Theocacao: Tiger and Longhorn Search

Tiger and Longhorn Search

Tiger's Spotlight and Longhorn's search functionality seem quite similar, but Microsoft says that they had the idea first. CNET has an article on this topic. Here are some things to consider:

- Microsoft first demoed features like virtual folders in Fall 2003
- iTunes had SearchKit-style searches back in 2001
- iTunes had Smart Playlists in 2002
- SearchKit's ancestor is AIAT/V-Twin, which was introduced around 1997
- Spotlight is partially built on SearchKit
- Apple hired the author of Be fileystem, Dominic Giampaulo, in 2002. He now works on Spotlight

Tiger and Longhorn Search
Posted Apr 19, 2005 — 7 comments below

Christian Machmeier — Apr 19, 05 139

The CNET link is borked. Just wanted to let you know.

hitoro — Apr 20, 05 140

There is a major difference between the two technologies:

- Spotlight can run on any Macintosh available since 2000;

- Longhorn's search functionality will require a 4/6Ghz computer with 2Gb of memory (according to the demo done in 2003).

hitoro — Apr 20, 05 141

The specs are for Longhorn as a whole, not only the search engine. Only the people who have upgraded their computers to play with Half-Life will be able to use Longhorn at its full capacity. Here are the main features as stated in the CNet article:
- translucent videos over videos.
- search engine to slice and dice your data.
- display the cover page of your corporate documents.
- grow bigger than the entire Macintosh install base.

Andrew Knott — Apr 23, 05 144

'translucent videos over videos' is an 'effect' not a feature.

A Nani Moose — Apr 25, 05 145

There is a major difference between the two technologies:

- Spotlight exists

- Longhorn doesn't

quellish — May 02, 05 147

Well, search folders were originally to be part of Copland, so Apple certainly beat MS to that one.
here
and here
Spotlight, when you get down to it, is V-Twin with kqueue events <Angry>

Dan P. — May 18, 05 163

ALL EVERYONE MISSED THE DETAILS. Recall the beta version of Mac OS X in 2000. The Finder window had search box on the top right of the window which disappeared untill Panther. The point being Apple already wanted to incorporate search but had to wait until it was possible to do so (my guess is since the OS was under development search had to wait after it was compelte).

Microsoft is also copying the display of the search results (grouped instead of flat list) AND multiple search criteria user interface is directly being copied from Mac OS. See the search result screenshot on Paul Stupid Thurott's site.

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