"Just a moment Marie, I'm having an idea "
May 26, 2012 10:54 AM Subscribe
Yahoo! Axis redefines what it means to search and browse the Web. Yahoo! Axis offers a faster, smarter search with instant answers and visual search previews.
Yahoo also leaked it's own private key with this release of Axis, which it uses to sign it's software with.
In short, anyone can say they are Yahoo! not just Yahoo! anymore.
Doesn't instill confidence in the rest of the security of their Axis code if they didn't notice they were giving away the equivalent of their social security number, mother's maiden name, first car, hometown, and favorite pets name all at once.
posted by mrzarquon at 10:59 AM on May 26, 2012 [21 favorites]
In short, anyone can say they are Yahoo! not just Yahoo! anymore.
Doesn't instill confidence in the rest of the security of their Axis code if they didn't notice they were giving away the equivalent of their social security number, mother's maiden name, first car, hometown, and favorite pets name all at once.
posted by mrzarquon at 10:59 AM on May 26, 2012 [21 favorites]
About time somebody reclaimed the word 'Axis.'
posted by box at 11:01 AM on May 26, 2012 [11 favorites]
posted by box at 11:01 AM on May 26, 2012 [11 favorites]
"Yahoo! Axis," cried the frigging Nazis.
posted by Sys Rq at 11:01 AM on May 26, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by Sys Rq at 11:01 AM on May 26, 2012 [4 favorites]
They should have hired someone who can pronounce "axis" differently from "access" for their demo video. And I don't think I'll be installing software from Yahoo on anything I own. Ever.
posted by Outlawyr at 11:03 AM on May 26, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by Outlawyr at 11:03 AM on May 26, 2012 [4 favorites]
Don't be such a toolbar.
posted by hal9k at 11:05 AM on May 26, 2012 [11 favorites]
posted by hal9k at 11:05 AM on May 26, 2012 [11 favorites]
So Yahoo invented a plug-in that does what Google already does?
posted by Panjandrum at 11:12 AM on May 26, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by Panjandrum at 11:12 AM on May 26, 2012 [3 favorites]
1) Man, this Pepsi Blue is tasty.
2) So we're now so deeply into the post-literate age that I have to watch the fucking video just to see what this thing is? They couldn't list a few bullet points on the page?
3) So, basically, this is a browser plug-in that shows you previews of possible results as you're typing, instead of actually having to do the search and then getting your previews, which Google has had since time immemorial (or thereabouts).
4) How long before Yahoo! figures out how to fuck this one up?
posted by Halloween Jack at 11:15 AM on May 26, 2012 [15 favorites]
2) So we're now so deeply into the post-literate age that I have to watch the fucking video just to see what this thing is? They couldn't list a few bullet points on the page?
3) So, basically, this is a browser plug-in that shows you previews of possible results as you're typing, instead of actually having to do the search and then getting your previews, which Google has had since time immemorial (or thereabouts).
4) How long before Yahoo! figures out how to fuck this one up?
posted by Halloween Jack at 11:15 AM on May 26, 2012 [15 favorites]
From the Ars Technica review:
Although the implementation is clumsy in places and is unlikely to appeal to sophisticated users, there are some clever design elements that are worth a look. The core search functionality is innovative, but the rest of the features feel mediocre and lack the depth that is needed to make Axis successful.
posted by Cash4Lead at 11:16 AM on May 26, 2012 [2 favorites]
Although the implementation is clumsy in places and is unlikely to appeal to sophisticated users, there are some clever design elements that are worth a look. The core search functionality is innovative, but the rest of the features feel mediocre and lack the depth that is needed to make Axis successful.
posted by Cash4Lead at 11:16 AM on May 26, 2012 [2 favorites]
And, looking more closely at that private key leak link that mrzarquon linked to above, I see that it's basically pre-fucked. Nice speed, Yahoo!
posted by Halloween Jack at 11:18 AM on May 26, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by Halloween Jack at 11:18 AM on May 26, 2012 [4 favorites]
there are some clever design elements that are worth a look
Oooo comic sans...
posted by infini at 11:21 AM on May 26, 2012 [2 favorites]
Oooo comic sans...
posted by infini at 11:21 AM on May 26, 2012 [2 favorites]
What problem does this solve, exactly? Firefox (and Opera) solved the problem of Internet Explorer sucking. Safari solved the problem of Apple not having a native web browser. Chrome solved the problem of one tab crashing taking down the whole browser. What problem with web browsing does Yahoo! hope to solve here, other than the fact that people aren't visiting Yahoo!'s website?
posted by Cash4Lead at 11:24 AM on May 26, 2012 [9 favorites]
posted by Cash4Lead at 11:24 AM on May 26, 2012 [9 favorites]
Wait, Yahoo! is the Axis of Weevil?
posted by Eekacat at 11:32 AM on May 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Eekacat at 11:32 AM on May 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
I tried it as a plugin for Chrome, just to test it out. When I was actually searching for stuff, it was OK. The image search interface was good, and I liked the panel approach. Then I typed in the URL of a website I wanted to go to, not search on/in/for. Now Axis is still showing up as rather intrusive left/right arrows and as a search bar at the bottom of my screen. No ability to only use it when I want to=uninstall.
posted by gemmy at 11:35 AM on May 26, 2012
posted by gemmy at 11:35 AM on May 26, 2012
The more I think about this, the more I realize it is doomed to fail. I would assume their target user is the same sort of inexperienced computer and internet user who would actually consider using their ad infested Yahoo Mail and other products. But this user is frequently scared to install software. They have a buddy who does that for them who "knows about computers." And their buddy is going to advise them to skip this screen space stealing Uber-Toolbar. "You can already do that with Google, and you don't need to install anything" their buddy will say.
So who does that leave? There is someone out there capable of installing this software on all their devices, getting it all to sync properly, and who is willing to do so? I just don't believe it.
posted by Outlawyr at 11:35 AM on May 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
So who does that leave? There is someone out there capable of installing this software on all their devices, getting it all to sync properly, and who is willing to do so? I just don't believe it.
posted by Outlawyr at 11:35 AM on May 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
I can wait for the next piece of freeware I install to covertly fuck up my browser.
posted by Brocktoon at 11:35 AM on May 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Brocktoon at 11:35 AM on May 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
If I'm understanding the symbolism in the ad, I take it that users can expect Yahoo! Axis to, um, break their computers as quickly as possible?
posted by Sys Rq at 11:36 AM on May 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Sys Rq at 11:36 AM on May 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
4) How long before Yahoo! figures out how to fuck this one up?
I'd say they're off to a running start.
posted by brennen at 11:42 AM on May 26, 2012 [5 favorites]
I'd say they're off to a running start.
posted by brennen at 11:42 AM on May 26, 2012 [5 favorites]
I honestly cannot remember the last time I used yahoo.com. I do remember the first time I used google and how impressed I was by the sites simplicity and ease of access. Say what you will about google having become too large in recent years, as well as worries of security. If you go to google.com, you're still presented with a very simple and easy to use search engine.
By contrast, head on over to yahoo.com right now and this is what you see: Trending, Popular Videos, See what the Blink-182 Nurse looks like today, twenty + buttons in a row on the left side of your screen, it's a fucking mess.
posted by Fizz at 11:51 AM on May 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
By contrast, head on over to yahoo.com right now and this is what you see: Trending, Popular Videos, See what the Blink-182 Nurse looks like today, twenty + buttons in a row on the left side of your screen, it's a fucking mess.
posted by Fizz at 11:51 AM on May 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
Wow, the interface on this IPad is terrible! Not at all Intuative.
posted by HuronBob at 12:03 PM on May 26, 2012
posted by HuronBob at 12:03 PM on May 26, 2012
There's no way this will work unless it integrates with Google Wave.
posted by dhartung at 12:09 PM on May 26, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by dhartung at 12:09 PM on May 26, 2012 [2 favorites]
In related news, Microsoft has some kind of social network they're pushing? so.cl
posted by Fizz at 12:16 PM on May 26, 2012
posted by Fizz at 12:16 PM on May 26, 2012
"You can already do that with Google, and you don't need to install anything" their buddy will say. So who does that leave?
The person who has a buddy who "knows about computers" and yet chooses to blithely disregard said buddy's advice and then expects said buddy to de-crud their laptop for free NOT THAT I WOULD KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT GRARBLARGARGH
posted by Gator at 12:16 PM on May 26, 2012 [13 favorites]
The person who has a buddy who "knows about computers" and yet chooses to blithely disregard said buddy's advice and then expects said buddy to de-crud their laptop for free NOT THAT I WOULD KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT GRARBLARGARGH
posted by Gator at 12:16 PM on May 26, 2012 [13 favorites]
That Blink 182 Nurse has some pretty nice neck tattoos.
posted by box at 12:20 PM on May 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by box at 12:20 PM on May 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
Worth a try? Actually, no!
Interesting that every device using Axis they showcased is an Apple product. As aforementioned this does what Google already does in their insta-search results watcha-ma-thingy. The only semi-nifty aspect is the ability to scroll through pictures and webpages with a click or quick tap.
But wait, there's more!
For the lazy non-app-tab users you can easily bookmark fav sites and access them in the freaking bar that never goes away at the bottom of the screen (run on sentence I know but...). Wow, that's so amazazing!
Dear Yahoo, Stop, just stop. It's f*ing embarrassing.
posted by PipRuss at 12:20 PM on May 26, 2012
Interesting that every device using Axis they showcased is an Apple product. As aforementioned this does what Google already does in their insta-search results watcha-ma-thingy. The only semi-nifty aspect is the ability to scroll through pictures and webpages with a click or quick tap.
But wait, there's more!
For the lazy non-app-tab users you can easily bookmark fav sites and access them in the freaking bar that never goes away at the bottom of the screen (run on sentence I know but...). Wow, that's so amazazing!
Dear Yahoo, Stop, just stop. It's f*ing embarrassing.
posted by PipRuss at 12:20 PM on May 26, 2012
This seems like a really desperate move on Yahoo!'s part.
posted by codacorolla at 12:22 PM on May 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by codacorolla at 12:22 PM on May 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
"head on over to yahoo.com right now and this is what you see:"
@Fizz, I find that visiting Yahoo.com once a year is generally enough to remind me not to do so the remainder of that year.
posted by Outlawyr at 12:25 PM on May 26, 2012
@Fizz, I find that visiting Yahoo.com once a year is generally enough to remind me not to do so the remainder of that year.
posted by Outlawyr at 12:25 PM on May 26, 2012
No, thank you. I'll wait and see what the Houyhnhnms come up with.
posted by Moody834 at 12:28 PM on May 26, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by Moody834 at 12:28 PM on May 26, 2012 [3 favorites]
I like it. Especially handy is how when you do a search an embedded video of the Blink 182 Nurse pops up, reads back your search terms and tells you whether they match the lyrics of any Blink 182 songs. Be prepared for a heap of verbal abuse if they don't, though.
posted by "Elbows" O'Donoghue at 12:31 PM on May 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by "Elbows" O'Donoghue at 12:31 PM on May 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
> 4) How long before Yahoo! figures out how to fuck this one up?
See my above comment. It's debut release literally broke the trust of their own code (since they released their private key, Mozilla and Google have revoked the trust of that key, meaning anything signed by it is untrusted) so they have to resign and re-release the code (and not release the new private key this time).
posted by mrzarquon at 12:47 PM on May 26, 2012
See my above comment. It's debut release literally broke the trust of their own code (since they released their private key, Mozilla and Google have revoked the trust of that key, meaning anything signed by it is untrusted) so they have to resign and re-release the code (and not release the new private key this time).
posted by mrzarquon at 12:47 PM on May 26, 2012
I don't ask for much, but couldn' the guy have shaved before he recorded the video? And put on his nice shirt, the ironed one that has buttons?
posted by LarryC at 1:12 PM on May 26, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by LarryC at 1:12 PM on May 26, 2012 [4 favorites]
In related Yahoo failure news: Yahoo kills 'Livestand' just 6 months after debut
(Yeah, that's right, I'm linking to Yahoo's version of the AP story about their own failure. Meta enough for you?)
posted by Outlawyr at 1:15 PM on May 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
(Yeah, that's right, I'm linking to Yahoo's version of the AP story about their own failure. Meta enough for you?)
posted by Outlawyr at 1:15 PM on May 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
I, too would have preferred a professional white backgr...er, shirt.
posted by jocelmeow at 1:35 PM on May 26, 2012
posted by jocelmeow at 1:35 PM on May 26, 2012
This post is a troll, right? Right?
posted by mcstayinskool at 1:52 PM on May 26, 2012
posted by mcstayinskool at 1:52 PM on May 26, 2012
And regardless of how well it might work, or I guess doesn't, this is just creepy, starting with the name and then the obvious fact that you would have to remain permanently signed in to Yahoo! (of course I'm sure they promise to keep your data private).
posted by blue shadows at 1:55 PM on May 26, 2012
posted by blue shadows at 1:55 PM on May 26, 2012
Their logo looks like some sort of stylized fascist triskele. Might as well take that Axis theme and run with it, I guess...
posted by threeants at 2:14 PM on May 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by threeants at 2:14 PM on May 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
Yahoo! Invades Poland!
posted by Outlawyr at 2:20 PM on May 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Outlawyr at 2:20 PM on May 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
I'm sure there's lots of very clever technology going on in the background. IIRC, Yahoo had some very clever search ideas way back when, but never bothered to implement them. Then Google came along and whooped them.
Most importantly, why does that Yahoo guy keep shaking his head? Perhaps he realises it's all a waste of time.
posted by milkb0at at 2:37 PM on May 26, 2012
Most importantly, why does that Yahoo guy keep shaking his head? Perhaps he realises it's all a waste of time.
posted by milkb0at at 2:37 PM on May 26, 2012
There's something off about the perspective of that table next to him. Those devices look like they're about to slide off.
posted by ar0n at 2:46 PM on May 26, 2012
posted by ar0n at 2:46 PM on May 26, 2012
Their logo looks like some sort of stylized fascist triskele. Might as well take that Axis theme and run with it, I guess...
*cough*
posted by Sys Rq at 3:21 PM on May 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
*cough*
posted by Sys Rq at 3:21 PM on May 26, 2012 [1 favorite]
The demo link crashed Chrome. No way am I installing anything of theirs.
posted by Foosnark at 3:46 PM on May 26, 2012
posted by Foosnark at 3:46 PM on May 26, 2012
Text look-ahead in a web search is quite a useful feature since it lets you verify,early on, that your search term is in the right area. It may even save on typing. Extending the approach to pull over graphics and site thumbnails as a term is entered seems to be not only a waste of bandwidth but also an unwanted distraction; that stuff takes too long to scan quickly as one types.
posted by rongorongo at 4:16 PM on May 26, 2012
posted by rongorongo at 4:16 PM on May 26, 2012
Look! Look everybody! We've got a browser too! See? See?
posted by ThusSpakeZarathustra at 4:16 PM on May 26, 2012
posted by ThusSpakeZarathustra at 4:16 PM on May 26, 2012
It's easy to forget Yahoo or dismiss them as irrelevant.
I should probably work on a "but" for that sentence... They have some good JavaScript people who have done outstanding work which never really translated into any of their actual products being all that useful?
posted by Artw at 4:17 PM on May 26, 2012 [3 favorites]
I should probably work on a "but" for that sentence... They have some good JavaScript people who have done outstanding work which never really translated into any of their actual products being all that useful?
posted by Artw at 4:17 PM on May 26, 2012 [3 favorites]
What I currently fail to see at this point is -
WTBGF (what the blistering green fuck) do I need a search extension for? Other than their basic coding idiocy, I neglect to see the point of allowing a search/advertising company to paw through what I do online.
Justification for this tool? Anyone?
Bueller?
Bueller?
Bueller...
posted by Samizdata at 8:16 PM on May 26, 2012 [2 favorites]
WTBGF (what the blistering green fuck) do I need a search extension for? Other than their basic coding idiocy, I neglect to see the point of allowing a search/advertising company to paw through what I do online.
Justification for this tool? Anyone?
Bueller?
Bueller?
Bueller...
posted by Samizdata at 8:16 PM on May 26, 2012 [2 favorites]
That Blink 182 Nurse has some pretty nice neck tattoos.
Janine Lindemulder. Quite the interesting professional and personal life. Apparently, it's news to the readerships of Yahoo! and the Huffington Post that porn stars look a bit different without their makeup.
posted by Halloween Jack at 8:23 PM on May 26, 2012
Janine Lindemulder. Quite the interesting professional and personal life. Apparently, it's news to the readerships of Yahoo! and the Huffington Post that porn stars look a bit different without their makeup.
posted by Halloween Jack at 8:23 PM on May 26, 2012
Yeah, let's turn this thread into a discussion of Janine Lindemulder, her addictions, porn past, her eagerness to work with edgey erotic artists at occasionally modest rates (despite being a Playboy centerfold), struggles to keep custody of her children, loss of said custody, fall back into addiction, and lengthy arrest record...
... because that story is less checkered and more relevant than anything Yahoo! has to offer.
"We're introducing the iBonziBUDDY!"
posted by IAmBroom at 11:24 PM on May 26, 2012 [2 favorites]
... because that story is less checkered and more relevant than anything Yahoo! has to offer.
"We're introducing the iBonziBUDDY!"
posted by IAmBroom at 11:24 PM on May 26, 2012 [2 favorites]
their actual products
Haha. Stop...my stomach hurts, too much laughter.
posted by Fizz at 9:31 AM on May 27, 2012
Haha. Stop...my stomach hurts, too much laughter.
posted by Fizz at 9:31 AM on May 27, 2012
I refuse to type that exclamation point when referring to Yahoo. I'll reserve judgement when they do something exciting though.
posted by dgran at 8:48 AM on May 29, 2012
posted by dgran at 8:48 AM on May 29, 2012
IAmBroom: "Heh, dgran... I consider it ironic."
Sheesh. Search engine hipsters. Download any PBR lately? And, no, I don't want to see your humorous custom TF2 hat collection, either.
posted by Samizdata at 10:11 PM on June 19, 2012
Sheesh. Search engine hipsters. Download any PBR lately? And, no, I don't want to see your humorous custom TF2 hat collection, either.
posted by Samizdata at 10:11 PM on June 19, 2012
Samizdata: Sheesh. Search engine hipsters. Download any PBR lately? And, no, I don't want to see your humorous custom TF2 hat collection, either."
You sure? The hat isn't even in ASCII art. You probably haven't heard of the character set I used.
posted by IAmBroom at 1:33 PM on June 20, 2012
You sure? The hat isn't even in ASCII art. You probably haven't heard of the character set I used.
posted by IAmBroom at 1:33 PM on June 20, 2012
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posted by Fizz at 10:55 AM on May 26, 2012