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 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:
"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...
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Wow! I'm very impressed. Thank you for sharing this and your review is right, it is a slick new interface.
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.
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?
@Sebastian: same config, Linux, no...
The 3-panel design with image results looks somewhat reminiscent of now defunct A9.com
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.
The page is now a 404 for me... Anyone else experiencing it? Perhaps they wanted to keep it a secret!
Flight of the Conchords are very funny.
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.
looks kinda like googles ajaxy Searchmash project. http://www.searchmash.com
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.
Ask is the NEW innovator in search with the AskCity and now this product...what has Google done lately? I am switching to Ask
Flight of the Conchords is awesome.
this looks a lot like Clusty and Vivisimo... why the heck doesn't clusty take off? lack of marketing?