FriendFeed introduces real-time search

Lifestreaming service FriendFeed is introducing real-time search, so you can search for anything on the site and see it instantly. Real-time search is also live for advanced search options, including search terms that you can save and track through FriendFeed, and on its blog widget.

From the company:

Just enter a search query as you always have, and see new results instantly stream in at the top of your screen in real-time. No need to constantly click refresh. It’s an extremely useful (not to mention mesmerizing) way to immediately see what people are saying about a particular topic. You can search across just your friends or all of FriendFeed, including imported services like blogs and Twitter accounts.

Given the large amounts of data people already share on FriendFeed — whether from Twitter, YouTube, Flickr or dozens of other sites — and given FriendFeed’s low-latency, easy-to-use interface, this is one of the most useful ways yet to get genuine real-time information.

Of course, Twitter itself and a host of other startups are pursuing this same objective. We’re testing out FriendFeed’s service now to see how it stacks up. The big idea here is that real-time search can give you a more up-to-date view about whatever you’re searching for than traditional search engines like Google can. If people like real-time search enough, then companies that can successfully offer it can also parrot Google’s business model and serve targeted keyword ads next to search results.