It isn't long since we looked at search tool developments. But, with the pace of change in technology, it requires another look. Microsoft has officially launched its own search engine, joining the likes of Google, Yahoo, Ask Jeeves and new kids on the block Blinkx and Amazon's A9. But, according to one researcher, these are just the tip of the iceberg of more than a hundred search engines at your fingertips.

Search engine success...

So what has the MSN search, http://search.msn.co.uk , got going it? If you visit www.msn.co.uk you can have an online demo of the new search engine's features.

It does provide answers to direct questions. You can click on separate sections for news and image searches - a fairly standard feature these days. Search builder helps you to narrow the focus of your search, filtering the results with language, location and domain controls. The more the merrier; options are the spice of the surfers' life.

You can even go the MSN home page and see what Bill Gates has to say about his latest development.

Tricks of the search trade...

In a test of the new msn search facility, a request to search U2, turned up 'Welshman among Iraq dead' mixed in with U2 concert ticket links. The results turned up something else interesting.

CD WOW UK has upped the ante on getting to the top of search results by registering www2.cd-wow.net, and other digits under 10. So in the top 10 results, most were CD WOW sites. When I used the 'definition' option and put in the word 'inflation' it was defined as 'higher prices'.

Sounds simple enough, but I was overloaded with a page heavy with visual options, links and Encarta's definition was the main one offered. On the MSN home page, you can search for music - as you can on several of the other search engines. However, in MSN's search home page, that option is not available.

Man on the street...

But, for a word from the guy on the street, visit Phil Bradely at www.philb.com . This one man's guide to Internet technology site apologises for being 'out of date' in places, but Phil has gone to a lot of work to provide an informative site. His search engines section has search engines numbering around 2,000 from 200 countries! He has done a lot of work, so take advantage of it.

Travel sites put on the miles...

Sites specialising in referring surfers to options are most abundant in the travel services online sector.

Cheapflights.co.uk, along with cheapholidays.com and cheapaccommodation.com, is one UK dot.com that survived and is flying. In fact, it is taking the cheapflights brand to America under the .com banner. It provides you with the links to companies providing the service you want.

On the same stage is travelocity.com, which says it searches '95 per cent of all airline seats worldwide' and lastminute.com, which says it will refund the difference if you find a cheaper fair online within 24 hours of using its booking system. Competition is a good thing for consumers.

Something to chew on...

A few years ago, we looked at www.5pm.co.uk, a site that can point you in the direction of restaurants with seats still available after 5pm that day. Several Cumbrian restaurants are now part of its database. However, it isn't a large number. It's a valuable search service, but seems to work better in larger urban centres.

Searching for the bloggers...

See http://www.thisisthelakedistrict.co.uk/entertainment/ webwatch/display.var.495530.0.blogs_diaries_and_people_ connecting.php) The art of online diaries or web logs (blogs) has started at the bottom and is working its way up. At ground level, this popular use for the World Wide Web is exploding.

The little guy has certainly beat the big guy, as Microsoft and Amazon are only just now offering blogging services to their users. Better late than never.

However, the platforms and existing sites offering the technology to blog have already done the leg-work, responded to the public's demand, and supplied a great product and service. Check out the little guy, before you jump on the big guy's bandwagon.

What's it all about?...

The popular eight-year-old resource, information and commercial site, about.com, is up for sale. I use it weekly for information on just about any topic going. It has nearly 500 'guides' on such a wide array of topics that all the big search engines are showing an interest in buying it. The price tag - somewhere around 500 million US dollars.

on thisisthelakedistrict.co.uk - Check out our Lifestyle section for the winners of the E Short Story and Poetry Competition 05 and the guidelines for ESSP 06.

The most popular information sections in January on thisisthelakedistrict.co.uk were: News, Photo Gallery, Lakes Guide, Entertainment and Sport.

Most popular commercial sections in January: Business, Fish 4 Jobs, Fish 4 Homes, Announcements, Media Pack.