MSN Search new look

Microsoft, the Redmond company last week took its first public step in that effort, unveiling a new, streamlined MSN Search site that looks remarkably similar to the famous Google home page, complete with rainbow-colored logo and lots of white space around a big search box. Next up for Microsoft will be the introduction of its own search-engine technology, currently under development and expected to debut within the next year. It will replace search technology that Microsoft currently licenses from Yahoo!'s Inktomi unit.

In creating that new search technology, Microsoft is looking to incorporate a much wider array of sources, including online databases and other stores of information that aren't normally detected by "crawling," the automated process of amassing a collection of searchable Web sites by following hyperlinks from one to another. Among other improvements, the company plans to incorporate the ability to search across a PC hard drive as part of the MSN search.

"Tests conducted by Microsoft and others show that the mere presence of the Google logo can boost a user's rating of the search engine's relevance by as much as 10 percent when compared with situations in which the logo isn't visible -- even if the actual results are the same, That's how strong a brand they've got" said Microsoft executive Yusuf Mehdi, an MSN corporate vice president.

During a briefing last week, Mehdi also showed new search concepts, including an implementation of a Microsoft Research project called "Stuff I've Seen," which lets people search by keyword for items or documents they've previously accessed on the Web or on their computer hard drives.

"They've got a lot of grand designs, and the plan is good," said Matt Rosoff, an analyst at Directions on Microsoft, a Kirkland-based research firm. "But I think the actual execution is going to be far more difficult than they think it's going to be. ... Creating a search algorithm that delivers quality results is a very tough task."

The Original MSN message: http://search.msn.com/static/message.htm

Introducing the New MSN Search

MSN Search wants to help you find answers faster. We've been working hard to give you the improvements you've been looking for:

• Cleaner, Simpler Results. Search results are better organized to help you quickly find the answers you need.
• Quicker Access to Search. You'll have quick access to MSN Search from the new home page at http://search.msn.com. We've also added one-click access to the most popular MSN services.
• Better Answers. With instant filtering, you can modify your search to find better answers across specialized MSN content such as Encarta, News and more.
  

Microsoft's Commitment to Search

• Direct Access to the information that matters most to you. Whether you are looking for tomorrow's weather or a birthday present for a friend, you should be able to find the information quickly and efficiently.
• Organized Results. After you hit 'Search', you should be able to see exactly what you are looking for without having to sift through pages of results.
• A Personalized Experience. Your Search service should learn from you. What you like, what you read, where you live. Search should deliver results that are more personal and relevant to you.
• Trust. When you're using search, you should know clearly if the answers you get are sponsored links or standard search results. You're also entitled to your privacy and should be able to search without having to log in or submit personally identifiable information.