The Read Write Web blog first spotted Ask.com testing a new interface they named Ask X. The new interface sports a steel background for the home page with more goodies inside.
A search on Ask X for barry schwartz shows a three column pane interface. On the left hand side is the search box, where you can type and as you type you see search suggestions appear below the search box [Note From Danny: Pity this doesn't happen on the home page as well].
In the middle column is a smart answer, followed by two paid listings and then the organic results, with Ask.com’s binoculars. You can also save to “my stuff” each result, if you mouse over them, notice the notepad with a plus sign.
On the right pane you see image results, latest RSS results from blogs and the wikipedia entry of Barry Schwartz (not me, the other one).
Gary Price himself has a bunch more details about the new release, so check it out here.
You can also see more information at Ask.com and access Ask X at http://www.askx.com/.
My personal thoughts? I like it.
Related Topics: Ask: Ask X | Search Features: General
I’ve had no luck with it. Tells me I need javascript enabled (which I do) when using Firefox, and tells me I need to change my screen resoloution when I tried with IE and I don’t fancy squinting.
Considering that it just asked me to enable cookies and Javascript (both are enabled), I’m not very impressed at all.
Looks kinda like AlltheWeb’s Livesearch interface…