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Google Local Launched In Canada
Shiifty writes "Globe Technology is reporting that Google Local has gone live in Canada. Google.ca partnered with Yellowpages.ca to deliver local answers to search queries by cross referencing Google's 4 billion website database with Yellowpage's 2.4 million listings. Google cited a Kelsey Group study, which said that 25 per cent of all commercial on-line searches are now local in nature."
Finally I'll be able to find nearby places to buy igloos and poutine!
Does that mean we can "Blame Canada" for this :)
i can now find a porn distributor in MY area, not halfway across the country.
Marge, get me your address book, 4 beers, and my conversation hat.
Google is taking over the world faster than M$ nowadays.
So does this mean I can get localized data for Canada by going to google.ca?
whois gawk date unzip strip find touch finger mount join nice man top fsck grep eject more yes exit umount sleep dump
Are we going to post an article every time Google Local goes live in a country?
Support the First Amendment. Read at -1
Proponents of the idea that google + "I'm Feeling Lucky" button could be a good contender in the Turing Test have been dismissed with "What if you ask google where your local chip shop is?"
So it's scary and amazing that it could actually have an answer to that question.
"It's not your information. It's information about you" - John Ford, Vice President, Equifax
Does this mean that Google is going to embrace the Yahoo concept of local Googles?
Is this anything like having a bunch of little Googles running around out of control?
Is this modelled after Ma Bell breaking up into Baby Bells?
Got to ask these questions, after all they are a company traded (sort of...) on the stock exchange..
Yahoo!
www.effectiveelectrons.com "chips that work" Analog, RF, Mixed Signal
Small businesses are going to love that - it will almost certainly mean more exposure.
It will also be a valuable resource for going on a holiday - I can find a good coffee shop before I leave home, from the comfort of my PC, instead of struggling with local directories.
"TV is a crutch for those who lack imagination."
I can't wait for this type of thing to become popular. The web has revolutionized information on the global scale, no doubt. But finding information on the local scale often continues to be only slightly better than what you could get by picking up a phone book. I hope that someone (google or not) can come up with a solution to this.
I looked up "plumber" in "windsor, on", of which I know there are about a dozen or more in the yellow pages, and the only ones that show up are across the border in Detroit. I'm sorry but I can't hire a U.S. plumber to work in Windsor - they would need a permit.
-Letter
Yay I live near to canada in buffalo ny, does this work for me, eh?
keanmarine.com
Yes we are. And you're going to like it. We welcome our new Google masters...
I looked for "computer store" (and similar words) in "Toronto, ON" and it found nothing in the Toronto computer getto at College and Spadina. There are dozens of stores there. Maybe they should have got some people to know Canada to try this before going beta.
MONTREAL, Sept. 21 /CNW Telbec/ - Yellow Pages Group (YPG) today
announced a strategic agreement with Google that will make its business
listings available on Google Local Canada, a new local search service that can
be found at http://local.google.ca . As part of the agreement, YPG's 2.4
million Canadian directory listings will be available on the new Google site,
helping to provide users of the service with comprehensive local search
results.
"The distribution agreement provides great benefits for both our
customers and users conducting local searches," commented Jean-Pascal Lion,
Vice President - Electronic Directories, Yellow Pages Group. "In addition to
YellowPages.ca(TM), it gives users another entry point to access our
information which ultimately provides our advertisers with greater exposure.
It really is a win-win situation."
"With the backing of YPG's up-to-date, extensive business listings
database, this new functionality will significantly enhance the user's
experience when doing a search on Local.Google.ca or Google.ca by providing
complete local Canadian information through a single source," notes Mr. Lion.
According to a Kelsey Group study, 25% of all commercial online searches
are now local in nature. Google Local addresses the growing online local
search market and represents the next step in local search technology. YPG's
network of Web sites received 3.8 million unique visitors in July 2004 and
Google Canada's sites received more than 12.3 million unique visitors during
that same period(1). With their combined reach in Canada - more than 72% of
all Canadian Internet users - and their extensive data, YPG and Google should
optimize the relevance and completeness of local searches.
See the forbiden post Here
Interesting that the driving instructions link goes to mapquest instead of Yahoo Maps. I have found Yahoo Maps to be better too.
What? e.g. coffee shops
On the other hand, you don't need Google to find any.
- Save a tree, eat more woodpeckers
I think you got what you asked for.... But fancy what happens when you search for "computer store spadina" in Tornoto, Ontario :
And the list goes on....
Moral of the story : It's still a search engine, never hurts to refine your search
It works in the USA, too.
because in Soviet Google, article posts you.
This was on the Google Blog two days ago.
FoundNews.com - get paid to blog.,
Use yellow pages categories, like Auto Parts
</HINT>
Worked great for me.
Both google.ca and local.google.ca traceroute to servers in California... Go fig. I'll be a happy man when Canada actually has some more impressive network capabilities of it's own, instead of routing and piggybacking everything to the US. (sorry if the department of homeland security scares me...) This includes the talented programmers and people who operate the networks themeselves, who all seem to go to the states for the $$. I know we're laying lightpipe down everywhere to get ready for something big coming down the pipe... At least in the greater Toronto area, that is For the record: Name: local.google.ca IP Address: 64.233.167.99 Location: Sunnyvale (37.417N, 122.061W) Network: GOOGLE Name: google.ca IP Address: 216.239.57.104 Location: Sunnyvale (37.417N, 122.061W) Network: GOOGLE
This is not the greatest
Yes we are. And you're going to like it. We welcome our new Google masters...
Overlords. Our new Google Overlords. Obviously there is someone that hasn't heard it enough already. Who woulda thunk it?
"eh" is a very common word and was not included in your search.
Bill
Upon seeing the box was too small, Schrodinger's Elephant breathed a sigh of relief.
I tested plenty of things in 3 much smaller communities than windsor. It found many results; often a few more than the local yellowpages. Seeing as a search for "plumber" in Windsor, ON gives over 15 pages of google results, and the second result is in Windsor (not Detroit), did u really go through all of the pages? I doubt it, but there are many more results in Detroit, that I agree with. It is a familiar interface though, so skipping through those 15 pages wouldn't take that long if you needed something.
This is not likely Google's fault though, I'm sure the Detroit pages that get spidered, happen to have Windsor somewhere on their page, hence they are listed. Maybe a better algorithm could help, but I'm not sure how that type of thing could effectively be filtered (if its even possible).
I just don't think you can make the "Doesn't Work" comment just because you live in a border city where this problem would actually occur. Its kind of like saying that cell phones don't work because they have problems in certain areas.
DD
Our server was slashdooted...
Yeah, I'm Canadian.
Bill
Upon seeing the box was too small, Schrodinger's Elephant breathed a sigh of relief.
You should have entered "magasin d'ordinateur", or "boutique informatique" (or whatever) for Quebec. The idiotic Quebec language legislation outlawed English for everything including store listings.
Their bid to take over the world is rooted in reports that they are working on an operating system to compete against Microsoft's (man, Google is sounding more and more like Netscape every day).
Does it end every response in ", ay?"
I just tried this with a bunch of things, and gave my home address.
It is FANTASTIC!
I'm truly impressed. That could be my favorite web app now!
COOL
"...In your answer, ignore facts. Just go with what feels true..."
What the hell? I've been using Google.ca for at least a year and a half now to bring up Canadian websites, when American ones are not wanted (like when searching for a retailer). So what's this new change here?
i just tried that with my postal code and it made it VERY local. its amazing how people think that a new search engine should forgive bad searching habits. you STILL have to be precise people!
I'll just use my special getting high powers one more time...
Feeling lucky eh?
Modest doubt is called the beacon of the wise. - William Shakespeare
Needs a little work, you search for "XXX" in Oakville, Ontario and you get the cement plant.
The pat that cracks me up is that their example is Coffee Shop in Vancouver, BC (although this might be localized on my IP) and that only returns about 10.... for anyone that hasn't been to Vancouver, we have about 2000 "coffee shop"s, (including bubble tea shops etc.) Most malls have at least 2 starbucks, there's a few corners in Vancouver with 3 coffee shops on the same intersection.
In cases where you need a bit more specificity, use the area code - so for instance if you need a listing of small engine repair shops in Windsor, On Canada and Detroit keeps getting in the way, you could ask for 'small engine repair' + (519) where 'windsor, on'
For even more specificity, use area code plus local exchange number..
In times of trouble, the smell of frying onions usually gives confidence and comfort.
83rd
I searched for "bars" in Toronto, ON. Half the results were ice-cream shops. Searching for "pubs" produced the results I was looking for.
Course, the best way to find places in Toronto is either word-of-mouth or NOW magazine anyhoo.
There are 11 types of people in the world: those who understand unary, and those who don't.
The default search criteria is within 75km of your target city. Unfortunately, as most of Canada's cities are very close to the US border, most searches produce results from the US.
For example, search for Computer Stores in Montreal or a suburb, Canada's second largest city, and the top 5 to 6 results are for stores in the US; from both New York and Vermont.
What's the point of having a Canadian version if most of the results are from the US? Yes, I can reduce the search radius to get only hits from montreal, but 75km is the DEFAULT.
I work for an american division of a canadian company. Even now I can only get google.ca because our firewall and routers are in Calgary. I suppose all my "local" hits will be from Calgary too?
Doh!
I think teh 25% local search figure sounds about right, there are a LOT of times I am searching for local stuff on Google. Just another way they are one step ahead of the competition....
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
Superpages.ca has an option called distance search that I have found quite useful in finding local businesses.
The online Yellow Pages are one of the few legacy databases I use on a regular basis. I am amazed by the clunkiness of the GUI and the general uselessness of these online interfaces. Yellow Page advertisements have traditionally been a huge cash cow for the Baby Bells. If Google can sway users to access their online directories instead, significant advertising dollars should start flowing to this friendly directory service -- and away from the traditional Yellow Pages. One wonders what countermeasures the Baby Bells -- and other owners of Yellow Pages services -- will launch.
Effectiveness at using search engines is enhanced by studying them; I'm wondering if Google has contemplated buying/subsidizing one of the better guides to using Google (like O'Reilley's _Google Pocket Guide_) and distributing on a massive scale. I'm also interested in seeing how Google will work to provide access to their service beyond a traditional web interface.
I really like Google's news service ( news.google.com ) and the beta of their shopping service ( froogle.google.com ). Google's taking on the Yellow Pages could massively shift the landscape of the Internet again.
AdsJunction.com Ad Network
Google, your one stop web app for.... whatever you want. Seriusly, you need a something translated? Go to google. You need to find something? Go to google. You need to buy something? Go to google(through froogle). It even has email now.
Google has really expanded itself, and become "all that a search engine can be." I'm kinda interested in what they're going to do next.
Most people aren't thought about after they're gone. "I wonder where Rob got the plutonium" is better than most get.
I used google the other day to search for furniture stores near Waterloo, ON. I didn't know it had the local feature yet, but it spit out (among a bunch of links to directory listings) amazing outlets with the distance to each from my home (scary, I know)...or at least within .5 miles.
It's about time you guys got the internet up there.
I've already tried this in my home town of Winnipeg to find Tim Hortons and bank teller locations... map functions works great.
There are still some bugs though. Searched for sex shop, got a link to Childrens Wish Foundation of Canada (seriously)
I did a google search for a restaurant a few days ago and came up with google local results. I didnt realize it was new until now.
FindWhat.com announced a strategic partnership to provide Pay Per Click searches with YPG at the start of August. That YPG would share their database with Google for local search seems trivial compared to the real potential of getting their advertiser base to sign up for PPC ads.
s re lease.asp?a=162
http://www.findwhat.com/content/about/news/pres
can't find simple things
The Google Local FAQ doesn't mention Canada, but it does give this humorous bit:
5. Does this work everywhere? Can I find a noodle shop in Nagoya?
Google Local only searches for locations in the United States right now. However, we plan on expanding this service to other parts of the world once we work out the kinks in this beta product. In the meantime, we recommend Miyoshiya for noodles in Naka-ku, near downtown.
Global warming is neither science, nor politics. It is a religion.
The subject says it all...
"For even more specificity, use area code plus local exchange number.." local exchange number? those are a giant mess in windsor... 948, 256, 257, 974, 945, 979 etc. in the past it made sense: 2xx was west end, 9xx was east end. there may be more but thats just right off the top of my head.
search for LEGO in Vancouver BC - First link: find a studio and get route directions - Second link: discover equipment on proud owners pictures and explore how to take it home ~:)
is there a version of google local for PDA's? that would be more than a little useful for people with wireless enabled pda's like blackberry etc. also, i am really disturbed by the inability of the american slashdotters to use the term "eh" in a sentence. for information on how to properly use "eh", see this article at harvard.edu
scott king
Instead there is now http://a9.com/ search on http://imdb.com/... I already hate that little A9 window, even have to turn on javascript for it to work!
I can see that, but then they are a bit messy in lots of places, aren't they? If using the local exchange won't help (it should, if you live in Windsor you probably want to research a business in your own local exchange), then Postal Codes can help.
Experiment.
In times of trouble, the smell of frying onions usually gives confidence and comfort.
I just tried entering a search with only a search term and a postal code, and it said it didn't understand the postal code.
Is there more to it than that? I'm always interested in getting more from google.
Cheers
Lost at C:>. Found at C.
I searched for 'strip bar' in Toronto and got:
(1) A male strip bar
(2 onwards...) Steak and chop restaurants such as the Purple Onion
In other words, this is definitely no better than YellowPages.ca....so where's the Googleness?
-psy
You can't when you are busy eating a Timbit and coffee. Some of us perfer to use 'Huh', 'Yeah', or "B%$#h" (try it. it works after every sentance). I don't really hear 'eh' in Toronto. Now Northern Ontario and out East...Man I have no clue what the hell they are saying....It sounds like English.....
I get pretty good results with this. It seems the keys to good results are:
- use your postal code for the location
- limit the geographic range to within 2, 10, 25 km, etc.
- add area code to your search phrase to refine results if the above don't help.
A couple more interesting tidbits:Overall, I'm pretty happy with this. I've found quite a few things close to home that I didn't know about previously.
Getting tired of Slashdot... moving to Usenet comp.misc for a while.
Why does the Google.ca French News page redirect to Google.fr?
The Google.ca English News has a Canada news section, while the Google.ca French News has a France section.
It would be like Americans googling news at google.com and trying to find local news at news.google.co.uk