Google Video Begins to Materialize

After a haze of uncertainty further blurred by the acquisition of YouTube, Google Video is beginning to resemble a legitimate video search engine.

When Google Video was first announced, its plans and purpose remained a mystery; not only to the public, but also to Google. Even Google co-founder Larry Page admitted, "We're not quite sure what we're going to get, but we decided we'd try this experiment." (Source: outer-court.com)

However, the ambiguity was cleared up in January, when Google announced its plans to mould Google Video using one of the company's definite strengths: search. Months later, Google has begun to better shape this concept. (Source: arstechnica.com)

Earlier this week, Google spokesperson Gabriel Stricker explained the forward steps that Google has taken to separate the company's strengths from those of YouTube. As for keeping Google Video focused on searches, Stricker said, "Now we've made even more progress towards realizing that vision." He also explained the comprehensiveness of Google's search results. (Source: searchenginewatch.com)

Keeping your friends close, and enemies closer

Not only does Google Video display results from YouTube, it includes videos available on YouTube's rival websites, such as Metacafe, MySpace, BBC, and Yahoo Video. Google Video offers previews next to the results taken from YouTube and Google Video, and thumbnail snapshots appear next to the content from the other websites.

Unfortunately, at the present time there isn't an easy way to detect duplicate videos, so don't be surprised if your search query returns the same video available on different hosts. (Source: arstechnica.com)

Google's decision to steer Google Video in the direction of search is probably a smart move. Doing so reduces the likelihood of a sort-of "web cannibalization" between Google Video and YouTube. Considering the $1.65 billion that YouTube cost the search-based company, cannibalization is definitely a no-no.