MSN Search Champs

Report from an attendee

[anallawalla]

The writer's NDA means no juicy morsels, but still a great account:

[masternewmedia.org...]

I noticed WebGuerilla's name among the attendees.

[Receptional]

Now I'm jealous. ;)

[WebGuerrilla]

Yes, it is true. I'm a Search Champ. There really isn't much more I could add to Robin's report due to the NDA.

But I will say that the MSN team and all the people at Fallon put on a stellar event.

Great swag, amazing food and drinks, and private cars to drive us wherever we wanted to go. And they were also great sports when it came to listening to all our "constructive ctricism."

I've been told that we will be notified as soon as specific items covered by the NDA expire. When they do, you all will be the first to know.

[webhound]

Nice! :-) Lucky SOB! lol!

Well its good to see MS working hard on releasing their own search. Can't wait for the day it goes live.

[stevenmusumeche]

from the blog:

Though there was no specific date given, the MSN Search team appeared to be seriously determined to have a fully-baked search engine before the end of this year. This does not mean that the soon-to-be-launched new MSN Search will contain the full spectrum of features and facilities that are being developed right now, but that upon launch the new search engine will be able to stand up on its own when compared to its closest competitors (Google, Yahoo).

[plumsauce]

I would like to suggest here that the community may well find that MS understands the value of things like "focus groups" much better than some other search enterprises. For example, you may find that search becomes one of the areas in which msdn webcasts addresses. Sort of like "search champs" in a more accessible model.

MS is also in a position to do things like putting a "search tutorial" on the desktop explaining search techniques to the non-technical user. Boolean and exact phrase searches are a great thing, for the few who know how to use it. The use of these facilities could be greatly expanded through user education efforts and MS is in a position to do that.

[anallawalla]

I would like to suggest here that the community may well find that MS understands the value of things like "focus groups" much better than some other search enterprises.

MSN is throwing buckets of money on tapping brains from around the world. They are flying two of us from Australia (and many other nations) soon. While not Search Champs, it is another part of MSN. I hazard a guess that Search is only a part of Something Big Coming.

[pete]

Hi Greg and other WebmasterWorld members,

I was also one of the fortunate attendees at this event. Cant really add much 'cause of the NDA but was blown away by Microsoft's open minded approach and hospitality.

Internet search is definitely on their radar and I'd expect them to make giant strides in the next 24 months.

[plumsauce]

They are flying two of us from Australia

Hey, I said it first! Can I come? :)

[dauction]

Great information guys:

Relevancy is key. (I agree)

Integrate RSS inside search. (well I guess it's time to kick myself in the rear and learn RSS)

whoever took the photos..Um..Oh Nothing ..ha