Microsoft’s MSN portal has been testing a ‘new look’ on a preview page for yesteryear few months. Comments from those who have checked the new MSN out have been fairly mixed but mostly affirmative for the new simpler design.
Over the past few weeks, Microsoft has been sending some e-mails and also running a banner at the top of the MSN page announcing the future change.
The change is now live for most …. at least here in US.
One of the things you will notice right away is geo-targeting. Even if you are not signed in, the page will deliver news as well as other results based on your IP (or perceived Internet access location).
The other noteworthy inclusion is a trend chart, not based on Microsoft’s Bing xRank, but in its place items that have been trending on Twitter:
MSN is also now taking on Facebook Connect directly from the front page. Microsoft is a minority investor in privately-held Facebook.com.
For now, the new MSN mainly competes with Yahoo and AOL. Both companies launched new layouts too, and embracing social media, in the past few months.
Microsoft’s customizable portal, Live.com lately shut down and offers a page that redirects to the company’s search product Bing.com.
The query that no one seems to be asking (maybe there is no answer yet?) is what Microsoft is going to do with one of the most excellent web addresses they own …. Start.com?
Update 1 - March 22 - 12:21 AM ET: The new MSN page is apparently also now the default in Canada.
Over the past few weeks, Microsoft has been sending some e-mails and also running a banner at the top of the MSN page announcing the future change.
The change is now live for most …. at least here in US.
One of the things you will notice right away is geo-targeting. Even if you are not signed in, the page will deliver news as well as other results based on your IP (or perceived Internet access location).
The other noteworthy inclusion is a trend chart, not based on Microsoft’s Bing xRank, but in its place items that have been trending on Twitter:
MSN is also now taking on Facebook Connect directly from the front page. Microsoft is a minority investor in privately-held Facebook.com.
For now, the new MSN mainly competes with Yahoo and AOL. Both companies launched new layouts too, and embracing social media, in the past few months.
Microsoft’s customizable portal, Live.com lately shut down and offers a page that redirects to the company’s search product Bing.com.
The query that no one seems to be asking (maybe there is no answer yet?) is what Microsoft is going to do with one of the most excellent web addresses they own …. Start.com?
Update 1 - March 22 - 12:21 AM ET: The new MSN page is apparently also now the default in Canada.
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