What features should be ABSOLUTELY present in a browser to make that browser your default browser ?? Is it tabbed browsing? it is full control over BHOs? it is the best security and control available in a browser? is it fancy UI? is it the ability for the browser to conform to the specification to the very last, minute little detail? Is it a combination of these mentioned features? Is it something else?

In other words, what are the things that you want most in IE or want IE to improve?

Step-by-step instructions:

• run your web or news search on the MSN Search Beta
• add the text ‘&format=rss’ to the url.
• copy the full url into your RSS Reader.

Here is a sample web search url:
http://beta.search.msn.com/results.aspx?q=tsunami+relief&format=rss

Here is a sample news search url:
http://beta.search.msn.com/news/results.aspx?q=tsunami+relief&format=rss

[Via msnsearch's WebLog ]

Compiler:
Daigo Hamura (QA)
Gus Perez (QA Lead)
Luca Bolognese (PM)
Matt Warren (DEV)
Peter Hallam (DEV Lead)
Rok Yu (DEV)
Santosh Zachariah (QA)
Subash Bhamidipati (QA)

Debugger:
Adam Krantz (DEV)
Andy Pennell (DEV Lead)
Deeptanshu Verma (QA)
Gregg Miskelly (DEV)
Habib Heydarian (PM)
Jim Griesmer (DEV)
Monica Boris (QA)
Rich Cook (QA)
Scott Nonnenberg (PM)
Steve Steiner (DEV)

IDE: 
Anson Horton (PM)
Cyrus Najmabadi (DEV)
Jay Bazuzi (DEV Lead)
Kevin Pilch Bisson (DEV)
Luke Hoban (PM)
Vijay Upadya (QA)

Other:
Dan Fernandez (Mktg)
Duncan Mackenzie (MSDN)
Raj Pai (GPM)
Rick Spencer (Usability)
Rusty Miller (QA Mgr)
Scott Wiltamuth (PUM)
Shaykat Chaudhuri (PM)
Tiki Wan (QA)
Ex-Team Members:
Karim Elias (QA)
Min Kwan Park (QA)
Eric Gunnerson (PM)
Joe Nalewabau (PM)
Grant Richins (DEV)
Peter Golde (DEV)

[Via Gus Perez]

Try Search Result Clustering - a non-linear way of looking at results as compared to the traditional "ranked list" that makes it faster for the
user to reach his desired results. The idea is to use a clustering algorithm to aggregate related results together under derived headings.
The algorithm extracts phrases from results-titles and ranks these phrases as cluster headings. More details about algorithm  can be found at http://research.microsoft.com/users/hjzeng/p230-zeng.pdf.

Want to see how this works? Check out http://wsm.directtaps.net/default.htm

[Via MindBuzz]

New site to share, try out, and submit MSN Toolbar Suite shortcuts

http://www.deskbarshortcuts.com

[Via msnsearch's WebLog ]