Microsoft demonstrates Hard disk search tool

Microsoft demonstrated a new search engine that on the same moment looks for information on a computer's hard drive and at the internet. Yet another effort from Microsoft to capture some more market share from market leader Google.

"We will be able to search beyond the Web in a very fast fashion," Mehdie told analysts and reporter gathered at Microsoft's Redmond, Washington, headquarters for its annual analysts meeting.

"We have made a lot of progress," Mehdie said, but did not give a launch date or time frame for the new technology.

Microsoft, Google and Yahoo are going to make major upgrades over the next year, to attrack more users and advertising revenue by enhancing their search services.

Microsoft's rivals have also set their attention to provide tools for searching information on someone's hard disk.

Microsoft, Google GOOG.O and Yahoo Inc. YHOO.O are positioning themselves for Earlier this month, Microsoft bought Lookout, a small program that allows users of its Outlook e-mail, contacts and scheduling program to bypass the search tools provided by Microsoft and sift through e-mail, contacts and other information with keywords.

Results by Lookout, which can also search through files on the hard drive, are returned nearly instantaneously.

Microsoft gave no indication whether it used any technology from Lookout for its new search technology.

"We wanted to show you a local PC and e-mail searching that we build as a joint effort across the company," Mehdie said.

In a demonstration, Mehdie typed search terms into a prototype version of MSN Toolbar, which runs as an add-on to the Internet Explorer browser.

Search results, such as e-mail, e-mail attachments, pictures and documents, were also returned nearly instantaneously. Results from the Web for the same search terms were displayed on a separate pane to the right.

Source: Reuters