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View Full Version : Google testing new links or just me?


Nacho
05-02-2005, 06:01 PM
I enjoy reading the Google blog for new updates. I have a slight feeling that sometimes they post stuff that seems a bit strange, like ordinary stuff with a twist to test or give us clues... OK, maybe I'm just a bit skeptical but here goes.

In the recent post called TV treasure hunt (http://www.google.com/googleblog/2005/05/tv-treasure-hunt.html), Dan Zheng places a link to Google Video as follows:
<A href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=D&amp;q=http%3A%2F%2Fvideo.google.com">Google Video</A>
Couldn't he just simply done this:
<A href="http://video.google.com">Google Video</A>
The two things that jump out to me are:

1) Why would they link to Google.com and do a query for the URL "/url?sa=D&amp;q=http%3A%2F%2Fvideo.google.com" rather than a straight link?

2) what does "url?sa=D&amp" mean?

Can this be a new way they will be looking for links? Are they just giving more link popularity weight on google.com? or am I just completely whacko and need a vacation? Anything else?

AussieWebmaster
05-02-2005, 09:03 PM
I enjoy reading the Google blog for new updates. I have a slight feeling that sometimes they post stuff that seems a bit strange, like ordinary stuff with a twist to test or give us clues... OK, maybe I'm just a bit skeptical but here goes.

In the recent post called TV treasure hunt (http://www.google.com/googleblog/2005/05/tv-treasure-hunt.html), Dan Zheng places a link to Google Video as follows:
<A href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=D&amp;q=http%3A%2F%2Fvideo.google.com">Google Video</A>
Couldn't he just simply done this:
<A href="http://video.google.com">Google Video</A>
The two things that jump out to me are:

1) Why would they link to Google.com and do a query for the URL "/url?sa=D&amp;q=http%3A%2F%2Fvideo.google.com" rather than a straight link?

2) what does "url?sa=D&amp" mean?

Can this be a new way they will be looking for links? Are they just giving more link popularity weight on google.com? or am I just completely whacko and need a vacation? Anything else?
I may test the code and see what happens...

On the other hand I think you need a vacation... why not join me in DR in June or August!!!!!

I, Brian
05-03-2005, 05:35 AM
Call me dumb, but I've so far presumed that Google simply employ their own custom jump script, not least as a basic anti-abuse measure.