Google Drops Size Count, Issues Parting Shot

Remember when you were a kid and you just HAD to have the last word in an argument? It might go something like this...

You: Did not!
Sibling: Did too!
You: Did NOT!
Sibling: Did TOO!
You: DID NOT!
Sibling: DID TOO! (runs away)

Well...Google sort of did just that earlier today.

The size wars have gone on for several years now, with the most recent bout occurring just last month when Yahoo! claimed to have an index of 20 billion documents, more than twice the number claimed by Google. Google quickly shot back with a charge that it was relevancy and not size of an index that mattered. Search industry bloggers made oodles of posts ranging from claims that size was part of relevancy to charges that both engines were acting like children.

Ask most people what those numbers mean and they'll tell you that they couldn't care less. As long as they are finding what they're looking for, they're happy. If they don't find what they want, they'll head off to another engine and search there.

In what one would HOPE is the final shot in this back and forth battle of "mine is bigger than yours," Google announced this morning that they were going to remove their index size from their home page. That'd be great if it meant that they were really going to focus on relevancy instead of size, but the fact that they accompanied that move with an announcement that their index was "three times the size" of Yahoo! was sort of like the little kid that sneaks up to smack you on the arm and yells "no tag backs" before running away.

CNET has coverage of the announcement and some comments from both Google and Yahoo! staffers.

Danny Sullivan and the Search Engine Watch team have some great commentary and insight on the issue over at their blog. Check it out..."End Of Size Wars? Google Says Most Comprehensive But Drops Home Page Count"