There is so much focus on Google lately that sometimes it is easy to forget that there are other search engines out there. Search engines doing exciting things, with a wide audience and dedicated users. Let’s catch up on just a few of the interesting things that Yahoo is offering lately.
Yahoo Video
While perhaps not enjoying the popularity of YouTube, Yahoo video is still a worthwhile place to find and submit movies online.
Yahoo Answers
When Google Answers went away, Yahoo answers may have been the winner. Users can ask any question, and have it answered by others in the community.
Yahoo Mindset
This service allows you to customize your results based on whether you are looking for products and services, or just researching a topic.
Site Explorer
Ever wanted to know more about what Yahoo thinks of your website? You can with Site Explorer. You can also add feeds for your site.
Yahoo Local
Find products and services that are near you.
MyBlogLog
This site allows you to see who is actually visiting your blog, and learn more about them
Pipes
This (blazing) new service allows you to take RSS feeds from multiple places, mash them together, and create your own, custom feed. While this service is somewhat geek heavy, it does offer a great way to customize your own news and information. You can find out more about pipes on Jeremy Zawodny’s blog
Yahoo Calendar
Keep track of appointments and events online, and even sync with your Outlook or PDA, so you always know where you’re supposed to be. This service also goes well with Yahoo Notepad which lets you make notes that you can access from anywhere (and sync with your Outlook or PDA, etc.)
Yahoo Buzz
Want to know what people are searching for how often, and what the trends are? Find more information here. There’s even a Canadian Buzz Index
Yahoo Podcasts
Some great entertainment and information can be found in free podcasts. Here you can search for the topic you are looking for.
Yahoo Widgets
We know, we know - What is a widget? Isn’t that a “catch-all” term? Widgets are also little programs that you can embed into your browser or website. They are usually entertaining or useful. Yahoo has quite a large collection of them, which you can find here.
LAUNCHcast
Create your own radio station by choosing what kind of things you want to listen to.
Yahoo Encyclopedia
Need information? Here you can search the encyclopedia to find what you need.
Yahoo Finance - Taxes
Yes, the taxman always cometh. Yahoo offers information and helpful tips in it’s (US) tax information site.
Yahoo Next
Like we said at the beginning of this post, these are only a few of the services Yahoo offers. This page outlines some of the newest services that Yahoo is working on, many of them still in beta.
Sometimes it can be easy to forget that there is more than one search engine out there. But in reality, there are a lot of very helpful services out there that are trying to make your life a little easier. Yahoo definitely has some great options to offer you.