tag:,2008:/1/tag:72.47.210.69,2006://1.5219- 2008-08-22T19:03:21Z Comments for Ask X - New UI for Ask.com Secretly Launched Movable Type 4.1 tag:72.47.210.69,2006://1.5219 2006-12-19T06:21:54Z 2007-12-16T23:16:39Z Ask X - New UI for Ask.com Secretly Launched Tonight I stumbled upon what appears to be a brand new User Interface for Ask.com. I was doing some searches on Ask.com, when I noticed a link in the top right asking me to try out something called Ask X. Screenshot below: When I clicked on the link, it regenerated my original query using a... Richard MacManus http://www.readwriteweb.com Tonight I stumbled upon what appears to be a brand new User Interface for Ask.com. I was doing some searches on Ask.com, when I noticed a link in the top right asking me to try out something called Ask X. Screenshot below:

When I clicked on the link, it regenerated my original query using a new interface - labeled Ask X. The following 3-pane UI displayed:

The 3-pane UI is pretty similar to the Ask City UI, which was launched a couple of weeks ago. Ask X appears to be live right now, at this domain: http://www.askx.com. There's no mention of it on the official Ask.com site, but there is an About page on Ask X which explains more:

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"Thanks for stumbling upon Ask X, our double-secret sandbox for testing Ask experiences of the future.

In today's version of Ask X, you're not just getting back a list of links, but a slick, new three-panel interface (much like the new AskCity), combining great time-saving features like:

* Left: A search control panel that stays with you, complete with Zoom Related Search and Search Suggestions that update as you type.

* Middle: Results front and center to provide clutter-free information without having to scroll down the page, and Binoculars to preview results.

* Right: A preview of other types of search results, including video, news, images, blogs, shopping, encyclopedia and more."

I explored the new Ask X and was impressed with the slickness of the UI, which has a liberal dose of Ajax. Also it makes the range of topical information that Ask provides much easier to digest and navigate, when presented across 3 panes. For example here's a search on one of my music heroes, Lou Reed:

On the left, there are options to refine or expand your search (e.g. search for Uncle Lou's lyrics). In the center, the main search results are headed by a 'smart answer' about Lou - including options to search for music downloads and ringtones. And in the right pane is extra topical info: images, shopping, video (see below - this is new), and an excerpted Wikipedia profile of Lou.

Video search results are included in the right hand pane, a feature which is not yet offered on Ask.com. Here's an example, from my "lou reed" search:

I also searched for my home city, Wellington, to see what it displayed. There was some extra information in the right pane - time, weather and geographic facts.

Summary

Ask X, the new interface for Ask.com, delivers a lot of useful, topical information across 3 panes in the first page of search results. So with the help of some Ajax magic, Ask X presents a very slick and appropriate solution to information overload. It also complements their focus on topic clusters and "smart answers" - see our profile of Ask.com last month for more info on how Ask.com is differentiated from Google.

I'm looking forward to seeing Ask X go live on the main Ask.com site! Although it looks like I have a head start, because now when I go to ask.com it defaults to Ask X. There is an 'Exit Ask X' link, but actually I think I'll stay right where I am...

]]> tag:72.47.210.69,2006://1.5219-comment:41437 Comment from Mike Moschini on 2006-12-18 Mike Moschini http://lortal.org/ Wow! I'm very impressed. Thank you for sharing this and your review is right, it is a slick new interface.

]]> 2006-12-19T07:09:12Z tag:72.47.210.69,2006://1.5219-comment:41438 Comment from Emre Sokullu on 2006-12-19 Emre Sokullu http://emresokullu.com Ask City was wonderful. This one also is good. This reorganization is logical because newer screens are wider than 1024x768 so using horizontal space is meaningful.

However there's too much blank space in the left pane, maybe they're planning to put Google Ads there. As for browsing, I recommend them to copy SearchMash's "more results" bar.

I liked AskX, but it's good idea to keep it private for now. A bit early.

Also worth to note that AOL and AskX, 2 bleeding edge interfaces have completely different approaches, one tries to give you very large horizontal space, the other is limiting even the current standards.

]]> 2006-12-19T08:18:24Z tag:72.47.210.69,2006://1.5219-comment:41439 Comment from Sebastian on 2006-12-19 Sebastian http://sebastian.wordpress.com I tried to use it, but it won't work - it asks me to upgrade my browser, even though I use Firefox 2.0, with JavaScript and Cookies enabled, and have a big enough screen resolution (1024x768 is asked as a minimum).

Anybody else experiencing this?

]]> 2006-12-19T08:18:28Z tag:72.47.210.69,2006://1.5219-comment:41440 Comment from Emre Sokullu on 2006-12-19 Emre Sokullu http://emresokullu.com @Sebastian: same config, Linux, no...

]]> 2006-12-19T08:19:27Z tag:72.47.210.69,2006://1.5219-comment:41441 Comment from soxiam on 2006-12-19 soxiam http://www.soxiam.com The 3-panel design with image results looks somewhat reminiscent of now defunct A9.com

]]> 2006-12-19T14:01:55Z tag:72.47.210.69,2006://1.5219-comment:41442 Comment from Adrian Keys on 2006-12-19 Adrian Keys http://www.jollyjo.org Really strange considering that everything is publicised nowadays. Either they are not so fond of the improvements or they expect user's to be pleasantly surprised...in which the improvements would speak for themselves.

However - the good thing about this piece is that now my curiosity is aroused...so I will check Ask out for the first time.

]]> 2006-12-19T14:50:20Z tag:72.47.210.69,2006://1.5219-comment:41443 Comment from David Wilkinson on 2006-12-19 David Wilkinson http://globa-tech.blogspot.com/ The page is now a 404 for me... Anyone else experiencing it? Perhaps they wanted to keep it a secret!

]]> 2006-12-19T18:25:07Z tag:72.47.210.69,2006://1.5219-comment:41444 Comment from Duncan on 2006-12-19 Duncan http://www.sprocket.co.nz Flight of the Conchords are very funny.

]]> 2006-12-19T20:45:23Z tag:72.47.210.69,2006://1.5219-comment:41445 Comment from Emre Sokullu on 2006-12-19 Emre Sokullu http://emresokullu.com Ask is very open to innovation in search. I like it. This new look seems like "Digg of search engines" to me. Very good user interface and I liked the Saving feature.

]]> 2006-12-19T20:54:50Z tag:72.47.210.69,2006://1.5219-comment:41446 Comment from dan diemer on 2006-12-19 dan diemer http://dandiemer.vox.com looks kinda like googles ajaxy Searchmash project. http://www.searchmash.com

]]> 2006-12-19T22:04:45Z tag:72.47.210.69,2006://1.5219-comment:41447 Comment from Erling Andersen on 2006-12-19 Erling Andersen http://www.xmobil.no The original design is pretty much a carbon-copy of Google.com... Has Ask.com been bought? Otherwise, nice features, Ajax and all. No biggie tho.

]]> 2006-12-19T22:39:42Z tag:72.47.210.69,2006://1.5219-comment:41448 Comment from marvin on 2006-12-19 marvin Ask is the NEW innovator in search with the AskCity and now this product...what has Google done lately? I am switching to Ask

]]> 2006-12-20T02:17:08Z tag:72.47.210.69,2006://1.5219-comment:41449 Comment from Chexee on 2006-12-19 Chexee http://flickr.com/photos/chexee Flight of the Conchords is awesome.

]]> 2006-12-20T05:29:38Z tag:72.47.210.69,2006://1.5219-comment:41450 Comment from quepol on 2006-12-21 quepol this looks a lot like Clusty and Vivisimo... why the heck doesn't clusty take off? lack of marketing?

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