Many of us do just fine online with standard search engines, but what if you're working on a project or engaging in a hobby that calls for prolonged research? You can set up a folder in your browser with project-related links, but that solution has its own issues. Middlespot offers a potentially useful alternative.
It took me a little while to get around to reviewing Middlespot, but no matter; Scott Brownlee, one of the three guys involved in this Canadian start-up, was nice enough to answer my questions, graciously accept my feedback, and otherwise put a good face on the company. The name "Middlespot" is based on the idea that there is "a space to be filled after the results are delivered from a major search engine," according to Brownlee. It seems as if they're not so much interested in building the next Google killer as they are in creating the tools that will make managing your search results, from Google or them, more effective.
It's amazing how much Web 2.0 technology they've been able to build into something that feels somewhat like a desktop application, albeit one that operates entirely within your browser. One thing I'd like to note here, before diving completely into the review, is that you can get Middlespot's full functionality without having to register or log in. I don't mind this use of cookies; it makes my life a little easier.
As Brownlee explained, "We are leveraging as much of the new web 2.0 technology out there (cloud computing, third party APIs, etc) as we can because a lot of other companies are doing parts that can be effectively incorporated into our app. We built middlespot entirely out of JavaScript and technologies already built into your browser (because we don't like to limit people by forcing them to download plug-ins). We also tried to avoid the requirement to login to do your search (your privacy and what you search for shouldn't be something we need to capture)."
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