Microsoft updates Live Search

New features give Google a run for its money

Mircosoft is taking on Google.

The company has made a number of changes to its Live Search application to give people more relevant search results and let them view maps and videos easily.

Video search offers video previews when users click on the film's thumbnail on the search page. However, instead of showing a viewer the first few seconds of the clip, Microsoft automatically selects highlights from the video by looking for loud explosions or intense action scenes.

The company has also turned its attentions to its Google Map competitor, Multimap. People can now view aerial and birds'-eye images from Virtual Earth and personalise maps with points of interest or other useful information. They can also book hotels directly from map views.

Those accessing Live Search on a mobile will also be directed to the nearest local restaurants or cinemas as well as directions on how to get there through Microsoft’s Find My Location. This identifies where the user is and then suggests the nearest place of interest.