Yahoo has introduced thumbnail previews for its image searches. The new feature will allow searchers to quickly see the results of their searches and, if dissatisfied with the results, modify their searches accordingly.

Not to be outdone, Microsoft has released its own image search innovation this week. You can now use an image on Microsoft’s search engine, Live, to look for similar images online.

Source: Jason Kincaid, “Yahoo Search Assist Adds Image Previews; I Wish Google Had This”, December 3, 2008, TechCrunch

If you use Gmail you would have noticed the addition of a new feature last week: video and voice chat. Hmmm, looks like Google plans to take on Skype!

To activate the new feature, you need to install a small browser plugin. The feature will work on PCs with Windows XP or Vista, as well as on Macs with OS X 10.4 or later. The plugin will work with all the major browsers, including Google’s own Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Safari.

Source: Justin Uberti, “Say hello to Gmail voice and video chat”, Gmail Blog, November 11, 2008

MySpace plans to allow users to upload videos directly to the “MySpace TV” area of its website. MySpace users will also be able to embed movies in member profiles, comments and bulletins.

MySpace will allow video files of up to 512MB in size. This is about half the size allowed by YouTube, and TechCrunch rightly questions whether MySpace’s foray into direct video uploads will offer much competition to YouTube. Based on comScore data, YouTube served more than 5 billion videos in July, while YouTube served just 445 million videos.

Then again, if MySpace views the new feature as more of a value-add or retention tool for its members, allowing members to upload videos directly to the site may well meet the objectives of the initiative.

Source: Don Reisinger, “MySpace Will Allow Direct Uploads, But Is It Too Late?” TechCrunch, September 11, 2008