Live Made Easy

Microsoft Beefs Up Live Search Offerings
Search Engine Journal
Microsoft has unveiled a series of new Live Search upgrades, highlighted by a free phone search product called Live Search 411 (1-800-CALL-411). Many of the new features are designed for mobile devices, and include dynamic driving directions, voice input, and location-based search. While noting that Microsoft is perhaps a step behind similar services already provided by Google, Arnold Zafra applauds the effort. ”It’s never too late to catch up, for who knows Windows Live Search may actually pull it off.”

YouTube Releases AntiPiracy Tool
Read/Write Web
Google has beta-launched a long awaited copyright filter for YouTube videos. The tool will require publishers to upload copyrighted content so the system can monitor for unauthorized versions. Content owners will then have the ability to either block clips altogether, or monetize them through revenue sharing. Marshall Kirkpatrick argues that Google/YouTube has not gone far enough. “YouTube has chosen to follow the letter of the DMCA law only; today's announcement will not come close to satisfying angry rights holders.”

Leopard Will Pounce Next Friday
The Unofficial Apple Weblog
The blogosphere is abuzz after Apple’s announcement that it will release Leopard, the company’s wildly hyped operating system, on October 26. Along with the announcement, Apple has revealed details on the 316 upgrades that the OS will feature and started accepting preorders. As with many other Mac lovers, Nik Fletcher is chomping at the bit. “After a somewhat disappointing WWDC Keynote this year, the '300+ feature' proclamation has reassured me that Apple hasn't necessarily lost its way as a desktop OS and computer company. 26th October just cannot come quick enough.”