normal... (Still, Sun and Netscape made the first implementation of Javascript together (First Netscape named it LiveScript). Javascript would 'supplement' Java applets. Javascript looks even a little similar to Java itself. Netscape even had a project to write Java dynamically in the form of Javascript: LiveConnect)

    --
    F/OSS & IT Consultant
    1. Re:JSP = Java; Re:java!=javascript by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      But the page IS made on Java Server Pages/Servlets.

      The summary says:
      Its Java-heavy inteface

      JSP and Java servlets are used on the server-side and are irrelevent to the interface. The interface is just what is delivered to the user, and that is HTML, CSS, and Javascript. It doesn't matter whether the interface was created by JSP, Perl, php, or any other method. So no, the reference to Java is totally incorrect.
    2. Re:JSP = Java; Re:java!=javascript by Angostura · · Score: 1

      If the reference is correct then it is irrelevent since it makes little difference to the end user whether the HTML pages themselves are generated by a Java, PHP, Coldfusion or Perl set of instructions.

      Alternatively, it can be relevant, but incorrect since one of the most distinctive features of the Gmail interface is the sheer amount of work that has gone into using JavaScript to build an e-mail client that loads in a Web browser, but which has little in common with the behaviour of most Web pages.

      Personally, I choose to believe that the article submitter was attempting to make a relevant and interesting point, but accidently mixed his/her Java and Javascript.

  34. help me find the associations by sensui · · Score: 1

    Seems to me this type of meta search engines are aiming at having the users to provide the company association properties of information. For example, if this book about Clark Gable is related to the movie or not.

    To me this A9 seems like an extended version of Amazon's 'you might also be interested in these items'. Now they can more accurately figure out that if you like Clark Gable's biography, you are also interested in buying one or two of his particular movies.

  35. java != javascript by Suppafly · · Score: 1, Informative

    Its Java-heavy inteface reminds me of Gmail

    Neither Gmail nor A9 have java-heavy interfaces, infact neither use java at all in their interfaces. Anyone who doesn't know the difference between java and javascript has no business submitting stories to slashdot.

    1. Re:java != javascript by AkaiTora1337 · · Score: 1

      Anyone who doesn't know correct English has no business submitting replies.

      Neither Gmail nor A9 have java-heavy interfaces, infact neither use java at all in their interfaces.

      Neither Gmail nor A9 has java-heavy interfaces; in fact neither uses java at all in its interface.

  36. Go Anonymous by GeorgeH · · Score: 4, Informative

    If you don't want Amazon tracking your searches, use http://generic.a9.com/, which doesn't look like it even sets any cookies.

    --
    Why can't I moderate something "Wrong" or at least "Grossly Misinformed"?
    1. Re:Go Anonymous by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      or better yet cut out the middleman and just visit here, same results but doesnt use amazon at all !

    2. Re:Go Anonymous by GeorgeH · · Score: 1

      Google is not quite anonymous.

      --
      Why can't I moderate something "Wrong" or at least "Grossly Misinformed"?
  37. did you notice... by BigGerman · · Score: 1
    ..that it apperantly has access to all your Amazon related cookies? I tested a9 on one computer and just went there for the first time on this one and it remembered me.

    Scary how they can track you across multiple locations.

  38. USENET search by cmeans · · Score: 2, Informative
    Unless I missed it, there's no searching of USENET/groups.google.com. This is a mistake...it's the primary place I do my searching...

    --
    Give a hand, not a hand-out.
  39. Resist A9! by comforteagle · · Score: 4, Insightful
    DataLibre

    Amazon, or any other one entity, must not own the semantic web:

    Applying Distributed XML to The Open Source Paradigm Shift,
    DataLibre (was: Resist A9),
    & The Future of the Semantic Web is Here Today and is Evenly Distributed

    1. Re:Resist A9! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I second this. By saving your searches, etc., you are creating content. Content that belongs to A9. And how would you take it somewhere else? Own your data.

  40. MOD PARENT UP by sethadam1 · · Score: 1

    That is a fantastic feature. Good to know.

  41. Yes, but.... by sethadam1 · · Score: 1

    That's the whole point of A9.com. It's for them to offer you stored searches on the server side and be able to "help" you by tracking everything you do.

    Before you dismiss it as bad, which it may well be, at least consider it. Because what made Amazon so great was that by simply using the site, it got to 'know' you, suggest items etc. I love that feature. I think it's awesome that the site frequently suggests things I own or want to own.

    Perhaps enough searching on Debian troubleshooting and it will suggest a book on Debian or something. I can see how the two might offer a nice service when associated.

  42. Site Speeds by toddestan · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Something I discovered is when you click on the "Site Info" button, one of the statistics it gives out is a site's speed. I found this pretty interesting. Amazon.com is listed as "Slow". Microsoft.com is "Very Slow". A9.com is merely "Average", but Google.com is "Fast". Gentoo.org is "Very Fast", so go figure.

    The slowest site I could find so far is Tripod.com, in the 4th percentile. The fastest site so far is goat.cx (don't ask) in the 97th percentile.

    1. Re:Site Speeds by irc.goatse.cx+troll · · Score: 1

      goat.cx has no ads, redirects, javascript, annoying embeds, or anything that would slow down the use of the site. Compare that to microsoft, tripod, etc.

      --
      Pain lasts, kid. Its how you know you're alive. Sometimes I think this growing up thing is just pain management-TheMaxx
    2. Re:Site Speeds by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You discovered that..? It's freaking alexa, that's been around for so damn long.

      IMDb's site search has transferred from "powered by google" to "powered by a9".

  43. So THAT's what that was! by superpixel2000 · · Score: 1

    I'd been reading about this for a while, then last night (Sat, Sept. 18) I did a simple book search on Amazon. It brought up the A9 interface you've all seen by now.

    Well, whoop-di-do! If I wasn't "in the know" I probably would have taken my business elsewhere. Strikingly different interface, startlingly different results, and a whole bunch of useless patooey around what I was really looking for.

    Amazon, keep your hot side hot and your cool side cool. Don't spit foo at your customers!

    Yeah, I like it, but I think the average consumer will be nonplussed-- for now...

    Armchair CEO over and out!

    --
    did you win a free ipod? build a case for it here
  44. another middleman by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    i thought the internet was supposed to cut out middlemen

  45. {play with prime numbers}.com by sebol · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    (and we're looking for great developers to join our team).

    looking for job?
    {play with prime numbers}.com

    --
    -- Hasbullah bin Pit (sebol)
  46. generic.A9.com by starling · · Score: 4, Informative
    From the same policy:

    If you would prefer not to be recognized on our site, we recommend that you use our alternate service located at generic.A9.com. On generic.A9.com, we will not recognize your Amazon.com cookie and we will not save any information stored in your A9.com cookie other than your column preferences, which are stored in your A9.com cookie and used by generic.A9.com. Information we gather on generic.A9.com will not be used in our data analysis (other than to detect abuse) and will not be used to personalize the services we offer you.


    That seems anonymous enough.
  47. Always handy by skinfitz · · Score: 1

    Always nice to have an alternative in the event you can't get to Google for whatever reason. Bit of redundancy and competition never hurt anyone.

    1. Re:Always handy by kent_eh · · Score: 1
      I have to question how much of an alternative it is when I see this at the bottom of the page:
      Search results enhanced by Google. Results also provided by A9.com and Alexa.
      --

      ---
      "I can't complain, but sometimes still do..." Joe Walsh
  48. Not java - javascript. by TwistedSpring · · Score: 1

    "Its Java-heavy inteface reminds me of Gmail"

    There is no Java in A9.com's interface, and thank god for that. There is only the misnamed "javascript", which is not strongly typed and is really nothing like Java.

  49. ahem java!=javascript by linuxislandsucks · · Score: 1

    java and javascript are two different things ro animals..

    You would think by now that slashdot contributors would wise up or at least the slashdot overseers would pick up on this obiovus big gaffle..

    Should we test slashdot contributors for reading comprehension?

    --
    Don't Tread on OpenSource
  50. Not kid safe by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'm definitely not going to let my kids use this search engine. What if they got a project on interracial relationships and type in Interracial... Plenty of stuff they shouldn't have to see.

    1. Re:Not kid safe by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Bottom of the page is...

      Goddamned Jar Jar Bastard Binks!

  51. privacy again... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Just remember how worked up people got about the gmail ad bots calculating relevant ads by "reading" your mail, amazon on the other hands stores your search results on their server, allowing them to analyse as much data as they want from this. i don't know about the rest of you, but i know i trust google over amazon...

  52. Why is this interesting? by JamieF · · Score: 1

    Google search licensee has web site. News at 11.

    Oh my god, they put a couple of other things on the results page. Somebody call the President!

    I have a little Google search box on my web site. Does that mean that I get a Slashdot article announcing the launch of my kewl search technology too?

  53. The truth is in the fine print by v2 · · Score: 1

    "Search results enhanced by Google. Results also provided by A9.com and Alexa."

    Google is mentioned first. I wonder how much of the technology relies on Google?

  54. Better bookmark search by otisg · · Score: 1

    Bah, forget using A9 for searching your bookmarks. If you want a good full-text search for your bookmarks, just use a service that specializes in that, like Simpy. You can try a live demo using a demo account here.

    --
    Simpy
  55. Images Are For Ninnies by Rie+Beam · · Score: 1

    It's an interesting concept, but I honestly question some of the image results. For example, Test returns:

    $ A punching bag dummy
    $ A Hindu woman dancing
    $ A Home Pregnancy Test
    $ This

    Weird.

  56. Duplicate Article... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Original is here if you want to see more comments on the same subject.

  57. "Java" Heavy? by devhen · · Score: 1

    Do you mean "JavaScript heavy?" ..I guess not. A9 works perfectly with JavaScript turned off, unlike Gmail which requires it. There certainly isn't any Java on the A9 site, unless they're using JSP pages or something.

  58. But wait, there's more! by GarfBond · · Score: 1
    Even though the a9 toolbar is IE-only, get the sherlock plugin that makes it work in Firefox from here.

    Don't like the personalization features? Then use the generic search page.

    Lastly, amazon's offering a discount to all a9 users

  59. The usual reason I can't get to Google... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...is because the DNS is down. So much for no single point of failure.

    1. Re:The usual reason I can't get to Google... by skinfitz · · Score: 1

      The usual reason I can't get to Google is because the DNS is down. So much for no single point of failure.

      In that case try http://66.102.9.104/.

  60. Got freetype2, GTK2, and font-config? by Ayanami+Rei · · Score: 1

    If not, then you should. It helps alot to use a "modern" linux font system that supports TTF, substitution and hinting and whatnot.

    --
    THIS THING CAN TURN ON A DIME, MACROSSZERO STYLE ALSO FUCK BETA, ~NYORON
  61. Is the Amazon logo a penis? by gilgongo · · Score: 1

    This is perhaps one of those things that I shouldn't articulate, but am I the only person who thinks that the Amazon logo (and the logo they put under their subsidiary company names/logos) looks like the underside of an erect human penis?

    I know this is filthy and obscene to all right-thinking people, but the phallic symbolism is too obvious for me not to notice. And the fact hat Amazon is a global brand makes this observation even more ludicrous.

    --
    "And the meaning of words; when they cease to function; when will it start worrying you?"
    1. Re:Is the Amazon logo a penis? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Notice how the arrow in the Amazon.com logo is pointing to the "o"!

  62. A9 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    A and 9 characters to the right would spell altavista correct?

  63. Dumb name by Willard+B.+Trophy · · Score: 1

    What for they name it after Scotland's longest and most dangerous major road, the A9, which stretches from Perth to Scrabster?

  64. RTFPP, idiot!!! by tintub · · Score: 2, Informative

    If you are really interested in privacy, read the Privacy Policy. The first thing I did was print it out, and lo and behold, if you don't want to be recognised, you can use their alternate service at http://generic.amazon.com. On generic.A9.com, they won't recognise your A9.com or Amazon.com cookie, and the information they gather will not be used in their data analysis.

    --
    sig under construction...
  65. Not quite out of 'beta' yet by boijames · · Score: 1
    It seems to have a problem keeping track of itself.

    I search for "jamie rishaw" (with quotes)

    "Showing 1-9 of about 40".
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next Logic tells me if it fits about 10 on a page and there are 40 results, there should be 5 or so pages (not 10). So I click on "10". (You know you would, too, dont lie).

    "Showing 91-99 of 140"

    140??

    Previous 1 ... 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Next

    "?"

    Let's go for gold. I click on "14". Why? I wanna find the oldest stuff.

    "There are no more web results for this query."

    Okay, 13.

    "There are no more web results for this query."

    12?

    "There are no more web results for this query."

    11?

    "There are no more web results for this query."

    To A9's credit, the clickable web/books/images/movies/reference/history/bookmark s bar is slick.. (but diary? i'm not a girl.. okay, someone, first a9 hack: change "Diary" to "Notes") =)

  66. Google Image slow by Matt+Clare · · Score: 1

    Has anyone else notices that Google images has been slow over the last 72hours? Is this linked?

    --
    .\.\att Clare
  67. A Useful Information by chajath · · Score: 0

    This info. is quite interesting indeed.

    lemonparty.org

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  68. Someone else's searches are in my history... by smh123 · · Score: 1

    Some database corruption??? This morning I noticed that there were some searches that are definitely NOT mine in my A9 history, I live alone and nobody else has access to either of my computers...The two searches that aren't mine are interspersed (her.com and St. Bernard Open). Anyone else having a problem like this? * her.com (2) * rsync "open files" nfs overwrite * rsync "open files" nfs * "St. Bernard Open " * rsync "open files" * rsync man * rsyn man * saltwater gasket * boat surveyor association