MSN beta version launches in the UK
Posted: Wed, 17 Dec 2008, 13:47:00, GMT | 2014 views | Commented on: Saturday, June 27, 2009 Share
Much of my team has been working on a beta version of various concepts that may ultimately make it into the full MSN experience. In order to start experimenting with different User Interfaces and Experiences, we just launched several sites to experiment with these concepts. The sites include the UK MSN Next Entertainment Beta, French MSN Next News Beta, and Brazil MSN Next Beta.
The experience is greatly enhanced when the user has Silverlight installed and is logged into Windows Live ID (ie Passport). When these are in place, we can target user-specific recommendations and articles we think you specifically would like. Silverlight (think Flash on steroids) allows us to experiment with the manner in which you interact. Additional features are coming that will allow even more rich interaction with the content, such as closer integration with various Windows Live services (Messenger buddies, etc). You already can IM an article to your friend and that's a pretty cool experience.
It's fun to see this live in beta (after a lot of work)! Based on the user feedback and habits we observe, we'll look to evolve the concepts and take the learnings into the main MSN Portals around the world.
Tee (218.242.181.51) from London says: We'll be shutting down the beta sites shortly and working to enable the key features in the "real" sites. Thanks to everyone who's used them and providing great feedback! (posted Saturday, June 27, 2009)