Ask.com commits a cardinal sin Pandia
Two bits of news about Ask.com
The Good - they are investing in a new data centre - this means Ask is staying in search and not becoming some demographic portal (we hope)
The Bad - a clicked-on result is displayed inside an Ask frame at the top - similar to a toolbar with a search box and related searches - and there is no-remove frame button. Pandia calls this a "cardinal sin" and that it will anger experienced searchers and confuse novices.
It's an interesting idea - keeping the related searches on top could help a searcher change tack and try another route. But it's not good to force it on people. This would have been better done as a browser extension.
Since we are looking at Ask, Ask should ditch the NASCAR background image on the entry page. Not everyone likes noise, fumes, and insane speeds not to mention deaths in fiery crashes.
Finally - there is a local search for Canada thanks to Google. Search for shops and services in your area. Accepts postal code and will show addresses with map for a specified radius - 2 km, 10, 25, and 75. http://local.google.ca/. It's better than the search-by-distance at Superpages.ca, but it still can't find all the LCBO stores. Maps. though, are excellent.
Bell, Microsoft open 'super portal' By JACK KAPICA Globe and Mail Update (June 9)
Microsoft-Bell partnership has created a new portal - sympatico.msn.ca for all users. Premium subscribers ($4.95 / month) get more -- "Subscribers will get their Sympatico, MSN and Hotmail accounts co-ordinated along with increased mail storage space, the MSN Messenger service, "talking" e-mail called SayMail, anti-spam and anti-virus tools, enhanced parental controls and pop-up ad blocking, as well as streaming concert series, a music store, Sympatico's existing GamesMania site and NHL games content. In addition, the portal — located at Sympatico.MSN.ca — will include new content channels and features, such as Kids, Maps & Directions, Games and the High Speed Zone."
Of course the ultimate objective is to make this a "broadband home" - music, entertainment, video, television.
Rogers will be doing the same with Yahoo as its partner.
Didn't we go through all this portal stuff before? Didn't it crash? Do I want to spend even more time in front of the screen? Do I want to pay more every month? Are they going to make me personalize yet another page?
There is an important FAQ at the site.
The good news is that MSN Passport user ids will be recognized. Also "Existing users of both Sympatico e-mail and MSN Hotmail® can keep their current e-mail addresses. "
Sympatico users may have to do something about their personal page -- "Your personal MySympatico page will be available for a short period of time following the launch of the new site."
Those who track investments through the Sympatico - GlobeInvestor arrangement will have to decide on the Globe or use the Sympatico/MSN channel.
Yahoo introduces new search technology Globe and Mail (March 17) Yahoo Canada has dropped Google is now using the Yahoo Search Technology. It has also added some spam fighting algorithms. Claims "YST is that users will benefit from more relevant, Canadian-specific search results."
Sympatico.ca and MSN.ca will be combining their resources to create a new portal for launch in 2004.
Bell Canada/Microsoft alliance may create Internet juggernaut Gartner Dataquest via TechRepublic (Sept 11)
"On 16 June 2003, Bell Canada and Microsoft announced a strategic five-year agreement in which Bell Canada's Sympatico.ca and Microsoft's MSN.ca will be combined to create a new cobranded portal to be launched in 2004. Also, the alliance of companies will provide a broad range of content and connectivity services initially based on Microsoft's recently launched MSN8."
Bell Canada will manage the content, english and french, and MSN will provide the infrastructure. The MSN8 service will be part of the offering but might be an additional cost to Sympatico subscribers. Gartner Dataquest in its analysis thought it likely MSN8 would be bundled for free with the premium high speed service ($69.95 / month) but not the other subscription packages.