Back in the early days of the internet, there was always a message from someone on Usenet asking if anyone knew of a better search engine than the one they were using.  Since about 2000, Google has really been the only choice, partly through quality, partly through an unwritten law that states Google is the best search engine!However, there is another search engine which has been grabbing loyal users for a number of years – Alltheweb.com.  They are owned by Yahoo, the most visited website on the internet.

Recently, Alltheweb.com have introduced a fantastic new feature which could help people find exactly what they are looking for will much more ease.  Its called Livesearch and it really makes searching easy!

When you visit the Livesearch page, you will find a search box in the top left hand corner.  Put the most basic term you are looking for in there and wait.  Within a second or so, not only will you get the responses to that search in the major part of the page, you will get a list below the search box of alternative and more detailed keywords.  Click on those and you will search the response to those searches in the major part of the screen.

It is basically like doing 10 searches at once!

I experimented with putting the term Flintshire in the main search box, and within a second or so, I had a choice of 10 common searches that included the word Flintshire.  I did the same with Gratis Guidance, but slowly.  I tapped in Gratis, and got a load of free misc stuff.  As I slowly typed in G .. u .. i .. Alternatives would show up slowly matching what I was looking for.

I didn’t know that there was such an interest in Gratis Guitar or in thegratisguide!

If you have a few moments, visit alltheweb and see if it suits what you are looking for.  One of the main things I have learnt about the internet is there is no always about it!

The last few years has seen web based forums take over from Usenet for collective specialist questions and answers. IRC used to be the wild west of piracy and hackers, now its various Torrents and their web directories – e.g. thepiratebay.org.  ICQ used to be the one messenger that everyone used, now its MSN, Gaim and Skype and likewise, Google won’t always be the only search engine of choice.

Have fun!

Originally posted 2006-07-12 09:37:02.