Search Engine Update Search Engine Update & a Look Ahead & a Look Ahead

Chris ShermanChris Sherman

Editor, SearchDayEditor, SearchDay

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Three Big QuestionsThree Big Questions

What are the current trends and hot What are the current trends and hot areas in search?areas in search?

What are the next moves for Google, What are the next moves for Google, Yahoo, Ask Jeeves and Microsoft?Yahoo, Ask Jeeves and Microsoft?

Anything radically new or Anything radically new or earthshaking on the horizon?earthshaking on the horizon?

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Current Trends & Hot AreasCurrent Trends & Hot Areas

Local searchLocal search PersonalizationPersonalization The return of “push”The return of “push” Collaborative searchCollaborative search Email & desktop searchEmail & desktop search A big theme: “consumer search”A big theme: “consumer search”

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Local SearchLocal Search

Google LocalGoogle Local• Cool: MapsCool: Maps

Yahoo LocalYahoo Local• Cool: Multiple tasksCool: Multiple tasks

Ask Jeeves LocalAsk Jeeves Local MSN Search Near MeMSN Search Near Me A9 Yellow PagesA9 Yellow Pages

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PersonalizationPersonalization

Google Personalized & Desktop Google Personalized & Desktop SearchSearch

MyYahoo, SmartSort, Yahoo 360MyYahoo, SmartSort, Yahoo 360 MSN SearchMSN Search A9 Google SearchA9 Google Search Ask JeevesAsk Jeeves News: Findory, MSN NewsbotNews: Findory, MSN Newsbot

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The Return of Push, SortaThe Return of Push, Sorta

Remember Pointcast? It’s baaackkk…Remember Pointcast? It’s baaackkk… RSS allows web sites to create “feeds” RSS allows web sites to create “feeds”

with new contentwith new content Feed readers (aka news aggregators) Feed readers (aka news aggregators)

automatically check for new content, automatically check for new content, which appears virtually instantlywhich appears virtually instantly

What’s different? The notion of What’s different? The notion of search, search, find, subscribefind, subscribe..

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Choose Your Feed ToolChoose Your Feed Tool

Feed-driven search engines like Feed-driven search engines like Daypop, Technorati, Feedster, Daypop, Technorati, Feedster, Bloglines, BlogoryBloglines, Blogory

Newsreaders like NewsGator, Feed Newsreaders like NewsGator, Feed Demon, SharpReaderDemon, SharpReader

Real-time monitoring from PubSubReal-time monitoring from PubSub Coming soon: Search alerts from Coming soon: Search alerts from

Google, Yahoo et al sent via RSS Google, Yahoo et al sent via RSS rather than emailrather than email

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Collaborative SearchCollaborative Search

Yahoo Instant MessengerYahoo Instant Messenger FurlFurl PluckPluck NextarisNextaris

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Email & Desktop SearchEmail & Desktop Search

EmailEmail• Gmail started a new trendGmail started a new trend• Yahoo mail is greatly improvedYahoo mail is greatly improved• LookOut for Outlook LookOut for Outlook rocksrocks

DesktopDesktop• Ask Jeeves, Google Desktop, MSN, Yahoo Ask Jeeves, Google Desktop, MSN, Yahoo

– all good starts– all good starts• Copernic Desktop adds web meta Copernic Desktop adds web meta

search, Eudora search, etc.search, Eudora search, etc.

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Consumer SearchConsumer Search

““Convergence,” thanks to Convergence,” thanks to broadband, has finally arrivedbroadband, has finally arrived

Huge stakes – integrating computer, Huge stakes – integrating computer, web, audio, television, social web, audio, television, social network, refrigerator…network, refrigerator…everything you “consume”everything you “consume”

No clear approach or winner yet, but No clear approach or winner yet, but it’s getting fun to watchit’s getting fun to watch

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Next MovesNext Moves

What can we expect in the coming What can we expect in the coming year from Google, Yahoo, Ask Jeeves year from Google, Yahoo, Ask Jeeves & Microsoft?& Microsoft?

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Next Moves: GoogleNext Moves: Google

??? Who knows???? Who knows? Persistent speculation: Google will Persistent speculation: Google will

take on Microsoft in the operating take on Microsoft in the operating system & applications arenas. system & applications arenas.

Feasible? Bet on it…Feasible? Bet on it… Challenge: Retaining focus (and Challenge: Retaining focus (and

employees) in the wake of the IPO…employees) in the wake of the IPO… ……and moving out of beta ;-)and moving out of beta ;-)

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Next Moves: YahooNext Moves: Yahoo

Search is becoming Yahoo’s core Search is becoming Yahoo’s core DNA, both across their own DNA, both across their own properties and throughout the web.properties and throughout the web.

Great new initiatives in both Great new initiatives in both consumer search and mining the consumer search and mining the invisible webinvisible web

Challenge: Educating users about Challenge: Educating users about what’s availablewhat’s available

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Next Moves: Ask JeevesNext Moves: Ask Jeeves

Scaling Teoma, adding new featuresScaling Teoma, adding new features Personalization and desktop search Personalization and desktop search

initiativesinitiatives New and New and veryvery significant: Bloglines significant: Bloglines

acquisitionacquisition Challenge: Continuing to effectively Challenge: Continuing to effectively

pursue the “third way”pursue the “third way”

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Next Moves: MicrosoftNext Moves: Microsoft

MSN Search is “version 1.0” – watch MSN Search is “version 1.0” – watch for major improvements in both scale for major improvements in both scale and relevancyand relevancy

MSN will attack on many fronts – just MSN will attack on many fronts – just introduced new advertising program introduced new advertising program that will be a major challenger to that will be a major challenger to Google and YahooGoogle and Yahoo

Challenge: Persuading users to try it; Challenge: Persuading users to try it; overcoming the AutoGoogle effectovercoming the AutoGoogle effect

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ConclusionConclusion

No disruptive technologies in sight on No disruptive technologies in sight on the short-term horizonthe short-term horizon

Jockeying among the titans will Jockeying among the titans will intensify, which will be good for intensify, which will be good for everyoneeveryone

Criticism of Microsoft’s initial search Criticism of Microsoft’s initial search initiative doesn’t see the big pictureinitiative doesn’t see the big picture—they’ve built the engine, now —they’ve built the engine, now they’re working on the carthey’re working on the car