A recent Reuters’ article states that “Microsoft Corp is testing a new version of its online search service internally under the code name Kumo.com.”

The article also states that “The new service was unveiled in an internal memo sent by the head of research at the company’s online services division on Monday.”

The Microsoft memo stated that they believe that the new engine will help improve the quality of results thrown back at a user. It also stated that an explorer pane on the left side of results pages will give access to tools that will help users with their tasks.

Let’s see how this one pans out for Microsoft. Stay tuned for more updates…

Just read Fortune’s latest story “Is Mark Zuckerberg the next Bill Gates?” Josh Quittner says,

“Let’s say Mister Softie (Microsoft) wins, with a $1.5 billion buy in. Microsoft gets first dibs, not only on the nascent business, but on the nascent businessman: Mark Zuckerberg. Yes! Who better to succeed Bill Gates?

As every school child knows, the similarities are striking. Both men came from upper-middle class families and dropped out of Harvard to pursue their tech visions. Gates built a new platform (actually, two, if you count DOS and Windows) and Zuckerberg aims to create one now.”

Hell! It’s too early to make such a comparison, Josh Quittner! Agreed facebook is all around in the news today. Agreed facebook is massively capturing the ‘young adults drawn to social networking’ crowd. Agreed they JUST launched the Facebook platform and are soon looking to tap the huge advertising potential that their network offers. But hello, there’s no point in making comparisons right away; give Facebook some time to show their true prowess! Having said this, I also will agree that I’m a Facebook fan and tremendously respect Mark and co. for building a really snazzy networking site and attracting all the traffic that they are!

Bill Gates drummed up a “software industry” when there wasn’t one, made the “then only used by large companies” computer “personal” in the true sense (Remember Ken Olsen of digital computers said, “There is no reason for any individual to have a computer in his home” We know what happened to Digital next!). Let’s see what revolutionizing can Zuckerberg  do with his Facebook platform!