Note that the search engine landscape is de-consolidating again…perhaps analogous to the media world going from ABC, NBC and CBS, to moving to ESPN and a thousand micro-segmented, fragmented channels..

The rule that drives this thing is not economics and not technology. It is perception, perception of “chunks,” and perception of memes.  It is the association of one’s desire with a particular source..it is like retail. Yes, big boxes like Wal-Mart are still expanding, just as Google and Yahoo are expanding.  But the interesting action is in boutiques, in specialty, in focused experiences.  A world with only Wal-Mart would be drab.  We need Barnes & Noble, to bring us a “book experience” that Wal-Mart just can’t duplicate.  And that is just the beginning of the sub-categorization and focused provision of special experiences.  We enjoy sporting goods stores, Whole Foods, and car showrooms..And we go for the neighborhood bakery or coffee shop, as well as the high end Prada store that we just might visit the next time we are in NY.

The new edition of Firefox showcases some new search engines.  This is a nice expansion out from the (still extant) close tie between Firefox and the Wal-Mart of the web, Google.

Here is a copy of the new Firefox search engine directory.  Enjoy.

Oh yea, and check out TopTenSources.com for some of the most fun informal sources on the web–and check out globalvoicesonline.com for a taste of the world.