For the first time in a while, Google has a legitimate challenger: Cuil. (Found via.) Developed by a group of Google alumni, Cuil differs from the other so-called Google-killers. A simple search quickly shows the difference; Cuil actually works pretty well. On top of that, this search engine innovates intelligently.

Query Refinement Tabs and Drilldowns

Query refinement options are some of the coolest innovations Cuil offers. Across the top of search result pages, a series of tabs offer query refinements. To the right of the results, there’s a sliding drilldown menu. Both are great ideas, however, both become much less sparsely populated as queries increase in complexity. [Home improvement] offered some great alternatives, but [how to install a dishwasher] and [stopped up sink] each offered no refinements. Hopefully, the refinement engine will improve with time.

Laid Out

Cuil tries, even dares, to be different. In fact, the search engine practically shouts it with its layout. Unfortunately, daring to be different sometimes feels like being different for its own sake. The homepage, for example, bears a striking resemblance to Google … except it’s laid over a trendy black background. The search result pages differentiate by displaying left to right in a reading layout, but the layout created a confusing hierarchy of results to my eyes (maybe I’ve been pre-conditioned for Google.) They also offer a relevant picture next to the result excerpts, but during my tests, these excerpt pictures weren’t too relevant. Dogs and cats were displaying next to [How to install a dishwasher].

With a claim of 120 billion pages indexed, Cuil would seem to have the technological might to take on the giant. They pose some interesting innovations. Rather than celebrate, however, Cuil’s team should try copying a page from Google’s book and striving for better performance and result relevancy. While Google might not need to quake in their boots yet, it probably wouldn’t hurt to take notice. If Cuil ever does become a threat, I’m sure they’ll quickly be acquired.