Searching for solace
Yahoo has kicked-off the retrospective season a clear month before the end of the year, by publishing a bunch of lists of what its UK users (probably around 3-4 percent of all searches) searched for online. They were apparently published on 15 November, but only announced today.
To be honest, the lists paint a pretty bleak and unflattering picture of a country preoccupied by economic worries, seeking solace in long-shots and voyeurism. But we won't editorialise the findings any further. Here are some selected lists for you to draw your own conclusions.
Everything (last year in brackets)
1. Lottery (new entry)
2. Job Centre (#3)
3. Weather (new entry)
4. Big Brother (#1)
5. Cheryl Cole (#9)
6. TV guide (new entry)
7. World Cup (new entry)
8. Train times ( #10)
9. Katie Price (#8)
10. Horoscopes (new entry)
Top Ten News Stories
1. Volcanic ash disruption
2. General Election
3. Haiti earthquake
4. Royal Wedding
5. Kraft takeover of Cadbury
6. Pakistan floods
7. David Cameron
8. Alexander McQueen
9. Raoul Moat
10. Chilean miners
Mobile searches
1. Premier League
2. Big Brother
3. Cricket
4. World Cup
5. Football scores
6. Cinema
7. Katie Price
8. Rihanna
9. Formula One
10. General Election
Other searches
Top....
- Celebrity couple - Brangelina
- Fashion garment - Ugg Boots
- Beauty product - Nivea cream
- Fashion label - New Look
- Film - Twilight Eclipse
- Leading lady - Kristen Stewart
- Festival - Glastonbury
- Song - Baby by Justin Bieber
- Politician - David Cameron
- Political news story - General Election
- International news story - Haiti earthquake
- Brand - Apple
- Online video - Telephone by Lady Gaga
- Premier League footballer - John Terry
- Sporting event - World Cup
- Soap star - Kym Marsh
- Reality TV contestant - Cher Lloyd
- Soap - Eastenders
- TV Star - Cheryl Cole
- Mobile phone - iPhone 4
- Car - Vauxhall Astra
- Car manufacturer - BMW
Yahoo has also published a list of the ‘coolest tech products' of the year, which seems to be editorial, rather than a measure of search volumes.
1. Apple iPad
2. Canon EOS 550D
3. Microsoft Kinect
4. Amazon Kindle
5. Vodafone Mobile broadband Wi-Fi
6. Sky 3D
7. HTC Legend
8. Philips 3D Cinema 21:9 Platinum
9. Spotify for Sonos
10. Boxee Box
