First screenshot of Microsoft's Kumo
As I noted earlier on Monday, Microsoft plans to start internal testing later this week of Kumo, the rebranded version of Live Search. Now I have a screenshot to share.
Also, here's the text of an e-mail that search executive Satya Nadella just sent to his staff. Keep in mind, even though he talks about checking out the site, his e-mail is to Microsoft staff with access to it. Us outsiders will have to chew on the screenshot (see below). From this screenshot (and two others I have seen), it appears the biggest change in Kumo is the way that it shows in the first results the query narrowed by a couple of different things the searcher might be looking for.
From: Satya NadellaSent: Monday, March 02, 2009 4:18 PM
To: Microsoft - All Employees (QBDG)
Subject: Announcement: Internal Search Test Experience
The Search team needs you. We've been working hard to improve our search service and want to share the progress we are making with you. We are launching a new test program called kumo.com for employees to try and provide feedback. Kumo.com exists only inside the corporate network, and in order to get enough feedback we will be redirecting internal live.com traffic over to the test site in the coming days. Kumo is the codename we have chosen for the internal test.
In spite of the progress made by search engines, 40 percent of queries go unanswered; half of queries are about searchers returning to previous tasks; and 46 percent of search sessions are longer than 20 minutes. These and many other learnings suggest that customers often don't find what they need from search today.
We believe we can provide a better and more useful search experience that helps you not just search but accomplish tasks. During the test, features will vary by country, but you'll see results organized in a way that saves you more time. An explorer pane on the left side of results pages will give you access to tools that help you with your tasks. Other features like single session history and hover preview help accomplish more in search sessions.
Your Next Search...
To get started, visit kumo.com or click one of the samples below to see how it's possible to find the right results more easily:
As employees, you are some of our most informed users and our toughest critics, and we highly value your input and feedback to help us build a better service. You have been an important voice in our efforts, and the feedback you've sent us since the company meeting has been amazing.
When you visit kumo.com, at the bottom right corner of the each page you'll see a feedback badge. We ask that each time you use the test site, click the feedback badge and take a moment to answer four quick and simple questions. Feel free to reach out to give us extra feedback directly on our blog and by mailing (an internal alias). For answers to common questions make sure to see our FAQ.
We are committed to rapid innovation and improvement. Please give the test site a try, rate the results and let us know what you think.
- Satya
(Credit:
CNET)
During her years at CNET News, Ina Fried has changed beats several times, changed genders once, and covered both of the Pirates of Silicon Valley. These days, most of her attention is focused on Microsoft. E-mail Ina. 
I also think they should keep live.com
Lots of little searches may add up, or they could see which one takes off if any.
After much head-scratching I realized it was the font. And on opening up the page source, sure enough, it uses Segoe UI, and will default to Arial if that's not present on the system.
I do like the change. I know -- who gives a crap about fonts when you're looking at search engines.. I know, I know.. Just sayin' -- it *looks* nice..
Live Search looks much nicer. The orange is nauseous, 'Kumo' looks and sounds weird, and there's is nothing to say it has anything to do with Windows Live.
Yes cause google screams style?
As for Microsoft. It looks like it's still suffering from "let's rename our sh*t 10 times and hope something sticks." This thing should be called "Kemo" because it's going to need chemotherapy to recover from the same cancer that Microsoft products suffer from when they try to be someone they're not (i.e. Google).
It is one thing to return search results, but web pages must be categorized by subject tags. For example "corporate" for corporate web sites, "open source" for open source web sites, "fan" for fan based web sites, "advertisements" for advertising web sites, and "download" when they want to find a download etc. The results returned should have category tags one can click on to narrow down the service and weed out the unwanted web sites. For example if a spammer web site comes up, there should be a "I do not want this sort of result" near it to click it out of the search. There should also be a 'I want more of this sort of result" link for the web sites that get close to what the searcher is looking for.
That is the way I envision a web search to work.
The fact is that MS Live Search stinks and its results are not even comparable to the quality of Google ( or even Yahoo! ).
So why would you, Kumo ? Unless they make a new search engine, which can provide more accurate results than Google Search, most of humanity will still just google-it.
It looks...so generic. Blehhh.
This is the strength of Google that is very difficult to overcome: they have a lot more data to work with, making their guesses much more "educated".
Google surely is working on this sort of next generation search also. It remains to be seen whether either of these players or some other ends up best. To critique the aesthetics of something in raw development is absurd. it just is.
Go back to the basement fanboy
As far as "monkeyfun14" comments, apparently this is not a serious person. Before you bother calling me a "fanboy" or other juvenile terms, please note I've been living with MS code since its inception.
- by javonyc March 5, 2009 4:29 PM PST
- ii actually think its nice looking
- Like this Reply to this comment
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Showing 1 of 2 pages (53 Comments)but we'll have to wait to see how it works.