Microsoft has introduced the beta version of their updated Live Search service. This is their first attemp tto offer a service that they hope will give them a product to rival Google.
Windows Live Search utilizes advanced Web features to create a dynamic search experience. For example, users can preview search results on the site, adjust a slider bar to reveal more information on a result, and a “smart scroll” feature to display results without moving from page to page.
Microsoft’s new search technology also scours more Web content, including blogs, RSS feeds and e-mails. The company also rolled out a new image search that features infinite scrolling, thumbnail-image-sizing customization, filmstrip view and the ability to see the full image without leaving the results page.
I will give Microsoft one thing, they have introduced a number of interesting new tools. While maybe they are not ground breaking, they certainly offer some different searching experiences. They are also offering “gadgets” which are mini-applications that can run either in the Windows Vista Sidebar or on Live.com directly.
Unfortunately for Microsoft, a number of these techincal achievements may be lost on the less tech savvy users. And while I think these will be interesting tools to investigate, it will take any company a while to overtake or even challenge a company that has the name recognition and perceived cachet of Google.
Posted by Jeff
