Searchles Monday Featurefest - Latest Updates!

So it's quite clear that we're pretty amped on Searchles TV. Sure it's a nifty display on our site - but let's talk about your site or blog or myspace profile for a moment. Each Searchles TV channel has a handy embed code spelled out for you right underneath the display! It's really quite the real estate-saver if there are several video clips you'd like to have on your site. Any updates/edits you make to the channel on Searchles also filters through to the embedded channel as well. We're even working on developing a Facebook app so Searchles TV channels can potentially be displayed on and played through your Facebook profile. Thoughts??

For example...here's Dumbfounder's latest gem:


Now back to your profile on Searchles - we recently launched a Shout Out feature to be displayed either when viewing a fellow user's profile or on your mySearchles page. Shouts are public messages you can leave for a user and adding a shout is so easy a cavewoman can do it. You can shout anything from "I very much hope the next feature-length film spawning from a childhood toy is My Little Pony" to "I like to Searchle while making mickey mouse pancakes in the morning, do you?" Just keep it mildly clean, please. We're trying to run a respectable operation around here. Other than that, let your shout be heard.

What Would You Like to Debate Today?

When we dreamed up Searchles TV, we had this pretty little picture of a video player that played bright and sunshine-y video clips back to back. Now that Searchles TV is all grown up, we find our users putting together channels with some pretty powerful political and cultural statements. Do we encourage this? Sure thing!

Hot topics to date: the War in Iraq, the upcoming US Presidential Election, political issues going on in the Middle East – ongoing conflict between Israeli & Palestine, women's rights, Anti or Pro-Bush Administration, debates about the Healthcare System in America (thanks to Michael Moore), so on and so forth. Some channels make the well-rounded statement - presenting both sides of a particular issue - while others fall strongly on one side or another. We also see many channels that play out a live concert of your favorite band - never hurts to jump-start the day with some live music.

The more dialogue, the more knowledge-exchange or debate, the more clips involving John Cleese, the better. I guess what we're trying to say is keep up the good work...and if you have something to say, make yourself heard! (read: Speak softly, but carry a big Searchles TV channel).

Searchles Video Search: Bringing You and Your Favorite Videos to a Whole New Level of Togetherness

We here at Searchles are pretty proud of our video search capabilities. If it's been a rough morning, I can think of nothing worse than a sub-par video search standing between me and my favorite "Janet Reno's Dance Party" videos (or my Starbucks). This would be unacceptable - the following preventive actions have been taken at Searchles HQ:

* Many video sites only offer users the capability to search within said site, while Searchles enables users to do only one search to access a pool of videos that spans all of your favorite video sites as well as Searchles TV Channels users have created.

* Our social search features optimize the search experience with results that are weighted towards those trusted users in your circle of groups and friends on Searchles.

* New search box format just launched - designed to be more compatible with the enhanced search options of a social search than a traditional search box display. This innovative new feature combines the user-friendly display of a traditional search box with the range of network oriented social search options on Searchles – such as searching through your friends’ or groups’ posts – made visible as one scrolls over the search button.

* The enhanced search box also displays the video search option more prominently for quick user-accessibility.

Regarding the pool of content, Searchles video library does not pretend to boast the sheer volume of video content that the larger, conventional search engines offer. That's why we have you to keep posting. When it comes efficiency, Searchles currently offers one of the best platforms on which to search for and organize your favorite videos. Every video posted to Searchles adds to the already extensive video library and be sure to tag your videos and assign them to groups. These key features increase the efficiency of search results for those to follow. Keep the videos coming! We just can't get enough.

What's Spam got to do, got to do with it? Searchles addresses Spam Issue

A recent article on TechCrunch highlights a pretty hot issue in the social search arena...*gasp*...SPAM! Google has, in effect, penalized Squidoo - most likely due to the high frequency of spam - causing certain pages to have a 75% drop in traffic and/or removal from high ranking positions on Google. The spam issue is certainly one to take seriously and we have implemented the following user-controls to help keep the spammers out of sight:

~ The ratings feature allows users to apply a certain quality assurance to search results and content display. Search results are weighted towards the top rated content as is the content on the homepage - now displaying top rated content instead of the most recent posts.

~ The social network you have built on Searchles helps protect from spam in a few ways. For one, search results are weighted towards content posted by those in a your circle of groups and friends. Also, the user-controlled settings on the my!Searchles page allows you to choose which Searchles activity you would like highlighted - friends, people in your groups, friends of friends, etc. Your my!Searchles display can be as inclusive or exclusive as you'd like depending on your preferences.

~ The "report a spammer" option is displayed right next to a user's name in case you can spot a spammer from a mile away. We always appreciate the help.

We strive to offer you the best, most relevant search results! We are offering the user-controls we believe are necessary to preempt the spam assault - keeping the spam in Spammersville and off your radar screen. Send any and all feedback/questions/comments/bad dreams about spam our way! But please don't send us spam.


dumbfounder

ARE YOU PAYING TOO MUCH FOR AUTO INSURANCE? TRY SEARCHLES NEW HOMEPAGE

We've changed our homepage for the better yet again! We're practically like Madonna or Sting the way we reinvent ourselves (note: we enjoy using pop culture references to discuss the general awesomeness of Searchles). Not only are we now displaying the top rated content, but we've also moved our top groups and top ranked user display to the right and pushed the top rated content to a more prominent display at the top of the homepage (right in your face!).

A series of shortcuts have also been added for users' convenience. Viewing top rated content from various different timeframes (hrs, days, weeks, months) is now only a click away as well as the options to view either recent posts or the top rated content depending on what you're in the mood for. Managing your Searchles TV channels has also become even more user-friendly. To the right of each video on Searchles there are quick prompts to either add the video to an existing Searchles TV channel or to create a new channel. The end result: an enhanced (read: flippin' sweet) display of the top rated content and more quick/easy user controls for you!

US Presidential Election 2008 Group has El Niño-like effect on Presidential Campaigns

Exaggeration? Of course. However, where can you find all the interesting updates for the 2008 Presidential Race from a wide variety of sources on the web? The Searchles US Presidential Election Group has posted content from various national news sources, local papers, YouTube and myspace videos endorsed by the candidates’ campaigns, as well as international news coverage (love the outside perspective). Sure the election is over a year away but issues are bound to heat up quickly and cocktail party season is upon us. You better stay up-to-date.

What are the advantages over a conventional search for Election news? We try to keep it interesting. In order for news/videos to be posted to this group, somebody read it and found it infinitely novel and awesome. We assure you we have a wide enough array of users ensuring that our group remains unbiased.

So where does Searchles stand? You guessed it…we support Flight of the Conchords. Thankfully, Iowa matters more than us.

"AND THEN THERE WAS ONE..." -- SEARCHLES TV CONTEST WINNER ANNOUNCED!

Well, we have reached the end of this emotional rollercoaster we like to call the Searchles TV Contest. We laughed, we cried...we voted a bit. It was quite the point-and-click workout. However at the end of the day, only one was to emerge victorious…three times. The first prize winner of 4 million Guarani is.....JO!!! with her beautiful channel CA (Culture@Art). Congratulations Jo! The second prize winner with INDIA my Dream!! would be Jo and the third prize winner with "To all who hate George Bush" is...(drum roll)...Jo!!! WOW Jo. Quite the hat-trick you've pulled.

You can check out Jo's user profile here and also be sure to have a look at the amazing group, CA (Culture@Art) created by Jo which is filled with very interesting content related to culture, art history, and the connections between the two.

Thanks to all who voted and submitted channels. We hope you were entertained – we certainly were. There were many beautiful, hilarious, and thought-provoking channels submitted throughout the duration of the contest. We’d like to tap into your creativity again soon – keep an eye out for another contest on Searchles in the coming weeks!

Also, don’t forget these channels are easily embedded into your blog or mySpace profile! Check out the numerous channels created and posted to the Searchles TV Contest group or create your own masterpiece.

The Winner!!! (4.73 avg. rating/45 votes total)



2nd Place!! (4.80 avg. rating/40 votes total)



3rd Place! (4.97 avg. rating/39 votes total)