The Coming Downfall of Google

Perhaps that's a bit premature, but some cracks are beginning to appear in Google, the world's most popular search engine. While most market analysts are hailing Google as the next "World's Greatest Company," I see some opportunities for competitors.

As I discussed briefly yesterday, people are beginning to notice Google's media bias, even though the evidence is mostly anecdotal thus far. More importantly, Google recently applied for patents to rank stories based on the quality of the news source. The company has not documented how it will determine quality, but one could guess that there will be plenty of subjectivity involved in the process.

Google - or other online media sources - still have not defined "news" adequately for search purposes. Why is Maureen Dowd of the NY Times a more credible source than Michelle Malkin or Bizblogger? (Ok, just a bit of self-aggrandizement).

It's still way to early to call for the death of Google based on its financial results, but it will have to confront some real questions about news searches - or risk alienating web users who are looking for accurate news rather than what's reported on CNN or in the LA Times.

*Update*
Today on Kudlow & Company, Glenn Reynolds (Instapundit) mentioned that many bloggers are annoyed with and skeptical about Google these days. This issue will get bigger if Google doesn't address it soon.