engine - 2:42 pm on Oct 3, 2006 (gmt 0)

Amazon.com Inc.’s A9 search engine has dropped some of its most widely touted features, including the ability to remember everything a user has ever searched for and a service that showed detailed, street-level images of major cities. The Internet retailer removed the functions, along with several others, late Friday. Amazon.com spokesman Drew Herdener said the company is “shifting its priorities to areas where it can provide the greatest benefit for customers.” A9 had put considerable effort into taking detailed, street-level photos of 20 U.S. cities, which people could use to map directions and find businesses. Google Inc. and Microsoft Corp. also have invested heavily in such photographic search technologies. Herdener said it was too early to say what Seattle-based Amazon will do with the technology and images now.

Amazon's A9 Search Engine Cuts Features [thenewstribune.com]

[a9.com...]