Microsoft today launched its Windows Live Search beta, featuring an improved user interface, better organisational tools, more comprehensive search categories, including image and local search, and services designed to help users customise results.

The services are available now in the US, but the software giant stated that "feature availability will vary" in international markets.

Microsoft said that the relevance and accuracy of results found by the redesigned service would be boosted by a number of new features.

These include search preview, scoping tools, a search slider bar that increases the level of result information on the results page, and smart scrolling that enables users to view search results without moving from page to page.

The offering also allows users to search within the context of the task they are performing.

Within Windows Live Search, surfers can also search across specific search categories, including all-new image search, news search, RSS feeds, email search and local search.

For example, new viewing capabilities within image search allow people to search across millions of images and receive results that feature infinite scrolling, thumbnail image sizing customisation, filmstrip view and the ability to see the full image without leaving the results page.

Microsoft added that Windows Live Search will also deliver a unified search experience across all upcoming Windows Live services, such as Windows Live Messenger and Windows Live Mail.

Christopher Payne, corporate vice president of Windows Live Search at Microsoft, also unveiled the Windows Live Search Macros beta, which enables people to save and share specific queries and search scopes and customise their search results.

An updated version of Live.com and a Windows Live Toolbar beta were also released today.