4/14/2004 04:59:00 PM

i like Google.
i love Amazon.

Amazon now has a search engine called A9.

it seems that Amazon is garnering its straight search results through Google from a partnership that, reportedly, requires them to serve two Ad Words per query. some might ask why Amazon needs a search engine if Google is doing the heavy lifting? search is power. its pretty much that simple.

there is a definite precedent set for Google enabling their competition for a time--for the right price. until recently Google was the search provider for Yahoo. it will be interesting to see how long it takes before Amazon ditches the Google deal for their own, home-spun algorithms.

what Amazon brings to the search equation is a viciously loyal fan base and the unique value of Alexa and Search Inside The Book. A9 offers a personalization engine that enables a personal search history as well as offering the now requisite browser toolbar (not Mozilla friendly at this writing).

the right hand expandable panels on the A9 interface are a convenient way to span searches across the web and print worlds--which is a rather revolutionary thing from my perspective.

what does that mean to me--one now caught between a love and a friend?
we'll have to see.