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MSNBC vs Google News
Monday, August 02, 2004
Microsoft is hyping its new Local PC File Search, which allows
searches on both the Web and PC hard drives, as hard as it can go.
As Microsoft's # 2 Main Man Steve Ballmer declares, ""There's
a lot of Google fascination out there and we share it, and we're
going to compete. We're going to compete very, very hard."
In other words, Bill and the Boyz have launched an all-out attack
on Google and it won't, therefore, come as a complete surprise to
learn that Microsoft's 'compete' actually means 'devour'.
In her Washington Post column here, Leslie Walker notes the similarities
between Google's exisiting and Microsoft's beta service.
But there are also differences, one being that MSN Newsbot, "also
remembers what you read (using browser cookies to track use instead
of requiring you to sign in to Microsoft's Passport service) and
presents stories it thinks might interest you in a special box.
Moreover, it shows what other stories earlier readers of a news
item clicked through to."
Newsbot will "extend the advanced search technology of MSN
to the trusted news environment of MSNBC.com," says Microsoft
in the statement announcing the arrival of its news delivery service.
When Microsoft uses the term 'trusted' it's time to start paying
attention. So does the above almost offhand statement mean what
it seems to mean?
It does.
"Another key difference between the Microsoft and Google services
is that Google's story-selection formula doesn't favor any particular
new source," says Walker.
"MSN Newsbot, by contrast, gives favorable placement to articles
from Microsoft's own MSNBC.com news site - late Friday afternoon,
half of Newsbot's 22 front-page stories came from MSNBC.com."
Walker quotes an email from MSN spokeswoman Elizabeth Herrera Smith
which states:
"As Newsbot resides on MSNBC and is branded as such, MSNBC
is considered a first among equals, meaning that if they and another
top-tier source offer the same story, information, etc., MSNBC will
be listed first, followed by other sources."
The Associated Press is also with MSN on the new service venture
Microsoft is acquiring the unattractive image of the rich, mean-spirited
bully-boy hated by all.
In contrast, Google is the wholesome, fresh-faced kid loved by
everyone.
Stay tuned.
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