In a rather conveniently-timed conference call with members of the media, Microsoft announced yesterday that they would soon be releasing a desktop search tool similar to the one currently being tested by Google, and the X1-based engine currently being developed by Yahoo (my thoughts on that here).
What’s interesting is that Microsoft has decided to offer a desktop-based solution via a web-based service (MSN) for a desktop-based shortcoming in an operating system they themselves designed.
… Did that make sense? Well, it’s a pretty confusing situation, so don’t worry, you’re not alone.
Anyway, it seems to me that this is the sort of thing that MS would ordinarily be releasing as an optional Windows upgrade, but being under pressure from Google and Yahoo’s respective solutions has forced them to jump on the wagon and offer it via their own web arm, MSN. Weirdness all around, but I’ll be trying each of the two new tools as they become available.
[ UPDATE (12 Dec 2004, 1:21pm): Turns out that the MSN Desktop Search Bar is already available for testing. Not sure if it went online within the 24 hours since I originally posted this entry though. Anyway, I'm downloading the file now and will be playing around with it over the next couple of days. Initial impressions? 4mb is a pretty big download for a text-field on your taskbar. ]