Comparing Visual Search: SearchMe, oSkope, uvLayer, and Viewzi
August 15th, 2008
Let's face it, humans are very visual creatures. So why should we settle for text only search engines? We won't have to any longer. Visual search engines offer the results of your query visually, presenting a graphic oriented interface that, depending on the type of search, shows a large snapshot or a thumbnail-size image of websites or products. Most will offer text results as an aside or as a substitute, but the primary tool these new search engines offer is a visual interface. The benefit of visual search is that it allows for a whole separate layer of information, as well as making the search more entertaining. Read More »
StumbleAudio is for the music searcher. It is a music database that lets the user "stumble" across titles in a genre and vote for what they like. Incredibly easy to use and visually appealing, StumbleAudio is a great engine for the user who is randomly exploring for new music. The first thing to know about StumbleAudio is that it is album oriented. Whenever you stumble on an track, you are presented with the entire album of that artist, and able to navigate through it. 
One of the major elements in web 2.0 has been the application of social networking, and we've seen it integrated into anything from blogging to politics. iLike, the web 2.0 application for music discovery, uses the favorite tracks of the community - specifically friends - to bring you music recommendations. 
Let's jump in. From the beginning Jango is off to a good start - there's no download, and you don't even need a login to get streaming music with suggestions. Jango will let you create a "station," which is to say a starting point for your music playlist, and will cater the streaming music to that choice. Vote up or down with the emoticon icons near the top or forward to the next song with the track controls at top left.
Pandora, the online radio station that is driven by community input, is as ambitious as it is addictive, and worthy of its mythological Greek namesake. Named by ancient gods as the "gift of all," Pandora has changed the way people think of radio, turning a one way listening experience into an interactive experience. 
