REPORT: MSN Launches New Search Engine
Todd Jamieson
**** Copyright Todd Jamieson 2005 ----- Todd Jamieson, EnvisionOnline.ca (www.envisiononline.ca) ****
The battle for search supremacy between Google and Microsoft has begun!
Wary of people migrating to new browsers, Microsoft has taken another giant step forward in its bid to take over the world! Well, at least the search engine world. On February 1st, 2005, Microsoft officially launched its first search engine … MSN search.
So, what’s it got to offer?
After spending some time playing around with it, here’s what I found:
· Near Me – this function allows users to view local search results, using their IP address to determine their location (US users only so far)
· Complex searching - the ability to provide expanded search preferences that allow users to easily create intricate searches.
· SafeSearch – allows to you filter explicit pictures and text depending on its setting.
· Customization options – users can choose in what language they want the results displayed, the number of search results per page and the number of search results from the same site.
Should Google be afraid?
On the surface, there doesn’t seem to be much difference between Google and the new MSN Search. If anything, I would be flattered, as the new search is very similar to Google’s simplistic interface. MSN search provides an index of over 5 billion pages (compared to Google’s 8 billion) and through a partnership with Picsearch, it also provides an image search of nearly 400 million images. Very much like Google.
However, Microsoft has also included additional value-added features, such as the ability to ask questions to Microsoft Encarta (an online encyclopedia) and music downloading from MSN Music.
While these additional features are certainly a good thing, it’s doubtful they will cause the over 30 million Google users to pack up and move to Microsoft. But, overall I guess the competition is a good thing, as Google really has had little serious competition until now. So like with all innovation, the end-user will end up being the winner. Expect big things in the near future with search technology.
Click here to check out MSN Search
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