Yahoo! -- We're Number Two!

Yahoo! gives up quest for search dominance

Apparently Yahoo! has conceded that Google search will always have a greater market share.

12 years on since its launch, is this the sign of what happens to a young, upstart web company when it reaches its middle age and says "ahh ... I can't be bothered." ?

The reason Google has been so successful, in my opinion, is that it doesn't mash its services -- including search -- into a confusing portal, but keeps them distinct and separate. Google is search. Google Video is video hosting. Google Earth is a map.

Simple.