Comments for The Best Tools for Visualization

Viewzi Takes Visual Search To Another Level

2008-05-11T05:13:23Z

Visualization tools are slowly making a way for themselves on the web. We have given you an extensive list of some of the best visualizations tools including visual search engines. However, there is one visual search engine that is making a name and breaking the mold: Viewzi, a visual search engine that has been under wraps since October 2007.

Here's a look at some of the best visual views that Viewzi offers...

]]> According to Profy.com, the Viewzi search engine recently launched into private beta for the Web 2.0 Expo. Viewzi does a fantastic job of catering to various things that people search for by providing users with over 10 unique ways to view search results. The service loads in browsers such as Firefox, Safari, and IE 7 and requires Flash 9.

Web Screenshot View

The Web Screenshot view allows users to view screenshots of the pages of search results returned by Yahoo only. Up to 20 results are loaded at a time for maximum performance. However, once you get to the end of the set, 20 more are immediately loaded.

Basic Photo View

If you're a fan of Flickr, the Basic Photo view is perfect for you. This view shows images from popular image sharing sites Flickr and Riya. While the default setting is to use both sites and display the search results in a small size, users have the option of enlarging the search results and also removing images from either Flickr or Riya.

Video x3 View

If you're looking for video results, Viewzi allows you to view results from Youtube, Blinkx, and Veoh. Tags from videos are listed nicely above the video results Clicking on a tag allows users to dim videos they don't wish to be included in the search results.

Simple Text View

The Simple Text view provides combined search results from Google and Yahoo search engines in typical search engine fashion, but with a small twist. For one, a small screenshot is provided to the left of each result. To enlarge the screenshot, simple hover your mouse over the image for a better view. Another feature that's displayed is the site's Compete.com ranking.

4 Source View

Get visual search results from all 4 of the top search engines with the 4 Source view. You can view up to 15 search results from Google, Yahoo, Ask.com, and MSN in a 5 x 3 area. Results are color coded and lettered with its corresponding search engine. Hovering over any of the provided screenshots gives users an enlarged image and a brief synopsis of the source.

Other great views include Amazon Book view, Everyday Shopping view, The Weather view, Celebrity Photo view, and a MP3 Search view.

Visual Searching In Style

With the variety of views at users disposal, there is something for everyone here. While we wouldn't crown it the next "Google" , it could provide a better user experience for casual web searching. What could make Viewzi even better is an optional way for users to create their own "4 Sources" view by providing a way to search their favorite news sources in style. All in all, Viewzi seems to be a solid visual search engine.

Comment from giovanni gallucci on 2008-05-11

2008-05-11T21:04:11Z

Thanks for the write up! We're really excited about the public launch next month! Until then, if any of your readers want a pre-release peek they can go to http://www.viewzi.com/invites and use "readwriteweb" as the referral code for instant access.

This is good for the first few hundred takers. Happy visual searching! :-)

-giovanni - viewzi evangelist.

Comment from isle on 2008-05-11

2008-05-11T21:43:31Z

Good review, looks pretty impressive. Nabbed my invite, will put it through its paces shortly. Visual is becoming where it is at. I have been online over 12 years, and am loving recent dev. in quick page views/snapshots over clicking through without preview.
@isle

Comment from big on 2008-05-11

2008-05-11T23:26:29Z

yawn.

Comment from Jon on 2008-05-11

2008-05-11T23:30:06Z

snackin on my invite! thanks corvida, this will come in handy.

Comment from Jon on 2008-05-11

2008-05-11T23:41:02Z

okay, after 5 minutes i am a fan of viewzi!

my first search was the word "tesla", where i was hoping to find info on the new tesla electric sportscars. Searching google returned just 1 relevant hit on the front page. searching viewzi returned many relevant items, including news stories, blogs, photos, and of course, the link to tesla motors that google displayed.

Well Done!

Comment from steveballmer on 2008-05-11

2008-05-12T00:28:44Z

Vista already does this!

Comment from Ajay Pathak on 2008-05-11

2008-05-12T02:57:53Z

i think this is the future of search engines

Comment from Veetrag on 2008-05-11

2008-05-12T03:24:19Z

I am using Viewzi for around 2 weeks now and really like the tool. Previously there have been search engines that used to segregate based on data and where it will lead to, but viewzi takes it to another step by segregating based on type of content and thats really interesting.

Comment from Nuvizus on 2008-05-11

2008-05-12T05:15:22Z

Apply for invitation.
This is right direction.
But i hate flash. Cpu eater.

Comment from TechPluto on 2008-05-11

2008-05-12T06:27:11Z

It gr8 to see such innovative things coming out of www.
They are into a Hot industry(Search services) with fresh technology as their weapon.
Kudos to viewzi !

Comment from hit oranı on 2008-05-12

2008-05-12T09:51:47Z

thanks tou

Comment from jimmy on 2008-05-12

2008-05-12T10:44:12Z

it seems that every day a new search engine pops up, must admit though this one looks good

Comment from Alex on 2008-05-12

2008-05-12T15:29:07Z

Very interesting result visualisations! Thanks!

Comment from mattski on 2008-05-12

2008-05-12T15:52:04Z

It looks cool, but I don't think this will catch on at all.

People just like the way engines like Google work - they want to see all the results and sift through them 1 by 1. It gives them something to do in their otherwise boring lives.

Comment from Greg Smith on 2008-05-12

2008-05-13T04:54:50Z

Take a look at RedZee.com. The search engine has been doing something similar for a while now. Check them out at www.redzee.com.

Comment from giovanni gallucci on 2008-05-14

2008-05-14T14:29:27Z

"Take a look at RedZee.com. The search engine has been doing something similar for a while now. Check them out at www.redzee.com.
Posted by: Greg Smith | May 12, 2008 9:54 PM"

Greg,

RedZee has a nice interface. I like the navigation on the site. We have a similar interface already integrated in viewzi. We also expect to be able to have outside designers and developers to create these types of interfaces (also similar to searchme) on viewzi along with all kinds of other interfaces.

This brings up one critical element in the viewzi platform that seems to be getting missed in our message. I understand the interface is pure, raw, spun sugar eye-candy, but as a tech and search nerd at heart this other point is pretty darn cool.

We will be opening up a public API that will allow outside designers and developers create their own views on the viewzi platform. So imagine a smart fella named...oh...let's say "Greg Smith" decides he likes a site like RedZee but there are a couple of features he'd like to add to it, like the ability to add a voting feature or the ability to filter out adult content. On viewzi, he *will* be able to create his own custom search engine (we call them views) that is taylored to his specific needs and wants. He'll be able to build his own interface and use his own data sources (think google, yahoo, msn, ask, twitter, techcruch, google/yahoo/live maps, facebook, linkedin, amazon, blogger, etc etc etc). Literally, the possibilities are ENDLESS. Pretty cool huh? We think so. :-)

Stay tuned...

-giovanni

Comment from franz on 2008-05-17

2008-05-17T12:11:15Z

hi, here is my homegrown (2 weekends) image search engine CreativSpace.

http://www.creativspace.at/?q=readwriteweb.com&safe=on