iPhone, Harvey Norman and Kevin Rudd top Google search results

Retailer Harvey Norman, Apple’s iPhone, US president-elect Barack Obama and Olympic swimmer Stephanie Rice have one thing in common – they top Google’s most popular search terms for 2008.

Retailer Harvey Norman, Apple’s iPhone, US president-elect Barack Obama and Olympic swimmer Stephanie Rice have one thing in common – they top Google’s most popular search terms for 2008.

The online giant has released details of Australia’s searching habits for the past year, and says the results are a “good reflection” of what Australians are thinking about.

Telstra topped the most searched for shares list, with BHP following up in second place. Kevin Rudd was our most popular search in the Australian politicians category.

And despite Gerry Harvey’s criticism of the online retailing industry last week, Harvey Norman has topped the list of most searched for retailers.

The lists are compiled by aggregating the most common and repeated search queries typed into search boxes on Google.com.au.

The top 10 Australian searches of 2008

1. Games
2. Sydney
3. YouTube
4. MySpace
5. Facebook
6. Google
7. eBay
8. My
9. Weather
10. Hotmail

Top 10 most searched retail stores

1. Harvey Norman
2. Target
3. Coles
4. Myer
5. Ikea
6. Kmart
7. Bunnings
8. Big W
9. Woolworths
10. Freedom

Top 10 most searched shares

1. Telstra
2. BHP
3. IAG
4. AMP
5. ANZ
6. CBA
7. NAB
8. NIB
9. Woolworths
10. Rio Tinto

Top 10 most searched Australian politicians

1. Kevin Rudd
2. John Howard
3. Julia Gillard
4. Brendan Nelson
5. Malcolm Turnbull
6. Wayne Swan
7. Paul Keating
8. Anna Bligh
9. John Brumby
10. Peter Garrett

Top 10 most searched celebrities

1. Barack Obama
2. Chris Brown
3. Miley Cyrus
4. Heath Ledger
5. Britney Spears
6. Chuck Norris
7. Paris Hilton
8. Rihanna
9. Sarah Palin
10. Madonna

Top 10 most searched movies

1. Australia
2. The Dark Knight
3. Indiana Jones
4. Iron Man
5. Hancock
6. Cloverfield
7. Kung Fu Panda
8. Sweeney Todd
9. Quantum of Solace
10. Tropic Thunder