Live Search gets a Powerset boost

Microsoft's Live Search now uses technology from Powerset to help generate related search terms at the right of the search window.

(Credit: Microsoft)

It will take some time for Microsoft to fully make use of the technology it got by acquiring natural-language search company Powerset. However, Microsoft said on Wednesday that the earliest fruits of the deal are now evident in its Live Search product.

Specifically, the company said in a blog posting that it has added three things from Powerset: a set of direct answers using Freebase, improved captions for Wikipedia results, and new related searches using the Factz engine. Microsoft closed its deal to buy Powerset last month.

"Since Wikipedia articles show up in a large percentage of Live Search queries, it's important that the captions are top notch," Powerset's Mark Johnson said in the blog posting. "These changes are transparent to the end user, but we'll be able to analyze the Powerset captions versus the Live Search captions to see which perform better."

In the other direction, Powerset is now using some Live Search technology on its site to display related topics, Johnson said.

Microsoft is counting on tailored search and other changes in the business to allow it to make inroads on market leader Google. While most of the attention has focused on Powerset's ability to help out on the algorithmic side of things, Microsoft also sees potential in using natural language search to generate more relevant paid search.

Powerset taps Freebase Answers to provide an informational link at the top of a list of search results for the Chrysler Building.

(Credit: Microsoft)

[Mr. Dee]

I honestly cannot find a good reason to use Windows Live Search. This is a case of too little, too late. Google is good enough although it too needs improving, but if there was choice to be made in Search Engines, it had to be them.

[bhushan bhaagii]

My net connection this morning (Thursday) was not good. My hotmail account
was rejecting my login. It does happen sometimes, and I go around
through Google, typing hotmail signin, which takes me there,
and I log in.

Today, things were particularly bad, and every attempt failed. I
finally tried going thru live search, typing 'hotmail.com'
The search threw up a list of irrelevant sites about hotmail,
but no direct link to hotmail.com.

[jedmmj11]

that happens to everyone in who uses my computer too. but u should know it always works the 2nd time.