Technology & Web December 5, 2006
GooSpace: Lessening the Frustration of 100 Million Users
During the last several days, I’m sure more than a few people have noticed the reduced angst they feel when searching for content on MySpace. Yesterday, for instance, my wife searched for a particular song so she could place it on her profile. I looked over her shoulder, ready to give suggestions for which of the thousand typically vague results she should click to get what she wanted. Shortly after she entered her query, I thought “Wait…why is there just one result?” And even more significant, “Why is that result the correct one?” I didn’t think much of it, and allowed the confusion to settle so I could bask in our seeming luckiness. This morning, however, the puzzle put itself together when I saw that all-too-familiar logo…
I should have known. One hundred million people are now seeing the results of Google’s $900 million deal made last August to seal their position as the search and advertising engine of choice for MySpace.com. I had almost forgotten this deal had occurred, and its reemergence was like finding a crisp twenty-dollar bill in a three year-old Christmas card. I believe all MySpace users owe Google a “Thank you,” so here’s mine: Thank you, Google. Thank you.