15 Amazing Facts About Google

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1) Google began as a research project in 1996.

2) The original nickname was BackRub due to the backlink technology used to determine site importance but eventually changed the name to Google originating from the misspelling of the word “Googol to signify the large quantities of information for people that it would provide.

3) Due to the sparseness of the homepage, in early user tests they noted people just sitting looking at the screen. After a minute of nothingness, the tester intervened and asked ‘Whats up?’ to which they replied “We are waiting for the rest of it”. To solve that particular problem the Google Copyright message was inserted to act as a crude end of page marker.

4) When Page and Brin tried to find buyers to license their search technology, one portal CEO told them “As long as we’re 80 percent as good as our competitors, that’s good enough. Our users don’t really care about search.”

5) Google grew so quickly that its offices quickly filled up. Employees couldn’t stand up at their desks without others tucking their chairs in first.

6) The infamous “I feel lucky” is nearly never used. However, in trials it was found that removing it would somehow reduce the Google experience. Users wanted it kept. It was a comfort button.

7) Google employees more than 20,000 workers worldwide.

8) They use the 20% / 5% rules. If at least 20% of people use a feature, then it will be included. At least 5% of people need to use a particular search preference before it will make it into the ‘Advanced Preferences’.

9) Stock price in 2010 was $535.

10) Google has acquired over 60 companies since 2000.

11) Google’s Android mobile operating system is the world’s leading smart phone platform surpassing Nokia and Apple with a 33% share.

12) According to an estimate Google has over 1 million servers.

13) Employees are encouraged to use 20% of their time working on their own projects. Google News, Orkut are both examples of projects that grew from this working model.

14) A ‘Noogler’ is a new person at Google.

15) Google translates billions of HTML web pages into a display format for WAP and I-mode phones and wireless handheld devices.