Can Microsoft Use Windows 8.1 to Springboard Search?

By Doug Ehrman – Jul 17, 2013 at 8:45PM

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Windows 8.1 may be designed to fix a lot of problems, but it also is looking to give Microsoft a new tool.

While much ink has been spilled regarding Microsoft's (MSFT -3.00%) release of Windows 8.1, the latest version of the operating system is targeting more than fixes to existing problems. Through a new feature called "smart search," users will be given search results from both the Internet and the local machine. This is significant for the company, because it will allow Bing ads to be returned as well, giving the company the ability to target search terms even more precisely.

In the following video, Fool.com contributor Doug Ehrman discusses the ramifications of this new feature for both users and the company, as well as why investors should care.

Fool contributor Doug Ehrman has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Google and owns shares of Google and Microsoft. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.