Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft sure do a good job of looking out for sports fans and film enthusiasts. Although each company uses a different name for its feature, all three recently highlighted ways in which users can receive the latest information.
Let’s start with Microsoft’s offerings. Earlier this week, a post on the official Live Search blog discussed playoff searches. Type in “NHL,” “NBA,” or a player’s name, and you’ll get what people in Redmond call an Instant Answer that includes stuff like scores and schedules.
Try the same thing with “mtv awards” before May 31st, and you’ll see links to promo videos and a voting site. Or do it afterwards, and a list of the different winners should be presented.
A look at Yahoo then returns us to the world of sports. On the Yahoo Search Blog, Yuko Kamae wrote, “Starting today, when you search for your favorite major league or college sports team on Yahoo! Search, a new shortcut appears with the real time score, the last game’s score, and the date and time of the next game. You’ll also find quick links to the team’s page, as well as news, scores, schedules, stats, and photos.”
Finally, Google stepped up with fresh OneBoxes tied to tennis and Roland Garros.
A few sports and entertainment sites may resent these features, but it seems that the three search companies have done a great job of making timely information more accessible.
