I get a little more excited than most people about data, but I think even "normal" people will have fun with the new xTreme movers feature in xRank, which lets you track the searches that are gaining popularity the fastest.
Just yesterday, "dow jones," "recession," and other economy-related terms were moving incredibly quickly, while today we're noticing that people are interested in recent events including the debates, Boss Day, and Hurricane Omar. It's a truism that people seek more entertainment when times are tough, which could explain the recent growth in people searching for lolcats and gossip about Madonna.
As LiveSide has already noticed, we've made significant updates to all of the xRank categories (celebrities, musicians, politicians, bloggers) and added new features like "compare," which lets you not only see who's more popular right now but also look at how search popularity has shifted over time. There's more information available on every page, including videos, images, and news. We think you'll find the new design a little more exciting and interesting. And the xRank homepage? It's now set as my default so I can watch what happens every day.
For now, we've only released these new features in the U.S. Typically, we release features in one or two markets first to see how things go and then work with our search teams in other countries to decide which features they think will work best for them.
Let us know what you think!
Jacquelyn Krones, Senior Product Planner, Live Search
I like the innovation you guys are doing. But your branding is weak. Could you not just use the 'Windows Live Search' name?
You try and be different, but then you use the Windows logo as a prefix to your logo, suggesting it is actually Windows Live Search - but it isn't. It also uses a completely different interface than the rest of Live, so we have to retrain.
Even after using Live Search for a while, I find myself staring at a search result trying to find where the link to images etc. are.
Live Search was best when it was like this: http://www.liveside.net/blogs/main/WindowsLiveWriter/LiveSearch2.0beginsrollout_8EAE/LiveSearch2canon_2.jpg (but actually saying Windows Live Search)
What I'm basically trying to say is, you have an awesome search engine but awkard and confusing branding. With Windows Live Wave 4 launching imminently, perhaps you could realign yourself to this new style and help us users use your search engine without having to retrain how we use Microsoft's Online Services.
i think this feature will help Live Search to attract more users.
We're glad you like the product and we recognize that there is a brand issue across Windows Live. And we've been pretty upfront about that when we talk to customers and advertisers(http://www.seroundtable.com/archives/017296.html). We're working on fixing those issues so stay tuned. Thanks for the feedback . . and keep it coming!
Oooh! Lovely. I like this *a lot*.
xRank would be x10 tastier if it was pushed out in RSS format too; that would let me hook myself up to Live Search mojo!
Good to hear that David! I can only hope you make the sensible move and make it 'Windows Live Search' and not try another different attempt.
Actually, Mark, I'd have to disagree with you. I think it's a better move for Microsoft to separate Live Search from Windows Live. After all, currently Windows Live is now starting to form it's own shape and much better aligned to it's original definition when it was first launched - providing a software+services experience. This isn't what Live Search is about.
I believe Live Search should be on it's own because first of all it is very different from what "Windows Live". Secondly, my separating Live Search out, Microsoft could better concentrate it's efforts and development to Live Search, instead of being tied to Windows Live and other teams.
In my opinion, Live Search should focus on providing more relevant results as currently its results are still not relevant enough when compared to Google. Of course, branding is still an issue with the whole "Live" thing - but moving back to "Windows Live" is not an optimum solution.
Great work guys. This data will help me when building and growing my site.
I want "Live Search" back to "Windows Live Search", Live Services are so complex... We should do!
Yeah I agree I dislike the name "Live Search" - the amount of times people have called me up (I'm tech support at a local shop) asking why the maps etc. weren't like live video or something equally silly as that.
Windows Live search is known as a brand now, they read it as 'Windows Live', with 'Search' as the product. With live search they read 'Live Search' which causes confusion. Also you use the Windows logo everywhere, not REALLY sure why you do this if you want to seperate yourself from Windows Live.
I agree with Tuanese and Mark; your branding is amongst the weakest of all the search engines now. Infact the whole of microsoft web services are diluted across 3 brands.
Windows Live - seems to be productivity and communication.
Live Search - search-related stuff. No need for a seperate name for this.
MSN - news and entertainment. This should be kept seperate.
To sum up, Windows Live+Live Search should be one, MSN should be seperate.
Can't imagine what would happen to names for xRank, Maps...etc. Right now they're Live Search xRank, Live Search Maps. If they move back to "Windows Live", we'll have one of those super long names again like "Windows Live Search xRank" or "Windows Live Search Maps". Typical Microsoft naming though....
I'd rather it be consistent and long branding than short but confusing.
As users we could shortern it to 'Live Maps' for example, but it should officially be 'Windows Live Search: Maps' or something.
>For now, we've only released these new features in the U.S.
Yeah, but your implementation is braindead, and shows that you just don't get globalization. I'm French and run an American company from Chile. There are hundreds of millions of people like me in the world who can't be just summarily categorized based on their IP address. The fact that you filter out the content (which is algo based, so surely no copyright regional issues are involved) based on sniffing my IP address and make assumptions about who the user is or what they want, is obnoxious.
You want to focus on U.S. content first? Sure, that makes sense. What you actually did is entirely different. For the record, Google Trends doesn't try to know better what's good for their users, it just works, even from these weird countries beyond US borders. But hey, wingclip your own product if you want, it's not like Microsoft is the underdog in search (oh wait).
