Yahoo has launched two new search apps for the iPhone Sketch-a-Search http://itunes.com/apps/yahoosketchasearch and Yahoo Search http://itunes.com/apps/yahoosearch
Yahoo has partnered with more than 80 leading carriers and original equipment manufacturers around the world to deliver what it calls a “an industry-leading mobile search experience” and Sketch-a-search certainly fits the bill.
Here’s Yahoo’s explanation of it
Yahoo Sketch-a-Search makes search even easier, without typing keywords or thinking about search terms. You simply draw a boundary on your phone’s map to discover local businesses within that location. Yahoo Sketch-a-Search delivers robust local content without people needing to know the neighborhood. Initially available for restaurant searches in the U.S., Yahoo! Sketch-a-Search will launch additional local categories on an ongoing basis and extend to international markets in the near future.
Key features include:
— Sketch and Discover: Use a finger to draw a circle, line, or any shape to get a bird’s eye view of what’s nearby in a specific area or on a specific street.
— Location Awareness: Defaults to a person’s current location, remembers previous locations, and allows people to search for a specific city or an area of interest.
— Robust Local Content: Filter restaurant results by cuisine, ambiance, and star rating. Click on restaurants to read reviews, browse photos, get directions, or make a phone call — all directly within the app.
— Shake to Clear: Shake the device or click on the Sketch icon to start a new Sketch-a-Search.