Apple’s new Tiger goes on the prowl tonight at 6pm, along with a new OSX server. C/Net, E-Week, MacWorld, Computer World, PC Magazine, ArsTech, and OS News explain the key features of the OS X 10.4.
Among the 200 new features are Automator, Dashboard, Quicktime 7, an updated version of web browser Safari, and the new embedded search engine, Spotlight.
Apple executives are especially proud of Spotlight search.
“We think that people using Mac OS X Tiger will be in the Spotlight menu all the time,” said Brian Croll, Apple’s senior director of Software Product Marketing. “You can go there to find documents, pictures, applications or anything else you want. All roads lead to Spotlight.”
Google and Yahoo are also adding search features that hunt out information on your own PC. Search technology is on the move. Search Engine Watch rounds up Yahoo’s personal search, Google’s personal search and Local Mobile Search Tools.
Here’s a roundup of other mobile local search tools for users in the U.S.Google’s SMS service has offered local info since it launched last summer. Two other services that I’ve used also offer local info via SMS. They are 4info.net and Synfonic. Vazu.com allows you to cut and paste material from any web page and send the content via SMS.
YP.com provides several services for mobile web users including white and yellow pages, reverse phone and address look-up, neighbor look-up and maps with driving directions.
The MSN Mobile site does not offer local business info but does provide maps and driving directions.
AOL’s mobile portal offers a searchable yellow pages database.
Infospace Mobile offers driving directions, yellow pages and other services.
Maporama, a great site for maps and driving directions (global in scope) provides a mobile version of their service for Palm and Windows devices with wireless web access.
And be sure to check out Yahoo’s offerings. Local service has been a part of the Yahoo Mobile web site since October 2004. Yahoo Local Mobile lets you save various locations, allowing you to search local info quickly for more than one location.
The web version of Yahoo Local also allows you to send the entry to your mobile device via SMS text messaging. Now, with that same click you can also send yourself a direct link to access a map and driving directions.
On a frivilous note, Apple Insider reports that discount mail order firm, Tiger Direct, has filed a lawsuit claiming Apple Computer infringed its trademark.
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