Search wars: WolframAlpha joins the battle

The ongoing battle of browsers is still on fire. And now the battle of search engines is heating up.

Microsoft is relaunching its search engine with new bells and whistles. Yahoo is getting away from results being generated as straight links and newcomer WolframAlpha has just released an "answer engine," designed to do just that...provide answers.

With a 64.2% market share, according to comScore, Google is the clear leader when it comes to online search. Experts say rivals like Yahoo (20.4% market share) and Microsoft (8.2% market share) will need to find ways of differentiating themselves in order to make a sizable dent.

Google's dominance in search goes even deeper than the market share numbers generated by comScore, said Aggarwal. Google gets most of its traffic from searches made directly on Google.com, while 98% of Yahoo's and Microsoft's traffic comes through portals like MSN and Yahoo Finance rather than searches on Yahoo.com and Live.com, he said.

That means competitors have an even steeper hill to climb, because "googling" has become synonymous with "search."

"We're creatures of habit," said Susan Feldman, search engine analyst with IDC. "The tech aspects of improving search are not as hard as improving the 'people' aspects."

Microsoft. Is on the cusp of unveiling its new search engine under the code-name "Kumo" though it is expected to ultimately be called "Bing." Aggarwal, who has tested the new search engine, said Bing improves the relevance of its links and presents search results differently from Google, Yahoo and even from Microsoft's current search engine, Live.com.

Bing is set up to organize search results in relevant groups rather than as a series of links. For instance, a search for "fly to New York," may yield New York destinations like hotels, restaurants and museums as almost a guidebook page. The same search on Live.com generates straight individual links that users have to go through one by one.

Aggarwal said Bing may have chance at becoming a "destination" Web site like Google, because the site's technology has been better tested.

"Live wasn't ready for prime time because the technology was too premature" and users weren't repeat customers, he said. "Now Microsoft thinks they're ready."

Yahoo. Yahoo is tinkering with the types of results that come up after a search.

The company is trying to provide information, including images and answers from databases, rather than a long series of links, according to analysts. For example, a search on Yahoo.com for "Star Trek" brings up an image with the movie trailer, a review, and a zip code/address box that will bring up local show times.

WolframAlpha. When WolframAlpha launched last week, there was a buzz that it could become the next Google "killer." But the company maintains that WolframAlpha isn't even a search engine. A query on WolframAlpha.com yields calculations and database results rather than links to other Web pages.

"It really is meant to supplement search, not to be a search competitor," said John Ekizian, spokesman for WolframAlpha. "WolframAlpha will always give you the right answer, and that's a lot different than search."

"People's search queries are getting longer over time," said Andrew Lipsman, director of industry analysis at comScore. "This might bode well for an engine like WolframAlpha, which appears designed to handle more detailed search queries."

Google. While competitors are nipping at Google's heels, the search giant isn't standing still.

"Search is not done, and Google is not the be-all and end-all of search engines," said Howe. "Google would agree, and that's why they're constantly making changes too."

Marissa Mayer, Google's vice president of search products, told CNNMoney that Google released more than 360 relevance changes to improve the search engine last year.

Google continues to explore new ways to grow. "Search is a very competitive space, so for us there's always pressure to be better," said Mayer. "You need to keep up that pace of innovation."

New innovations like Google Squared, which will allow users to view searches in a matrix form on their screen, and Google voice search are in the works, she said.

Still, some think that Google's competitors are getting close to taking away some of Google's dominant market shares.

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New and better - Firefox 3.5

The all new Google Chrome 2.0

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New and better - Firefox 3.5

Over the last year or so, Firefox has become better known in tech savvy circles for its relatively poor performance and mediocre memory management. Chrome's insane speed and Internet Explorer 8's overall improvement have also dinged Firefox's reputation. But now, Firefox 3.5 is almost ready to go.

I downloaded the latest beta, Firefox 3.5 beta 4, to explore it for myself. I used it on two different PCs. The first was my workhouse Windows XP SP2 system, and the other was my Dell laptop. The XP box was a Dell Inspiron 530S with a 2.2-GHz Intel Pentium E2200 dual-core processor, 4GBs of RAM, a 500GB SATA drive and an Integrated Intel 3100 GMA (Graphics Media Accelerator). For laptop, I used a Gateway GT5622 desktop with a 1.8GHz Intel Pentium E2160 dual-core CPU, 3GBs of RAM, a 400GB SATA drive, and an Intel 950 GMA.

On both systems, installing the browser took less than three minutes. Once installed, I found that my two must-have Firefox extensions the Google Toolbar and XMarks were both working.

However, on Windows, I found that two other extensions were DOA. These were the AVG Safe Search 8.5 malware detector and the Microsoft .NET Framework Assistant 1.0. I wasn't too surprised by either one. The AVG program has had issues with other versions of Firefox and the .NET Framework program has always been a pain.

Unlike Google Chrome, Firefox has a mature family of extensions. I really like Chrome a lot, but it's still taking baby steps when it comes to using extensions for added functionality.

Where Chrome still zooms by Firefox is when it comes to rendering speed. That's especially true when it comes to JavaScript-heavy pages. Firefox 3.5's TraceMonkey JavaScript rendering engine is much faster than what you'll find in the Firefox 3.0 series and Internet Explorer doesn't belong in the performance conversation.

Still Chrome 2.0's V8 JavaScript engine beats TraceMonkey handily. Using the SunSpider JavaScript Benchmark on the Microsoft windows xp system, Firefox 3.5 was almost twice as slow as Chrome 2.0 at the benchmark with a recorded time of 1,225.6-millisecond to Chrome 2.0's 704.0. If speed is what matters the most to you, Chrome is the browser for you.

On the other hand, after running Firefox for days and with multiple windows and tabs, I found that on both Windows and Linux, Firefox is finally not hogging memory. Even with the debugging code that must be in a beta, I found that Firefox is no longer leaking memory. That's good for both the browser's stability and its security.

Firefox now supports embedded Ogg and WAV video and audio format without the need for a helper program. It also far better privacy settings so you can use your own, or any other, computer without leaving any traces behind of what you've been doing. 

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The all new Google Chrome 2.0

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The all new Google Chrome 2.0

Google has upgraded its Chrome 2.0 Web browser from being in test mode (beta) to its final version ready for download and general use. With this latest update, compared to early beta 2.0 releases of the browser, Google adds new features including full-screen mode, an improved new tab page, and the support for auto-fill of text within Web page forms.

Google says if you already are running Google Chrome  browser will be automatically updated to the final 2.0 release "soon." Otherwise, to download the latest version you can get it directly from the Google Chrome download page.

This update comes six months after Google announced the final version of Google Chrome 1.0. Google Chrome 2.0 was first previewed in January in beta form. Google developers say they have squashed over 300 bugs from earlier Chrome 2.0 beta releases. Google is also touting this latest version of Google Chrome as "faster than ever" able to render JavaScript-heavy Web pages 30 percent faster than it previous version of Chrome. (see releated: Google Chrome Is Fastest Browser in Site-Loading Tests)

Here are the new features introduced on Thursday with the final Google Chrome 2.0 release:

Improved New Tab Page: Give you the ability to remove thumbnails from the New Tab page. This allows you to, as Google put it: "hide that embarrassing gossip blog from the Most Visited section."

Full Screen Mode: In this mode you can hide the title bar and the rest of the browser window by hitting F11 or selecting the option in the Tools menu.

Form Autofill: This feature, a staple in Internet Explorer and Firefox, auto-fills text boxes in Web page forms with information you've previously entered.

Google released a short video outlining the latest improvements to the final release of Chrome 2.0.

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Second Google phone in Australia next month

Australian users will soon be able to buy a second version of the already popular Google phone, with mobile service provider 3 saying it will offer the HTC Magic handset from mid-June. Meanwhile, computer manufacturer Acer will produce its own smartphone running on the open-source Android operating system.

 HTC will release its second device in Australia based on the Android operating system in mid-June, with 3 now taking pre-orders for the device.The device will feature wi-fi, Bluetooth and GPS capabilities, a 3.2-inch touch screen, a 3.2 megapixel camera with video recording capabilities, and a 2GB micro-SD memory card.Applications designed by Google on the phone include Google Maps, a suite of apps including YouTube views and Gmail, and access to the Android application marketplace. 

No pricing or usage plans have been released by 3, but it did announce that the device will only come in black. Acer's chief of its mobile phones division, Aymar de Lencquesaing, announced at the Reuters Technology Summit that the company will release a Google phone before the end of the year.Lencquesaing said the phone will be the company's only smartphone this year not to run on Microsoft's Windows Mobile operating system. Acer announced earlier this year that it was looking to enter the smartphone market, and introduced a number of devices as the first part of an attempt to capture 5% of the market within five years.

 The decision is a win for Google, whose Android operating system is being released on handsets from electronics manufacturers including Samsung and HTC.

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Windows 7’s Price is possibly an obstacle - DELL

iYogi Acquires Clean Machine Inc.

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MICROSOFT WINDOWS 7 - candidate version

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Windows 7’s Price is possibly an obstacle - DELL

Windows 7 pricing is a possibly a barrier for some users, though in just about every other aspect the operating system is beating Vista."If there's one thing that may influence adoption, make things slower or cause customers to pause, it's that generally the ASPs (average selling price) of the operating systems are higher than they were for Vista and XP," Darrel Ward, director of product management for Dell's business client product group, said in a phone interview, referring to the various versions of the Windows 7 operating system that are expected to appear.

Ward continued. "In tough economic times, I think it's naive to believe that you can increase your prices on average and then still see a strong swell than if you held prices flat or even lowered them. I can tell you that the licensing tiers at retail are more expensive than they were for Vista. Windows 7 Professional is expected to be more expensive than Windows Vista Business, the version that Professional is replacing, he said. He also mentioned, "Schools and government agencies may not be able to afford (the additional cost). Some of the smaller businesses may not be able to enjoy the software as soon as they'd like".

Pricing aside, Ward said momentum behind Windows 7 is big compared with Vista. "When Vista came out we didn't have the motivation to do the types of services that we're doing now. We didn't have the clear customer demand for such services," he said. "We do have a visible number of customers, large and small, who are actually waiting for Windows 7 and who have already put plans in place to target the transition to Windows 7, they're asking Dell for help. That demand and this opportunity is stronger than it has been in the past," Ward said.

And Dell is already getting its service organization in gear for Windows 7. "Our professional service organization is beginning to structure service offerings specifically designed to help customers migrate their images, their applications, and their management infrastructure, security capabilities and so forth."

More than half of Dell's business customers are still using Windows XP and these customers will eventually have to upgrade, according to Ward. "XP cannot live forever," he said.

To help users migrate from XP to Windows 7, Dell supports the upcoming operating system's XP mode. "It's one of the things that Microsoft is doing that we think is helpful. Putting an instance of XP virtual machine in the higher end SKUs (models). This is another alternative for compatibility. We'll fully support that in our product and consulting services." he said.

Driver readiness is good, with some exceptions. "Driver readiness--it looks pretty healthy compared to the past. (There are) some things that haven't been worked out. The WHQL (Windows Hardware Quality Lab) drivers for AMT VPRO is a little behind," he said, referring to Intel's Active Management Technology, which allows remote access to PCs for security, maintenance, and management.

Generally, however, Windows 7 is much further along than Vista was at this stage, he said. "But if you look at the ecosystem enabling for Windows 7, it is much further along that it was at the same time for Vista," he said. 

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iYogi Acquires Clean Machine Inc.

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iYogi Acquires Clean Machine Inc.

iYogi, a global direct to consumer and small business remote technical support provider, today announced it’s acquisition of Clean Machine Inc, a provider of remotely administered PC security and performance management services. Clean Machine will operate as a separate brand under the iYogi services umbrella along with the recently lunched Support Dock (www.supportdock.com) and its comprehensive range of 24/7 technical support services for computers, printers, MP3 players, digital camera, routers, servers and more than 100 software applications. Larry Gordon, Founder of Clean Machine is appointed as the President of Global Channel Sales for iYogi.

iYogi will integrate technology and innovation that Clean Machine Inc. has developed for delivering an enhanced service experience by proactively managing the health and security for PC's and Apple Computers. This acquisition also broadens iYogi's access to key markets through Clean Machine's existing partnerships. Larry Gordon's past experience and successful track record will accelerate iYogi's expansion through his focus on global alliances.

Commenting on the acquisition of Clean Machine Inc., Uday Challu, CEO & Co-founder of iYogi, said,

"This acquisition will help iYogi to enhance our customer experience and extend our market reach to the millions of consumers that are challenged by the increasingly complex technology environment. Clean Machine's proactive maintenance and management of PCs in home and small business environment will be our launch platform for building the next generation of managed services for consumers."

"We are delighted to have Larry spearheading partnerships and global alliances for iYogi. His incredible experience in marketing, sales and building global alliances will help forge partnerships with retailers, multiple service operators, software publishers, original equipment manufacturers (OEM) and other such companies that are at the frontlines for managing tech support issues for consumers and small businesses", added Challu.

With more than 20 years of experience, Larry Gordon has played a variety of strategic roles in marketing, sales and building alliances. Larry was the Executive Vice President at Capgemini and Kanbay. He was also VP of Global Marketing for Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH), a leader in global IT services and Director of Marketing for New York based Information Builders.

"I am excited to join a company that shares a common mission to Clean Machine in creating a global brand for delivering the best technical support to consumers and small businesses. We also share a common approach of utilizing highly skilled talent with leading edge tools, thereby delivering services at incredible price-points, with high margins for our partners",  said Larry Gordon, the newly appointed President of Global Channel Sales at iYogi.

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Free Computer Security Software

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Free Computer Security Software

According to Consumer Reports National research center says, in the last two years Consumer Reports National Research Center says one in five people had their identity stolen, got caught by phishing scams, or ended up with computers infected with spyware or viruses.

Consumer Reports tested security suites costing $50 to $90. But Consumer Reports found security software that's free of charge that is on par with the best.

To fight viruses: AntiVir from free-av.com/

To prevent spyware: Windows Defender from www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/defender/default.mspx

To stop spam: Spamfighter Standard from www.spamfighter.com/

There are some e-mails which look like that they are being sent from a bank and branded companies, but they are not. There objective is to gain access to your accounts. Consumer Reports says never click on links in e-mail messages that go to banks or other sites that have your personal information. Instead, type the company's Web address into your browser.

And for more protection, Consumer Reports recommends downloading antiphishing software that's free of charge, such as the McAfee Site Advisor, which warns when you go to a dangerous site.

Computers without security are much less likely to be attacked by viruses and spyware. But because Macs can transmit infected files to Windows PCs even within a home network, Consumer Reports recommends that Mac users install an antivirus program, such as Norton Antivirus Eleven for Mac. It costs $50.

You can get more of Consumer Reports' important tips for protecting your computer free of charge at: www.consumerreports.org/cro/electronics-computers/resource-center/cyber-insecurity/cyber-insecurity-hub.htm.

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MICROSOFT WINDOWS 7 - candidate version

Microsoft is preparing to give away a lo-fi version of their latest Microsoft operating system, Windows 7. Users can download a free release of candidate version of windows7 and it is valid till 1 June 2010. Microsoft stated,” the operating system is entering the final phases of development and is ready for partners to develop new applications, device drivers and services, and ready for IT pros to evaluate Windows 7 and examine how it will operate in their environment”

The officially build 7100 release candidate version, would likely be the last most important public test of the operating system, before it is finalized.

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