Microsoft outlines Vista desktop search changes

Microsoft on Wednesday outlined the changes it plans to make to the desktop search feature in Windows Vista to satisfy antitrust concerns.

The software maker agreed in June to make the alterations to the way desktop search operates in response to concerns from Google.

The primary impact of the change is giving Vista users who choose a non-Microsoft option for desktop search more outlets to see those search results, as opposed to the results generated by Vista's built in desktop search engine.

The changes are coming with the first service pack to Windows Vista. Microsoft is launching a beta version of the update in the next couple of weeks, with a final version expected early next year.

The search changes mean that, "in addition to the numerous ways a user could access a third-party search solution in Windows Vista, they can now get to their preferred search results from additional entry points in the Start Menu and Explorer Windows in Windows Vista with SP1," a Microsoft representative said in an e-mail to CNET News.com.

Microsoft said that to enable access to search applications, search providers will need to register their service using the new protocol in Windows Vista SP1.

This week, Microsoft is releasing three documents aimed at helping the industry understand the changes. One, due to go live later Wednesday, is a knowledge base article on Microsoft's main Web site that outlines the planned changes.

The second, to be posted to Microsoft's developer site, is a documentation of the company's search protocols to allow other software makers to take advantage of the shifts. A third item is a paper that describes how services can operate in a way that avoids disrupting overall system performance.

"Following through on the commitments we made in court, this week we are releasing three documents to help our partners modify their desktop search applications to work with the search changes," Microsoft said in a statement. The software maker also said it has provided an interim test version of the service pack to the technical committee that was appointed by the court overseeing Microsoft's consent decree.

"Throughout this process, we have worked closely with the Technical Committee, who in turn have consulted with (software makers), to develop the specification and documentation for these code changes," Microsoft said. "We will continue to work with the Technical Committee to make sure our designs meet the agreed-upon specifications."

A Google representative said: "We look forward to evaluating the proposed changes to Vista desktop search, to ensure they are consistent with Microsoft's obligation to give consumers more choices."

The changes will be visible to those running Vista in a few places. The first of these places is in Vista's start menu. Today there are buttons that say "see all results" or "search everywhere." If a third party search engine is chosen, that engine will launch when the search everywhere button is clicked.

The second place is in the command bar in windows within Vista's explorer navigation system. As you start typing there in the search box, currently there is a dark blue bar with buttons that say "save search" and "search tools." As part of the changes, there will be an added button that says "search everywhere" and links to the default search engine.

News.com's Elinor Mills contributed to this report.

[groograms]

Why!

Why do I want more options? Why the %$#& do I want Google? or some other search?

Here is what I want; I want you advertisers, software makers, etc to get the hell out of my OS.

I want a 'clean' OS.

I don't want you fighting over who can be in my OS, i want you all out.

I don't understand it, all people I know love tools like ad blockers, pop up stoppers, junk filters, etc etc. Why? cause they do not want to see nor have all this junk you are cramming down our throats.

It sickens me really. Why do I want the option for other search providers, when I don't even want the default one that I must have? Seriously, with the privacy issues laid out by these companies, I would like to keep them as far from my OS as possible.

These companies should turn their respective power and efforts to something usefull, like an 'uninstall' feature.

I am so sick of only reading how companies benefit and weasel their way further into my personnal computing. What ever happened to stuff for the user? this announcement is not for 'consumer options' its a slapping match between Google and MS.

Blegh

[frankwick]

MS invented the tech, others hop on board...

Let me get this straight....

MS invented the integrated search technology, demoed it a couple of years ago as a Vista feature, others create similar tools (Apple, Google, even MSN), then MS is forced to go back and re-architect the way their technology works.

Why does this not make sense?

[FutureGuy]

they might not have "invented it"

but they had a search integrated search in some form or fashion for over a decade. now Google is suing them for that, not even funny.

[FutureGuy]

I have a clean OS

and I do use windows, thank you for your concern.

[aemarques]

Double standards...

Why am I stuck with Apple technology in the integrated search tools in MacOS and everyone is accusing MS of "not giving enough consumer choice" in Windows Vista?

Why is OK for Apple to bundle QuickTime with MacOS but in the European Commission thinks that MS doing the same with WMP in Windows in "against competition?"

Why am I stuck with only using iTunes (and buying stuff only in ONE STORE - Apple's) if I buy an iPod?

Oh well, another day, another flame war...

[Spartan_458]

Why would you install a third-party app...

that slows down the search process? Microsoft's integrated search is going to be faster regardless, as it's built straight into Vista. As for me, it works great. WAY better than XP's search function. I don't want Google coming in and screwing that up. No thanks.

[Karl Viklund]

Great

I have nothing against the Windows search in my Vista system but I would love to try out Google's.

[Vegaman_Dan]

The entire idea is silly

Why would one company be forced to allow rivals to install their applications onto their product?

If this continues, then Apple will be forced to include MS Search, Yahoo Search, Google, etc, all as part of their desktop as well. The exact reasons given apply here as well- and I don't agree with it at all.

It's like Ford being required to make their car's able to use Chevy, Dodge, and Toyota engines under the hood as well to comply with some third party group's requirements.

Google has a great search tool and I use it over the Microsoft one. I don't use *any* desktop search and turn it off when I see it installed. Google has no reason to insist that they get their tools onto another company's product.

[danielz40]

Same Company, same story.

This is, in the end, the same story for Microsoft. They did this with Internet Explorer, remember? They attempted to force you to use their browser, remember America? It seems like Europe was the winner, they gave their fair share of punishment to MS while the good ole USA slapped them on the wrist for their monopolistic ways. They are trying the same thing with your search engine. I do want a choice, I don't want the maker of my OS deciding for me.
And when their is a good graphical interface to a good OS, especially for the home user, there will be one more non-windows user. As it is, because my business THINKS they're forced to use Windows, I have to use it also.
But it's getting closer to the time for me to try Linux.
And so what if Google is about money? I mean it's not like MS cares about anything else. Don't you get it? That is corporate America. They would kill people for a dollar. And they have.