The Empire Strikes Back: While it's good that there will be more competition in the search space, the rollout of MSN Search Beta has been less than overwhelming for some. Dave Winer sees a missed opportunity. Robert Scoble calls for more transparency and urges MSN to listen to its' customers more. I agree.
I can't see anything in MSN search that would make me say "hell yes!" and switch away from Google or Yahoo. MSN need to let the customers feel they own it. Also, the MSN brand is just too closely associated with Mom & Pop. MSN really should change the name if they want to help change that perception. Perhaps they don't.
Above all, they should not be competing with their advertisers. Conduct a search for Madonna, you get prompted with a serp-look-a-like link that leads to MSN music where, surprise, surprise, you can buy music from Microsoft. All roads lead to Rome, eh.
Given this is a beta, there is still time to make it better. If Windows' history is anything to go by, we may have to wait for MSN v3.1! One senses the timing of this release was more strategic than anything else - if you want to be seen as a player, you actually need to get in the ring.
Is MSN a Google killer? Not even close. Yet.
Google has a long, long lead and shows no signs of standing still. However, it pays to remember that the best tech doesn't necessarily win (not saying that MS won't develop better tech), it's who gets the business side right. It would be wrong to underestimate MS in that department, especially since they own the desktop and the browser.
Evolution: Robert Scoble pointed to this. So will I. Services will be the dominant model going forward because "the value today is coming from the community, the reputation, the access to information and goods and services, and the media itself. This ineluctable fact coupled with the driving forces of much faster evolution in response to the natural selection of market needs, much cheaper and easier and more simple user interface, and much better ability to know what can be done better for the customer are all combining. Services will be the dominant model. Think of it as evolution in action."
I can't see anything in MSN search that would make me say "hell yes!" and switch away from Google or Yahoo. MSN need to let the customers feel they own it. Also, the MSN brand is just too closely associated with Mom & Pop. MSN really should change the name if they want to help change that perception. Perhaps they don't.
Above all, they should not be competing with their advertisers. Conduct a search for Madonna, you get prompted with a serp-look-a-like link that leads to MSN music where, surprise, surprise, you can buy music from Microsoft. All roads lead to Rome, eh.
Given this is a beta, there is still time to make it better. If Windows' history is anything to go by, we may have to wait for MSN v3.1! One senses the timing of this release was more strategic than anything else - if you want to be seen as a player, you actually need to get in the ring.
Is MSN a Google killer? Not even close. Yet.
Google has a long, long lead and shows no signs of standing still. However, it pays to remember that the best tech doesn't necessarily win (not saying that MS won't develop better tech), it's who gets the business side right. It would be wrong to underestimate MS in that department, especially since they own the desktop and the browser.
Evolution: Robert Scoble pointed to this. So will I. Services will be the dominant model going forward because "the value today is coming from the community, the reputation, the access to information and goods and services, and the media itself. This ineluctable fact coupled with the driving forces of much faster evolution in response to the natural selection of market needs, much cheaper and easier and more simple user interface, and much better ability to know what can be done better for the customer are all combining. Services will be the dominant model. Think of it as evolution in action."
