Google vs. Yahoo Interface Design

As Google and Yahoo! continue their volley of product offerings, I thought it would be useful to compare the interface design solutions each company employed to solve similar user needs. In other words: how does Yahoo’s version of a product (Maps, Local Search, Image Search, etc.) compare to Google’s? Though some product offerings are virtually indistinguishable (Web Search, Image Search), others differ significantly (Groups, Product Search).

At a high level, Yahoo! has better integrated business goals with their product designs. For example, their comparison shopping site features multiple entry points that better match consumer shopping behaviors (browse by brand, browse by category, featured products, etc.) than Froogle’s single search box. Yahoo! also has more robust answers to vertical information finding (Travel, Finance, Movies, etc.) than Google’s Web Search features. That doesn’t negate the value of Google’s simple solutions to these tasks. It’s just that a simple solution sometimes requires something in addition to (or other than) a search box.

1. Google Alerts (beta):
   Google Alerts are email updates of the latest relevant Google results (web, news, etc.) based on your choice of query or topic.
   Yahoo! Alerts Get real-time updates delivered to you instantly via: email, mobile device, or Yahoo! Messenger.
2. Answers:
   Google Answers Google Answers is a way to get that help from Researchers with expertise in online searching.
   Ask Yahoo! We carefully research our answers by searching the Internet for relevant web sites and pages.
3. Desktop Search:
   Google Desktop Find your email, files, media, web history and chats instantly.
   Yahoo! Desktop Search (beta) Yahoo! Desktop Search Beta is a free, downloadable search application that enables you to find any of your files, emails, attachments, instant messages and contacts.
4. Directory:
   Google Directory The Google Web Directory integrates Google's sophisticated search technology with Open Directory pages to create the most useful tool for finding information on the web.
   Yahoo! Directory The Yahoo! Directory gives you access to what's available on the Web.
5. Finance:
   Google Search Feature: Stocks To use Google to get live stock quotes and information, just enter one or more ticker symbols.
   Yahoo! Finance You have access to a wide array of financial resources on Yahoo!
6. Groups:
   Google Groups (beta) A Google Group is an online discussion group or mailing list that helps groups of people communicate using email and the web.
   Yahoo! Groups Yahoo! Groups is a free service that allows you to bring together family, friends, and associates through a web site and email group.
7. Image Search:
   Google Image Search Google's Image Search is the most comprehensive on the Web, with more than one billion images indexed and available for viewing.
   Yahoo! Image Search Yahoo! Image Search allows you to search millions of images from across the Web.
8. Local Search:
   Google Local (beta) Google Local locates neighborhood stores and services by searching billions of pages across the Web, then cross-checking those results with Yellow Pages data to pinpoint the local resources you want to find.
   Yahoo! Local Yahoo! Local brings together the best of Yahoo! Yellow Pages, Yahoo! Maps, and Yahoo! Search.Yahoo! Yellow Pages Yellow Pages provides fast general information like the name, phone number, and address of businesses and services.
9. Mail:
   Gmail Gmail is an experiment in a new kind of webmail, built on the idea that you should never have to delete mail and you should always be able to find the message you want.
   Yahoo! Mail Web-based Yahoo! Mail is accessible world-wide, offers a cross-platform email solution, and is cheaper (free) and easier to use than traditional client/server email.