Microsoft recently unveiled the All-New MSN Search that claims to be more precise, intuitive and personalized than ever before. With an improved algorithm, faster response time and advanced filters, MSN Search becomes a formidable contender in the search engine arena, promising to deliver relevant results to its users. But the question remains – Is it really more precise than its counterparts?
If we look at the numbers, MSN Search has a search market share of just around 2%, far behind its competitors Google (90%) and Bing (7%). However, Microsoft is not ready to concede defeat just yet. The newly launched MSN Search is part of the company's broader strategy to rebrand all its internet services under the MSN name and increase its market share in the search engine sector.
One of the key features of the All-New MSN Search is the "Intelligent Answers" feature. It gives users quick access to direct answers from trusted sources such as web pages and even experts. The website claims that over 85% of queries are answered with this feature. This does sound impressive, but it is not something that Google has not already been doing for years. Google has its own "featured snippets" that provide direct answers to queries, making this feature a draw rather than a breakthrough.
Moreover, MSN search might give the best possible answer, but it doesn't always get it right. Google’s knowledge graph and machine learning algorithms have already set a benchmark of precision that MSN Search is yet to achieve.
Another key feature of MSN Search is that it provides highly personalized results. The user's search history, preferences, and location are taken into consideration to provide relevant suggestions. This personalization might make the user feel more connected with the search engine, but it also puts their privacy at risk. Google does track user data, but it has been transparent and upfront about their user privacy policies with options to delete search history, location history, etc.
The MSN Search also offers a clean and modern look with easy-to-use filters that help to refine searches with parameters like date, location, and file type. While this might be a useful feature for some users, most users don't need helping hands to refine their queries, and advanced filters might add an unnecessary level of complexity. Google, on the other hand, has always focused on simplicity, where the user can get the required information without any hassle.
Another area where MSN Search is trying to differentiate itself is with its shopping features. The search engine has entered a partnership with over 800 retailers, allowing users to shop online and compare prices directly from the search engine. This shopping integration might give the users a seamless shopping experience, but it would only be useful for users who shop regularly on the internet. Google also has a shopping feature called Google Shopping that provides product information, reviews, and rates – albeit from a narrower pool of vendors.
All things considered, it seems that Google still holds the crown when it comes to providing precise search results. Their algorithms are more refined, accurate and adaptive, and the search engine’s user base makes it a more reliable source of data.
That being said, it doesn't mean MSN Search has no potential. Microsoft has a huge user base built from Bing and other services and has been investing significantly in machine learning for its algorithm development. Moreover, Microsoft still has a customer base for its search that prefers their results to be more precise than Google's. For these users, MSN Search might be a suitable alternative. Plus, with Microsoft's track record of marketing and promotions, it may gain more market share over time.
In conclusion, the answer to the question – is the All-New MSN Search more precise? – is not a straightforward one. It is a solid search engine that simplifies the discovery of content and information for users. It came out with new features that might appeal to certain users, but in terms of accuracy, relevance and accessible data, Google is still the kingpin. However, competition in the search engine market is always beneficial for the users, as it challenges providers to innovate and improve to provide the best user experience. It will be interesting to see how Microsoft plans to keep up in this tight competition.