The new Live Search homepage.

Microsoft is not giving up on trying to catch Google in its domination of market share in online advertising. Made available in the US yesterday, the latest 'improvement' to Microsoft's search engine, Live Search, is its home page background image. The new background images change randomly and contain interactive 'hotspots' that display information on the image and a link to a related search when a user moves their mouse over them.

Microsoft claims that this new home page aims to "enhance users' sense of discovery, surprise, and delight..." but it's potential to close the gap in market share, quite simply isn’t good enough. This development comes after the “Live Search Cashback” incentive failed to produce the results Microsoft were hoping for.

Is Microsoft running out of good ideas?