WebProNews

Blinkx, a desktop search utility whose offices are based in London and San Francisco, is expected to end its beta testing later this week, while making an official launch. Blinkx was designed to work without keywords or other perplexing search methods. Blinkx can search the web, news, or files on the users PC that relate.

Blinkx is equipped with a self-learning algorithm that understands what users are reading on their computer screens. The utility doesn't collect any personal information about the user. The application is stored on the computer and works in the background.

According to the Blinkx website, "Blinkx changes the way you find and access all kinds of information, from anywhere in the world, without having to search endlessly. Blinkx rapidly links you with the information you need from the web, from online news sources and files on your own PC."

Microsoft is in development with a similar tool that will be included in the next version of its operating system codenamed Longhorn. Google and Yahoo are said to be working feverishly on their versions so they can compete according to telegraph.co.uk.

In the not to distant future, Blinkx plans to offer the ability to search other stored data locations, such as a networked PC or an attached hard drive according to econtentmag.com.

By combining internet searching with the ability to return relevant information stored locally on a computer, Blinkx could be the next hot search tool.

Jeremy Muncy is a staff writer for WebProNews.com