WSJ.com - Amazon's Search-Engine Unit Is Set to Announce New Features

WSJ.com - Amazon's Search-Engine Unit Is Set to Announce New Features "Amazon.com Inc.'s search-engine subsidiary plans to unveil new features today, in one of the strongest signs that it hopes to compete with the likes of Google Inc. and Yahoo Inc.
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But today's announcement fleshes out a number of features that allow consumers to personalize Web searches, a common goal among search firms. A9 will allow users who register with Amazon to save a record of their searches and the sites they visit, so they can later search and revisit the same sites more easily. Users can append notes to sites and store lists of favorite sites on A9's computers. They can then search through their notes and bookmarked sites using key words. "It's a search engine with memory," says Udi Manber, chief executive of A9, which is 100% owned by Amazon.
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For now, the site relies on Google's search-engine technology. Mr. Manber said A9 currently has no plans to replace the Google technology with its own, but would not speculate on future moves. He declined to comment on competition with Google, Yahoo or other search firms."