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The Search Is On!

Microsoft is serious about keeping up with Google. It's not just a matter of money (in this case, billions), but more an issue of pride. If Google beats Microsoft in search, it legitimizes all of Google's other efforts.

Microsoft -- which, I understand, does much better in search in places like Europe -- is revamping Live Search. Instead of tricky new techniques, Microsoft is improving the basics, increasing the amount of sites it searches for matches. It also features new fuzzy approaches that better understand how badly we spell and gives us what we want anyway.

To his great credit, Bill Gates has been thinking and talking about fuzzy search and natural languages interfaces longer than some of us have been alive.

(So how old are you? I'm looking for the oldest and youngest Redmond Report readers. Here's a hint: My dad, mom and youngest son all read this newsletter. Send your age and thoughts to [email protected] -- relatives are welcome to write in, as well!)

Posted by Doug Barney on 10/01/2007 at 1:15 PM


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