MSN UK trials new MSN v13 UI with Silverlight enhancements

By Chris on December 19, 2008 6:35 PM

8 comments

Over at MSN UK Entertainment, they are trialing the new MSN v13 UI, complete with Silverlight enhancements. The test site at http://entertainment.next.uk.msn.com/ follows on from the testing of a Silverlight homepage design, http://viewer.uk.msn.com/.

As Peter Bale, Executive Producer for MSN UK mentions when discussing the trial, the addition of Silverlight allows for an improved multimedia experience when using MSN, in particular through embedded videos and images. In addition, once you have signed into MSN, you’re giving the option to share you MSN activities through Windows Live, using the MSN Web Application. This is currently hidden in the standard web applications directory, so you’ll need to enable it via your MSN profile page, or click this link. Note that the MSN Profile is actually using the information from your Windows Live profile, so apart from setting a nickname and avatar, there is no need to enter it twice!

For those interested in where MSN UK is going, Peter Bale gave an interview recently to Jemima Kiss, talking about the launch of MSN Next and how they plan to push original content.

Expect to see more on what MSN is doing in the new year.

Posted in News | Tags: MSN, UI

Comments

http://www.liveside.net/members/surilamin/default.aspx surilamin

What they need to do is kill MSN and stop wasting time trying to “fix” it. They have more important projects to worry about…
http://www.liveside.net/members/CalumJR/default.aspx CalumJR

I agree surilamin completely!

It’s a shame MSN is such a money maker because it is seriously annoying! They should just have Windows Live as it is (with none MSN services) and no MSN (in my opinion)..,
http://www.liveside.net/members/CalumJR/default.aspx CalumJR

I do have to add, this is a very nice desifgn though. If they are going to have to keep MSN around, I really hope all markets, including the UK, adopt this new layout and especially the new shinier logo! Why is the US always behind the UK when it comes to good designs for MSN?
http://www.liveside.net/members/Alimaggs/default.aspx Alimaggs

Why should they kill MSN? I’m pretty sure, from MS’s point of view, it’s their best way or promoting their other services for starters (Office, Windows Live, Windows Mobile), a good portal for potential advertisers (that wouldn’t bank on Live Search alone) and the content isn’t bad at all… It’s still one of my daily visits.
http://www.liveside.net/members/CalumJR/default.aspx CalumJR

It’s probably because I don’t really understand why Microsoft needs so many online brands. I love the Windows Live brand but am not too keen on the MSN brand…
http://msftandthefuture.spaces.live.com/ Quikboy

You guys really think this is a nice design? Meh. I think the colors are really contrasting, and the American-style MSN Entertainment is more aesthetically pleasing. I do like the little flippity card thing in the center of the Next site – I’m a sucker for visual effects.

I don’t know why I had to create a new nickname and picture when I already had one, and it wouldn’t even load up the picture adding thing. Also, the fact that the team can’t make the rating tool on each article into one makes me doubt their AJAX skills.

I do like Kirill though. It is pretty neat, and original content isn’t too bad, but I wish it wasn’t just a seasonal thing, and could continue on for a year or two. The HD video on Kirill is something I wished MSN would learn to upgrade to on their video content.

Personally, I think there’s better sites for getting news, at least in the US. The websites and articles on MSN have always been traditionally bland and boring, and it’s going to be hard to try going back to MSN after associating it with the old web. I think they could use more HD content, professional weblogs (offers more personality and interesting to read, AOL does this), and a better design would make MSN more likeable to my generation.
http://www.liveside.net/members/surilamin/default.aspx surilamin

In terms of having the best news site, I think yahoo does the best job…and overall msn would be the last place I go to…

news.yahoo.com
finance.yahoo.com
bbc.co.uk
news.google.com

I’ve sent feedback on the news.live.com site numerous times, however they do not seem to be in any rush to fix it. I think that is a huge mistake on their part…
http://www.liveside.net/members/murtaza/default.aspx murtaza

I don’t think killing msn is a good idea at all. however there are a few things that are redundant between windows live and msn, like MyMSN, which confuses users. The MyMSN page looks so much better than the windows live personalized page though. I don’t understand why the WLPP is still not part of the wave 3 band of services.

MSFT	30.24	+0.97%
GOOG	596.33	+1.92%
AAPL	459.68	+1.00%
NOK	5.12	+1.99%
YHOO	15.92	+1.27%

INDU	0.00	N/A
NASDAQ	2905.66	+1.61%