Google Now Offering Q&A Service

Hat tip to Garyster to the pointer about Google's new Q&A service. (Google's 'blog entry on it is at google.com/googleblog/2005/04/just-facts-fast.html .) It looks like a ready-reference type service where they put basic answers to basic questions at the top of the search results.

I tried my old standby: why is the sky blue? And didn't get a nifty answer box at the top of the page. So I tried What is the capitol of montana?

I realized after I hit enter that I had spelled capital wrong, and went back to change it. Strangely enough Google supplied me with an answer at the top of the search results (Helena). However, when I entered the query again with capital spelled correctly, I GOT NO ANSWER. capital of montana? works, though.

On the other hand, the question how much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? got an answer, being "As much wood as a woodchuck would if a woodchuck could chuck wood." What is the population of China? also got an answer. What won best picture in 1973? got an answer. I guess I'll have to stick to ready-reference type questions.

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