Ahh…once again the holidays are approaching. Once again we’re thinking of family, gifts, travel, and at least some of us are dreaming about snow-covered slopes. Time for joy, family, fun, and lots of web searches. The Live Search team has made the last part quicker and easier. Here are a couple of instant answers that will simplify some of your holiday tasks. Shopping How about a new digital camera for your dad? Simply type in the...
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Many of you in the U.S. have noticed some big changes in Live Search Video this week. Now you have lots of tools for browsing to find your favorite TV shows, music videos, and all of the most-watched content on the Web, just by clicking. Based on what we’re hearing, it’s a primetime hit! And of course, it still includes the best and only “smart-motion preview” technology that plays a preview right on the page to spare you...
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When we launched cashback nearly six months ago, we mentioned that we’re going to use these three criteria to measure the program: Number of offers in the system Advertiser ROI Percentage of commercial searches as measured by ComScore Well, we’ve been measuring, and today we can report that we’ve increased the number of product offers available in Live Search cashback by 30%, indicating strong advertiser interest in the program...
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Today at PubCon we launched a new release of the Live Search API for publishers and web developers. Now, in one place, we’re making available what is essentially a content management system for your site or blog, plus the ability to monetize by selling ads. This release is the next step in what we’re calling Project Silk Road, a broad range of tools and services we’re offering online publishers and developers to help them...
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On Monday we announced a search distribution deal with Sun Microsystems. Now, when U.S.-based Internet Explorer users download the JavaTM Runtime Environment (JRETM), they’re offered the MSN Toolbar. Like our partnerships with HP and Facebook, this agreement is another example of our strategy for gaining traction in the search market. When Internet Explorer users downloading Sun’s JRE opt to download the MSN Toolbar, they’ll...
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PubCon (Nov 11–14) has established itself as a rich forum for web professionals of all shapes and sizes to come together to network, learn, and share the latest on SEM topics and more. It has become a key event for us on the conference circuit, so our team is excited to be joining Brett Tabke and the WebmasterWorld team in Las Vegas this week for PubCon 2008. I’m particularly looking forward to having the chance to address an audience...
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Christmas presents to be purchased? Budget a bit tight? Microsoft Live Search has a solution for all the parents out there being harassed for big ticket items by our kids. Why not save up to 25% right now? I need an Xbox 360 for ankle-biter number one. What is the plan? I head on over to http://www.live.com/ and search for “xbox 360,” where I see a bunch of search results. At the top I see “Xbox 360” with the gold...
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Starting in late October, holiday travel fares have been falling quite a bit, and right now the average airfare for both Thanksgiving and Christmas travel are actually below their price points from this time last year. But don’t take our word for it. You can see for yourself. Farecast puts the power to predict into your own hands with expert travel advice based on science, not marketing. Farecast tracks airfares and helps you identify...
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Today we’re releasing an update to the Live Search home page that received positive feedback from customers in trials last month. The new design features background images that will change frequently, augmented with what we call “hotspots.” These interactive areas highlight parts of the image and help you explore search results related to the highlighted area. Users who have tested this new home page have found it both engaging...
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We’re excited to announce that we’ve reached an agreement to acquire Powerset, a San Francisco-based search and natural language company. Powerset will join our core Search Relevance team, remaining intact in San Francisco. Powerset brings with it natural language technology that nicely complements other natural language processing technologies we have in Microsoft Research. More importantly, Powerset brings to Live Search a set of...
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