Wikia: new search engine set to launch

The buzz is all over the internet - Wired, CNet, and the WaPo to name a few sources - that Wikipedia is set to launch the new Wikia search engine next Monday, Jan 7. The main difference with Wikia search is transparency- users will be able to contribute to how pages are ranked and to edit search results, and the search engine will have open-source search algorithms and application program interfaces. WebProNews is a little dubious about the venture - their editorial entitled "Wikia Shmikia" reminds readers that there are other ways to search that aren't getting much press.