Cuil is all about innovative techniques to bring you the information you are searching for and our user interface has always been an important part of this. Right from the start we’ve used what we call the “magazine” layout — sorting results into two or three columns allowing you to scan the page more easily when compared to the traditional “list-style” presentation of results. Since our launch, we’ve added a variety of information from new sources as well, including maps from MapQuest and videos from Hulu, and there is more on the way.
Now we have rolled out a new look that will enable us to add new features more easily, highlight top results and certain features, and make our “Explore by Category” section richer and more easily accessible.
The results list is now divided into a wide highlights section for the top results, and subsequent results are shown below in a two-column layout. Combined with our updated snippet system, this makes it easier to scan results and determine if the pages found include what you need.
More notable is the shift in focus for our third column — this column is now reserved for our “special” data, providing a larger and unified location to find maps and other additional information related to your search. Check out the search for San Francisco for an example.
Included in the third column is a totally refreshed “Explore by Category” section. While this section has always been a unique feature to Cuil, we’ve turbo-charged it with more relevant information that doesn’t just augment your query, but instead deconstructs your query to determine meaning and show you related concepts, ideas, people, and other information. Moving your mouse over any of these results will pop up a new information box, showing not only a quick definition of the selected concept, but also the top results that this query would generate. You can either click on one of these results to go straight to the site found, or choose to go to the full results page for that new query.
Behind the scenes, we’ve done a variety of tweaks aimed at bringing you results faster. One that people are most likely to notice is that page turns on the search results now happen without refreshing the whole page, instead just loading the next page of results inline.
We hope that these changes make your search experience even easier and more useful, and encourage you to leave feedback as a comment on this blog post. We want to hear what you would like to see on our results page, as we continue to bring new ideas to search.
Max · Mar 4, 06:30 AM
I like the changes from the old version. However, the font you guys are using is being very poorly antialiased on windows XP. It’s really hard to read.
Ray · Mar 6, 02:16 PM
Hi Brad,
The new search results look pretty awesome. I really like the category section on the right side. The top 3 search listings are easy to find what you are most likely looking for.
As for the font suggestion by Max, I am also wondering the readability for senior folks.
Anyhow, thanks Cuil for the improvements. I will definitely do more search and see what the result categories has to offer.
Zack Zoomer · Mar 8, 12:52 PM
The font you are using is really hard to read. That over with …
Where is the advanced search page so I can slice and dice your largest database ever?
Where is the keyword suggestion tool that shows me searches per month?
Where is the backlink browser?
Why not actually do something with all that data?
Pedro · Mar 8, 07:31 PM
cool website its wayy better than google
Vince · Mar 9, 12:22 PM
@Zack: Thanks for the enthusiasm and suggestions. We do offer a keyword or search suggestion tool as you type in your query, though we don’t provide popularity metrics (not really our focus). Other advanced search functions are in the works, as are additional features and improvements, so please stay tuned for future updates from our small team.
augusto · Mar 12, 03:12 AM
PERDON POR MI FALTA DE INGLES, PERO HAY UNA VERCION EN ESPAÑOL. GRACIAS
Tony Hogan · Mar 20, 09:11 PM
Looking at what is going on here at Cuil it makes me wonder whether those that have become addicted to using Google as the search engine of choice will need to be somehow retrained in their thinking. The interface reminds me more of a clean looking Social Network site than a Search Engine. As a teacher of Information Technology, particularly Web Development at an Australian Educational Institution I’m fascinated by the development and success of Cuil and whether people should start get in early and start optimising for it. I have noticed it doesn’t respond to blogs and youtubes like Google does.