Microsoft whitewashes MSN in latest Web2.0rhea whimsy
Still not shining Silverlight on UK video player
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Microsoft has taken the beta wraps off its MSN homepage, which the company relaunched in the US in November 2009.
Over the next two weeks Microsoft will roll out its Facebook-like facelift to 100 million Stateside users of MSN.
The MSN overhaul is the first major makeover to Microsoft's website - home to its free Hotmail email service, news and searches - in about a decade.
Like Facebook, Microsoft has opted for a clean white background for MSN. It previously sported a clunky blue canvas and carried lots more links.
Microsoft will be hoping to convince more people to use its Bing search engine. The software vendor trails Google by a huge margin, while its online business remains cash-shy.
The company is unsurprisingly aiming its US version of MSN at the Web2.0rhea set by slotting Twitter updates into the homepage.
It's not clear when Microsoft will bring its reborn MSN to UK shores. However, it is reportedly planning another launch of its MSN Video Player for a Blighty audience tomorrow.
In July last year the software giant made its ad-funded MSN Video Player available to some UK broadband customers. The Player features TV programmes from BBC Worldwide and All3Media.
But the MSN Video Player didn't come loaded with Microsoft's own browser-based media player Silverlight. Instead it currently uses Adobe Systems' Flash.
Microsoft, which has since inked deals with several UK TV production companies, oddly enough hasn't gotten its Silverlight house in order yet.
But that hasn't stopped the firm making a second splash with MSN Video Player tomorrow.
According to The Guardian, Microsoft plans this year to make programmes and films available in high definition based on its Silverlight tech. But Redmond clearly isn't brave enough to apply its own proprietary software to the rest of its MSN video estate yet. ®
COMMENTS
Sans Surprise
Let's be fair; Sun Microsystems rarely used Java to stream any of their videos either, even the videos showing off JavaFX.
I don't have Flash installed, nor Silverlight. Java all the way!
Now where's my coffee cup?!
Hey, that's right!
When I did log on, my 'Click-to-Flash' blocker was showing these opaque squares and square boxes everywhere instead of playing in Silverlight: well observed.
Oooh... now that's clever....
"According to The Guardian, Microsoft plans this year to make programmes and films available in high definition based on its Silverlight tech. But Redmond clearly isn't brave enough to apply its own proprietary software to the rest of its MSN video estate yet."
So the plan is to use well established technology so that people can use the site immediately, so aren't scared off. Then use enhanced content as an incentive to install the otherwise-unnecessary Silverlight player.
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