Microsoft will change Vista search for Google
Microsoft agreed Tuesday to make changes to the desktop search feature in Windows Vista in an effort to assuage Google and head off a further antitrust battle with U.S. regulators. In a filing made jointly with the Justice Department on Tuesday night, Microsoft said it would change the search feature as part of the first service pack to Windows Vista. In the filing, Microsoft talked for the first time about when that service pack would arrive, saying a beta version will come by the end of the year. Under the agreement, Microsoft will create a mechanism whereby both computer makers and individuals will be able to choose a default desktop search program, much as they can choose a rival browser or media player, even though those technologies are built into Windows.
As part of the pact, Microsoft is required to do three things in relation to desktop search. First, it has to add the mechanism for computer makers and users to change the default desktop search. Second, that default search program “will be launched whenever Windows launches a new top-level window to provide search results.” That includes the Start menu, when a user selects to display results in a new window. However, in areas, such as the Windows Explorer, where Microsoft includes a search bar, Vista “will continue to display the search results using the internal Vista desktop search functionality.” Microsoft, however, must also add a link that, when clicked, will launch the default desktop search program and display that program’s results.
Source: ZDnet
Comments(22)
One more reason to use linux. ^_^
I mean really they’re stretching so far here just to allow another search application besides theirs. Like it’s that fucking difficult.
Microsoft should counter sue Google since in google.com you can only use google search engine but not msn search!
@hikaricore
omg omg! i want you to edit your post and add windows95 next to linux word, its just a word, not a big stretch now is it? Sure sure, its your post but aparently that not an issue for you…
Lrn2makesense kk?
It’s Microsoft’s operating system, who is to decide what’s not or what’s in it?
I think the Vista search engine does just fine so I don’t need this.
Pathetic imo.
Turn the table around – There should be a msn search option @ google.com
Why so much focus on ’search’ recently? It’s google desktop (which indexes and searches) and Vista search (which also indexes and searchess) and Yahoo widgets (which also search) ad nauseum. Are people getting so lame they can’t find anything without having to ’search’ for it? If people left stuff in an organised manner of sorts, we wouldn’t any search at all would we?
idiot
absurd, now lets wait till Microsoft suits Google, cause no links to their homepage on main page, lol
Its Bills OS, his soft… whats the problem?? dont like it?? dont buy/use it!!
…Bill found the way to made life harder to google by build in Vista search system …clever bastard =]
Google is just jealous cause they still dont have own OS to run their services,
For once I agree, this is going to far. I am in no way a fan of M$, but shit, this is going way too far. Apple does not have to put up with this shit. What about the search feature in OSX?
Google desktop is clearly far superior to the Vista search feature in terms of looking and indexing documents, and much more user friendly. There is not reason why you can not just have a separate program for google desktop. Do we really think that an average user is so incredibly dumb that he/she will not be able to figure out how to setup and use Google Desktop.
I think that the new start menu in Vista is one good thing that M$ has done in years. I hope they do not fuck with it.
I dont believe you can say “dont like it, dont use it” with Vista, this is M$. lots of ppl will be forced to change eventually, some already have! so i think fair game if google or any company force M$ to include the choice between bill or something better. especially if im paying $300 (or even if not
)
Tell Google build their own OS….
Is Google gonna go after Mac for their spotlight search?
What’s next? Bitching from the “disk” companies because MS has a defragmenter built-in? After all, it is the default if I bring up the tools screen on a disk and click on defrag…
read this : http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2007/06/20/microsoft_desktop_search_unfair/
I’m amazed at the lack of intelligence displayed in previous comments, it’s actually dangerous for people to be so ignorant. I suppose this is what we end up with when information is reduced to a tool for private profit.
I see lots of negative comments, but can someone explain how this decision negatively affects them? I can see no harm coming from the decision, so why are some people angry about it??
I’m angry cos someone called me an idiot and a moron… :p
seriously, I wanna sue microsoft cos they didn’t include any of my drawings into vista’s wallpaper and dont provide a means to give people easy access to my drawings.
OK maybe not so seriously…
fag
For all you ten year old morons out there: The thing with all these lawsuits is that Microsoft is using it’s almost monopoly-situation in the OS-world to squeeze out all competitors in all software-areas. Which over time is REALLY BAD for us consumers. And unlawful!
Who gives a fuck. Jeez bob, get a life.
Bob: exactly.
So to others, stop straining your brains over irrelevant issues, like “google should have an MSN link”.. wtf? It’s necessary because MS has what’s called a MONOPOLY. Know what that is? Aware of the issues? Get an education ffs or at least think before you post dribble.
“Who gives a fuck. Jeez bob, get a life.”
That’s the good ol American spirit talking.
I think Google and other companies are complaining too much. If they don’t like how Vista works, then why don’t Google come up with a better alternative OS?