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03.08.06
Windows Live Shows ETech A Pair
 By David
A. Utter
Microsoft upped the ante in the quest for more users with a couple of updates
to Windows Live that offer new search capabilities and toolbar functionality.
The O'Reilly Emerging Technology Conference continues to provide a platform for
product debuts. Microsoft brought along a couple of new toys to share with the
crowd, as they announced their latest updates to the Windows
Live service.
Microsoft discussed changes to Windows Live Search, and visitors to the Live.com
website who miss the numerous articles about it won't be able to miss the big
blue balloon at the top of the page inviting users to toss a query at the new
search service.
The Atlas framework, an implementation of Ajax programming, becomes very evident
when search results appear. Live Search uses a click-and-hold vertical scrollbar,
which the user can pull to the top or bottom of the window to scroll results.
The farther it is pulled one way or another, the faster the results scroll.
With so many users having a scroll wheel mouse as part of their systems, that
scrollbar may not get a lot of use, since the wheel works just fine. It's a clever
bit of programming, though.
At the top right of the search, a three-position slider changes how the search
results display on-screen. The default center setting shows the page title, a
text excerpt, and a URL for each result. Move the slider to the left, and the
text excerpt disappears. Send it all the way to the right, and the option to "Search
within this site" appears below the text excerpt for each result.
Microsoft also displays paid search advertising served by its in-house system
instead of Overture, the Yahoo service Microsoft has used for that purpose. The
contract with Overture ends this summer, and Microsoft will replace that with
its adCenter in July.
Of course, Microsoft has a toolbar to enhance one's browsing pleasure. The company
announced at ETech that it had acquired Onfolio, a privately-held Massachusetts
firm, and incorporated its technology into the Windows Live Toolbar (beta, natch).
Microsoft described in a statement how Onfolio will benefit its Toolbar users:
The new Onfolio Add-in for the Windows Live Toolbar beta will give people
convenient ways to collect information online and organize it on their PCs. People
can harness this information by saving it onto their computer so that it can be
easily accessed for use in documents, e-mail messages and blog postings. In addition,
new online information is easily discovered and accessed through Onfolio's integrated
Really Simple Syndication (RSS) aggregator and reader.
Microsoft plans to make the Toolbar with the Onfolio add-in available from its
Ideas Live website.
About the Author:
David Utter is a staff writer for WebProNews covering technology and business.
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