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Microsoft publicly testing codename "Kumo"

Sean Bradford   on 14 May 2009 - 18:06 · 57 comments & 11677 views

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A few weeks ago one of our readers spotted a countdown to "Kumo" at one of Microsoft's campuses in Redmond. From what we've gathered, Microsoft could be preparing to launch a public beta of codename "Kumo" (Which is the Live.com rebranding, and "Kumo" will not be the final product name) on June 2nd as that is when the countdown runs out.

Today one of our readers spotted significant changes when he visited Live.com. The interface he was presented with resembles what we've seen thus far from the internal "Kumo" beta. So without further ado, here's what codename "Kumo" could turn out to look like when Microsoft's ready to reveal it to the world:


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From what we've been told "Kumo" will not be the final name for the Live Search rebrand, LiveSide.net and Mary Jo Folley noted that Microsoft trademarked "Sift" and "Swivel".Looks like Microsoft is doing some public testing of "Kumo". The design looks fabulous; hopefully the search results will turn out better as well. What do you think?

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(1 reply) #1 EddiePwnsYou on 14 May 2009 - 18:15
hahaha, thanks neowin for featuring my screenshots!

I can make more if you want.
#1.1 Calum on 14 May 2009 - 21:46
Thanks for letting us all know about it
(6 replies) #2 cabron on 14 May 2009 - 18:22
It will never beat Google. I prefer Google, more simple and straight to the point.
#2.1 BigBoy on 14 May 2009 - 18:40
cabron said,
It will never beat Google. I prefer Google, more simple and straight to the point.

I guess it will never beat Google if the only thing that you are looking for is something that is the same as Google.

If that is the case - just keep using Google. Some of us - might actually want to try, because we realize that it is unlikely that a single company will always stay "the best".

How's that?
#2.2 C_Guy on 14 May 2009 - 20:36
People who can think for themselves aren't slaves to one search engine.
#2.3 Shadrack on 14 May 2009 - 21:10
cabron said,
It will never beat Google. I prefer Google, more simple and straight to the point.


I've been using IE8 for a couple days now, and really need to change the default search engine of the search bar. I play wow, and when I search for something in google if I add the text "wowhead" it will bring up the pages in wowhead that match my search criteria first. If I put "wowhead" in a Live.com search, I don't see "wowhead" pages until the 7th or 8th item down (if at all) most of the time. Umm...ok.... fail.
#2.4 Calum on 14 May 2009 - 21:48
Shadrack said,
I've been using IE8 for a couple days now, and really need to change the default search engine of the search bar. I play wow, and when I search for something in google if I add the text "wowhead" it will bring up the pages in wowhead that match my search criteria first. If I put "wowhead" in a Live.com search, I don't see "wowhead" pages until the 7th or 8th item down (if at all) most of the time. Umm...ok.... fail.

That may well change with codename "Kumo", when the final product is released
#2.5 SharpGreen on 15 May 2009 - 03:37
C_Guy said,
People who can think for themselves aren't slaves to one search engine.

I am perfectly capable of thinking for myself. Yet I only use Google.
#2.6 GreyWolfSC on 15 May 2009 - 20:03
I just did a search on Google and Live search and came up with virtually identical hits, just not in the same order. I'm sure it differs depending on your keywords, but the main reason I still use Google instead of Live.com is the appearance. Live.com's search result page just looks like a cybersquatter page.
#3 Unimatrix Xero on 14 May 2009 - 18:26
google ftw
(4 replies) #4 +BeLGaRaTh on 14 May 2009 - 18:31
Far too much empty space ...
#4.1 EddiePwnsYou on 14 May 2009 - 18:38
BeLGaRaTh said,
Far too much empty space ...

Empty space?
Excuse me, the screenshots were taken on a widescreen monitor, 1440x900. It's supposed to be small. They are trying to make Live.com look good on low resolutions.
#4.2 mmck on 14 May 2009 - 20:26
You do not have to make small things to look right on low resolutions - you just need to design websites correctly. But these days with how browsers work with entire page zoom it really doesn't matter too much.

I would say it has empty space because what the hell is supposed to fill that space. Id rather it be empty than filled with useless stuff.
#4.3 C_Guy on 14 May 2009 - 20:37
Comapred to Google that has a small logo and small text box for tour search string? What exactly do you want in that empty space, advertising?
#4.4 Shadrack on 14 May 2009 - 21:11
mmck said,
Id rather it be empty than filled with useless stuff.


Like Yahoo...
(10 replies) #5 dhan on 14 May 2009 - 18:51
big.ass.watermark FTW
#5.1 bdsams on 14 May 2009 - 19:39
hahahah, love it
#5.2 Shadrack on 14 May 2009 - 21:14
dhan said,
big.ass.watermark FTW


FTL. Did Neowin purchase these screenshots from EddiePwnsYou? I can steel images from others and put my watermark all over them as if they are my original content too.
#5.3 EddiePwnsYou on 14 May 2009 - 21:19
Shadrack said,
FTL. Did Neowin purchase these screenshots from EddiePwnsYou? I can steel images from others and put my watermark all over them as if they are my original content too.

Um... dude. I have also video proof if you want.

I can do live streaming of my desktop and anything you want.
Those screenies were taken by me.
#5.4 andrewbares on 14 May 2009 - 22:19
Yea, but did neowin buy them from you, that's the question.
#5.5 Shadrack on 14 May 2009 - 23:38
EddiePwnsYou said,
Um... dude. I have also video proof if you want.

I can do live streaming of my desktop and anything you want.
Those screenies were taken by me.


Um... dude.

Did you not read my post? I was trying to say that neowin didn't own your screenshot, you did
#5.6 Shiranui on 15 May 2009 - 00:29
dhan said,
big.ass.watermark FTW


Beat me to it. Why do sites bother with this crap? They are all just scavengers recycling the same old news that is available to everyone anyway.

Oh wow! EXCLUSIVE screenshots of a search engine!
#5.7 +Kirkburn on 15 May 2009 - 01:34
Oh shut up you lot. Why on earth you're getting all heated up about something that has nothing to do with you I don't know. If EddiePwnsYou has a problem with it (which he does not not appear to), it's up to him. Not you.
#5.8 Shadrack on 15 May 2009 - 03:32
Kirkburn said,
Oh shut up you lot. Why on earth you're getting all heated up about something that has nothing to do with you I don't know. If EddiePwnsYou has a problem with it (which he does not not appear to), it's up to him. Not you.


Its stupid that there is a huge watermark across the image. It degrades the quality of the news post. And why? Because some stupid paranoia that other news site will steel the content. (Which is really ironic considering 99.9% of the news posted is just rewording off of other sites).
#5.9 LiquidSolstice on 15 May 2009 - 04:16
Kirkburn said,
Oh shut up you lot. Why on earth you're getting all heated up about something that has nothing to do with you I don't know. If EddiePwnsYou has a problem with it (which he does not not appear to), it's up to him. Not you.


Um, excuse me, smartasses, do read:

"Today one of our readers spotted significant changes when he visited Live.com. The interface he was presented with resembles..."

Sites like Neowin like taking pride in the fact they had the news first. It builds repuation and more traffic when a site has exclusive content, and in this case, seeing as this was one of our readers took those screenshots, yes, it counts as us getting exclusive content.

So shut your trap, and appreciate the stuff Neowin gives you, because Neowin does it's best to give you the best and the first.

+1 Neowin, don't listen to these boo-birds.
#5.10 Sean Bradford on 15 May 2009 - 14:15
Shadrack said,
Its stupid that there is a huge watermark across the image. It degrades the quality of the news post. And why? Because some stupid paranoia that other news site will steel the content. (Which is really ironic considering 99.9% of the news posted is just rewording off of other sites).


First of all, Eddie knew from the get-go that I was going to watermark them. He is fine with that. A) Every news site does this when they get an "exclusive". Watermarks are common in images when it comes to being the first outlet to report on the news. If you don't like it, don't read it. Simple as that.
(6 replies) #6 DanielZ on 14 May 2009 - 18:55
Microsoft just can't make good-looking websites. Every single one of Microsoft's websites is ugly and boring. They ought to hire a new designer, one who actually knows how to design sites without Frontpage. The design is the main thing that turns me off from Live Search/Kumo.
#6.1 Electric Bolt on 14 May 2009 - 19:09
Epic fail, I love Windows Live Search's UI, I just can't use it because the results suck so badly... Maybe Kumo might actually have results that I can live with.
#6.2 2Cold Scorpio on 14 May 2009 - 19:13
Ugly and boring is what Google is. As great of a search engine as it is, aesthetics aren't Google's forte. I always found Live Search to be easier on the eyes (not quite so stark and barren), and Kumo looks to be even nicer.

To the person who said "Too much free space"...have you looked at Google.com lately? Its just as bad, if not worse.
#6.3 rom on 14 May 2009 - 19:13
that's Google for you. No design whatsoever on any of their sites. (works for them!)
#6.4 Calum on 14 May 2009 - 21:53
So you think Kumo is ugly? Which search engine do you use then? In my opinion this codename "Kumo" is beautiful compared with Yahoo! Search and especially compared with Google Search.
#6.5 andrewbares on 14 May 2009 - 22:21
Yea Live Search looks great. Google is like that commercial, PJBlands, where they serve the guy a cardboard sandwich, and then their like, "What if it came with a (cardboard) salad?" and the guy's like, "It's still cardboard" lol.
#6.6 DanielZ on 14 May 2009 - 23:59
Calum said,
So you think Kumo is ugly? Which search engine do you use then? In my opinion this codename "Kumo" is beautiful compared with Yahoo! Search and especially compared with Google Search.

I use Google search. I rather like its minimalistic design- where I can get my stuff done without the design getting in the way. That's what all commercial sites should aim for- easy to use, with little to no UI to get in the way of getting stuff done.
#7 _dandy_ on 14 May 2009 - 19:04
Bring back MsDewey!! :-D
(3 replies) #8 Ricksterm on 14 May 2009 - 19:36
its only available if you change your location to united states so it seems, i just tried it! looks rather snazzy to m. although the search results page seems to look the same to me
#8.1 Calum on 14 May 2009 - 22:00
That's because you are not using the same version as what is shown here.

When you change your location to "United States", you are still seeing the current Live Search but it just has the background image this one has (with the birds). You can tell by the blue header which is above the bird image.

This news article is on about a version which has the codename Kumo user interface (with the search options at the side on the homepage).

In fact, an easy way for you to tell is by looking at the colour of the 'search' button with the magnifying glass. If that button is green, you have the current Live Search. If that button is orange, you have this new 'test' version which EddiePwnsYou has.
#8.2 andrewbares on 14 May 2009 - 22:22
How did he get it??? Just lucky?
#8.3 Calum on 14 May 2009 - 23:18
andrewbares said,
How did he get it??? Just lucky?

Ricksterm got the background by changing his market to "United States". Anyone can do that. I can and you can if you try it.

I was just letting him know that this is the current United States Live Search and not the Kumo-like Live Search which is written about in this article

How EddiePwnsYou got the Kumo-like Live Search? I really don't know He may have just been lucky. Microsoft may be testing it on certain servers which are used for the public? I can't think of any other reason. Maybe someone else can
(1 reply) #9 rakeshishere on 14 May 2009 - 19:40


Is this something like this? or Really Kumo
#9.1 Calum on 14 May 2009 - 22:01
This is the current Live Search, not the Kumo-like Live Search which Microsoft seem to be publicly testing
(1 reply) #10 EddiePwnsYou on 14 May 2009 - 20:14
If anyone wants the unwatermarked pictures go here:
Live[Kumo] Pictures
Thanks.
#10.1 andrewbares on 14 May 2009 - 22:23
Cool now I can put my own watermark on it! tehe. No really, how'd you get into the new Kumo page?
(1 reply) #11 Recon415 on 14 May 2009 - 20:23
Seems like I'm in it. Kewl.
#11.1 andrewbares on 14 May 2009 - 22:24
HOW???
(1 reply) #12 C_Guy on 14 May 2009 - 20:39
Looks are one thing but does it deliver good search results? If it does, Microsoft has a real winner here. Again.
#12.1 Sam Symons on 14 May 2009 - 20:59
C_Guy said,
If it does, Microsoft has a real winner here. Again.

:p

As for search results, yeah, they seem to be pretty good in my experience.
#13 BoneyardBrew on 14 May 2009 - 21:36
You lucky people. I hope they add more people to test it, I would really like to try it out.
(1 reply) #14 hotdog963al on 14 May 2009 - 22:13
Kumo? Rivers... Cuomo... Hmm
Still not going to pry me from Google though! It's hard-coded into my skull :/
#14.1 Unto Darkness on 15 May 2009 - 01:17
hotdog963al said,
Kumo? Rivers... Cuomo... Hmm


Where did that come from? Could the Weezers be working for MS?
#15 McDave on 15 May 2009 - 02:36
If you visit Live.com, change the region to Canada (French) then search 'Kumo.com' it produces some intresting results of what people have search using kumo. Try it...
(2 replies) #16 toadeater on 15 May 2009 - 04:24
There are numerous Japanese restaurants named Kumo. Is MS planning to sue them over the name? Or will they sue MS?

I think the name is terrible for a search engine to begin with. MS is diluting its brand with all this mumbo jumbo. MSN... Live... now this, and it all leads back to the same place. What does a "Kumo" even mean? MSN meant something, Live was suggestive of something, but Kumo?
#16.1 EddiePwnsYou on 15 May 2009 - 04:38
toadeater said,
There are numerous Japanese restaurants named Kumo. Is MS planning to sue them over the name? Or will they sue MS?

I think the name is terrible for a search engine to begin with. MS is diluting its brand with all this mumbo jumbo. MSN... Live... now this, and it all leads back to the same place. What does a "Kumo" even mean? MSN meant something, Live was suggestive of something, but Kumo?

Kumo is just the codename. Live.com will be the actual name.
#16.2 Calum on 15 May 2009 - 06:01
EddiePwnsYou said,
Kumo is just the codename. Live.com will be the actual name.

Microsoft have said Live Search (or Live.com) will not be the name of this new service

They are re-branding it completely.

It shouldn't be Kumo either.
(1 reply) #17 Quikboy on 15 May 2009 - 05:22
I like the current Live Search look, much better than this new Kumo one. Kumo

For instance, on Live Search, the search categories are right on top of the search box in a style that is not distracting.

In Kumo, the search categories are along the left side, and do not add any extra functionality, nor aesthetics. It requires me to move my mouse more, and it just sticks out ugly, while Live Search kept it noticeable, but laid back in contrast to the background pic.

I can design a much better looking search engine than what the Live Search team is doing.
#17.1 EddiePwnsYou on 15 May 2009 - 06:20
Quikboy said,
I like the current Live Search look, much better than this new Kumo one. Kumo

For instance, on Live Search, the search categories are right on top of the search box in a style that is not distracting.

In Kumo, the search categories are along the left side, and do not add any extra functionality, nor aesthetics. It requires me to move my mouse more, and it just sticks out ugly, while Live Search kept it noticeable, but laid back in contrast to the background pic.

I can design a much better looking search engine than what the Live Search team is doing.

Yea, the design is a bit ugly.
I'd love if they would remove those ads.
#18 redvamp128 on 15 May 2009 - 22:32
Well without being signed into my Live account and also tested the same in a Virtual Box fresh install of Puppy LInux.
I tested that one just to make sure there was no trace of cookies or any other configuration.
Found the following:

A search for "Mature Wines"- I was looking for a price lists or brands of wines plus how long they take to mature.

Upon typing "Mature" the autocomplete gave me some unwanted results- Adult topics. By default the search page should filter out those results.
I would expect that on google if I turned off the filter. The filter is not default on to filter those results. I am an Adult but I was thinking about a child using the page.
#19 empty on 18 May 2009 - 18:05
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