The official MSN.com beta, My MSN RSS, and MSN Search!
Hello everyone,
Paul said I need to update more so I thought I would tell you all that the MSN.com beta has officially launched. You can check out the new features at <http://www.msn.com/?opt=out> or <http://www.msn.com/defaultpf.armx> [the former will create a cookie so you get the beta page every time you go to msn.com]. I really like the choice of colors, simple white or classic blue. More information can be found on the tour page and be sure to be heard by giving your own feedback.
Also of note, My MSN can now import RSS feeds, like mine! That means that you can create a My MSN module that updates the latest headlines from some of your favorite sites [or blogs] that support RSS [usually an orange logo]. Check it out at <http://rss.msn.com/> and <http://my.msn.com/>! One thing I would like to see is the ability to import multiple RSS feeds into one module [or cluster them if you will], giving you the latest headlines from a combination of sites/feeds [i.e. the latest headlines from IT, international news, business news, et cetera]. Submit your own feedback at <http://support.msn.com/feedback.aspx?productkey=msncom>.
One last thing, in case you haven't noticed, MSN Search has switched over to the beta service and appears to no longer be using Yahoo's Inktomi or Slurp technologies, but it's own MSN Advantage and MSNBot. I have been using the beta service quite a bit since MSN Toolbar Suite has launched and I must say I'm quite impressed. However, the old search is still in IE's Search Assistant, IE's Auto Search or simply <http://www.search.msn.com/>. For more information, please visit the MSN Search Team's Blog.
Expect more updates when I recover all my data from this nasty recovery CD that reformatted my HDD! Thanks to Jonathan and Ontrack's EasyRecovery Pro, I should be back up and running shortly.
@Matthew
Update: MSNtv2 is also using the old search. Snap.com, a company I've never heard about, offers an interesting search technology also now in beta.