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By Heidi Schuessler, User Education Producer
Heidi Schuessler, User Education Producer, MSN
Users frequently write in and ask how they can delete or add content from their MSN homepage. Some of you don’t want entertainment news. Others can’t live without it – but couldn’t care less about sports headlines or the latest video clips.
Even though MSN.com strives to offer a broad range of content, we understand that many users want to customize their MSN homepage to reflect their own interests.
Are you in that group? If so, you should check out the updated My MSN. This new version features so much more content to choose from, easy-to-organize pages, and lots of personalization options for adding colors and themes.
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I've done it – and I’m no techie. I set up three customized My MSN pages – yes, three! – and the hardest part was deciding what content to use. It didn’t take me long to fill up my first page with all the things I read and need every day: news headlines, traffic and my Hotmail inbox. Because I didn’t want that page to get too crowded, I then added subpages dedicated to other content I like to browse when I have time, such as entertainment gossip and recipes.
Here’s how you do it:
1. From MSN.com, click on My MSN: (Make sure you’re signed into your Hotmail or Live account.) When you get to My MSN for the first time you’ll see a page filled with default modules, such as headlines and a video. Like what you see? Great, you can keep those modules and add to them. Don’t like one? Delete any module by clicking on the little “x” in the upper-right corner.
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2. Pick a background: You will likely see a blue background on your page. Again, this is the default. Click the “Customize” button in the upper-right corner of your page. A menu will pop up with a range of background colors to choose from, as well as sports, holiday and seasonal themes, to name a few. I chose a beach theme for my main page and a full-moon theme for my subpages.
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3. Start adding content: Click the “Add Content” link in the upper-right corner of your main page. This takes you to an extensive menu of content you can choose from. I just clicked the green “plus sign” on the pieces I wanted and – voila! – they were automatically added to my page.
4. Move your content around: Once you’ve added the modules you like, it's time to organize. I settled on a three-column layout (select layout options under the “Customize” link), and then dragged all my news modules to the left column. In the middle column I have Quote of the Day, This Day in History and my local traffic report. The right column has my Hotmail inbox:
> TIP: To move a content module, hover over the colored title bar at the top of the box until two crossed arrows appear, then click and hold the bar while you move it around the page. “Let go” when the module is where you want it.
5. Add more pages to collect and organize even more content: Click “Add a page.” I have two additional pages on My MSN: Entertainment and House & Home. Because I’m a TV and movie junkie, I created the Entertainment page to show local movie times, upcoming new releases, and for fun, my horoscope and a Doonesbury cartoon. My other page is for House & Home, where I can see cooking tips, recipes and shopping deals. (The holidays are coming!)
Add new pages to organize the content you want to see
My MSN page reflects me, and I check all three pages on a daily basis, in addition to the regular MSN homepage. Some of you may want to use My MSN as your homepage, and that works too. You can continue to add/change modules, colors and themes anytime you want. After all, it’s your MSN.
Have fun!
By Heidi A. Schuessler, User Education Producer, MSN.com
Heidi Schuessler, User Education Producer, MSN
'Tis the season to stress.
Well, try to relax. MSN has tools and features to save you time, money and, yes, even your sanity during this hectic time of year. Here's a rundown on some of our favorites. Get ready to bookmark!
IN THE AIR
Find the cheapest airfare: Live Search Farecast will compare ticket prices from a bunch of online sources and give you the best price. Plus, you can track whether fares are going up or down, so you'll know the best time to buy.
Check flight status: Orbitz, a partner with MSN Travel, has a flight status tool — great for scheduling airport runs to pick up the relatives.
ON THE ROAD
Get the weather report: Thanksgiving weather is notoriously unpredictable. Know the forecast before you head out.
Live Search Maps
Don't get lost: Plot point-to-point directions to your holiday parties using Live Search Maps. Just for fun, try the 3-D view.
Beat the traffic: MSN offers a couple of different ways to stay on top of road conditions: MSN Autos has local traffic reports and incident alerts. Live Search Maps has a similar feature: Click the traffic link at the top of the map and then zoom down to street level.
Fill the tank: Here's a cool tool from MSN Autos that finds the cheapest gas in your area (a good thing to know any time of year).
GIFTS
Avoid the crowds, shop online: MSN Shopping is a great channel to browse. Did you know you could order a bowl of pears or a Southern pecan pie for Thanksgiving? MSN Shopping also has gift ideas organized into categories, such as gifts for pets, stocking stuffers and toys for different ages.
Know how to save: Keep an eye on the Sales & Deals page and print out online coupons, both available from MSN Shopping.
Get ideas from MSN gift guides: The new Holiday Guide from MSN will be updated throughout the season with home decor ideas, budgeting tips, gift ideas and more. Around MSN, watch for other ideas from channels such as MSN Tech & Gadgets: It just published a gift guide with a sneak peek at the season's hottest tech toys for gadget gurus.
Connect with others: If you're completely stuck — and we've all been there — stop by the gift-giving message board on MSN Lifestyle and ask other readers for advice. The board's chock-full of great ideas, plus tips on saving money. (One reader said she's going to bake her way through the holidays this year.)
Put cash in your pocket: Shopping through Live Search cashback is just what it sounds like: Shop online and get money back.
Make a list, check it twice: Print out this shopping list to record what you buy and how much you spend this season. (Note: This link opens a PDF.)
IN THE KITCHEN
Start early: Delish, MSN's main source for food and entertaining, has created special sections dedicated to Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas and New Year's Eve. All are useful places to start your preparations.
Foodfile tools on Delish
Get cooking: Browse these festive menus or put together your own by searching for recipes. If you haven't tried Delish's personal recipe book feature yet, now's a good time to start. You can collect recipes and it automatically generates a shopping list. (Note: You have to register and sign in for this feature, but it's free.)
Be a waist watcher: If you're worried about calorie creep, monitor your holiday eating with the Daily Diet Diary, available in PDF form from MSN Health & Fitness.
SHARING PHOTOS Share photo albums on Spaces
Collect your photos on a Spaces page: Take all those digital pictures and organize them into albums on a Spaces page. Visitors can view the pictures in a slide show format and add a comment to any of the photos. ( MSN Spaces is free, and you can access it with your Hotmail or Live account.)
Photo tip! SkyDrive, accessible through your Spaces page, gives you an extra five gigabytes of online storage that is accessible from any computer with Web access. It's a great way to store and share at the same time.
Happy Holidays from MSN!
By Heidi Schuessler, User Education Producer, MSN.com
Heidi Schuessler, User Education Producer, MSN
With the presidential election just around the corner, many of you have written to MSN with your thoughts about the campaigns, candidates and our political coverage during this unprecedented election season. This week I had a chance to sit down with Don Sena, MSN’s managing editor, to talk about how MSN covers the election news.
Some background: Here at MSN the pace and volume of election coverage started in 2007 as candidates first entered the race. In early summer 2007, MSN launched Your Vote ’08, a robust election guide with comprehensive political analysis, daily polls, videos and more.
News and analysis come from MSN’s primary election content partner, MSNBC, as well as Slate.com, Newsweek, The Root.com and MSN Video. MSN’s many channels also cover politics. For example, MSN Money recently published stories about where the candidates stand on pocketbook issues such as health care bills and energy costs. And MSN City Guides recently ran a story on which American cities are most red or blue.
Issues, issues, issues
MSN Election Guide Your Vote '08
The primary goal of MSN’s political coverage is to give you a broad range of accurate, fair and timely news and analysis about the election and candidates. Some people want to know about the “horse race”; others are following their local races or are only interested in specific issues. MSN covers all these topics, said Sena, but “we want to allow users to filter out the rhetoric and focus on the issues.”
Sena also said a talented team of editors has been guiding the MSN election coverage, led by Dave Herman, lead election editor.
If you’ve clicked around on Your Vote ’08, you may have seen the section called Where They Stand that compares McCain and Obama on everything from abortion and taxes to how each candidate would deal with Iran. Another popular feature is The Podium, where you can compare candidates and issues side by side using an interactive mash-up of Live Search and Silverlight.
Balance and fairness
MSN constantly works to achieve balanced coverage of the candidates and the parties. “Fairness is always top of mind and influences how we choose stories and how we place photos,” said Sena.
Many readers write in with feedback about what they view as a liberal or conservative slant to the coverage, and Sena and his election team monitor these comments. “When I see reader feedback slamming us from both sides, I know we’re probably getting it right,” said Sena. ( Send your feedback about the Election Guide.)
Cool features
Did you know that MSN can help you find out where the polling places are in your town? Many voters have also taken advantage of our register to vote page.
“I find it interesting that some of our competitors have just recently added a ‘register to vote’ feature,” said Sena, who says MSN has long emphasized service tools. “We’ve had that feature live since before the primaries.”
Innovation is key to MSN’s election coverage, and the Web makes features like The Podium possible – and allows MSN the freedom to present political news in ways that you won’t see or hear on TV, radio or in newspapers. (More of this is coming on election night – see below).
For a global perspective, MSN International sites also have been programming innovative election content to capture interest abroad. (Who would those abroad elect as the new leader of the free world? Check out this interesting feature from our international teams.) MSN Latino presents a version of the MSN Election Guide, as well.
Looking forward to Nov. 4
On election night, you can expect special coverage and features that will closely follow national and state results, as well as new layouts, a new design on the homepage, and new interactive features. Most of all, said Sena, count on MSN’s election coverage on Nov. 4 to be accurate and fast.
We want to hear from you!
As always, thanks for your feedback and keep it coming. Tell us what you think about this blog by clicking the “send message” link below. Or, share your thoughts about other articles you’ve read on MSN.com by sending Letters to the Editor.
Heidi Heidi Schuessler, User Education Producer, MSN
A. Schuessler, User Education Producer, MSN.com
Early in October, MSN.com debuted its new homepage. You may have noticed the revised layout, a Hotmail preview and video module on the left side of the page, customization options and more. We've gotten lots of helpful feedback from readers — as well as some questions. Here are a few of the topics you asked about most often, answered by our experts here at MSN.com.
How can I see MSN.com without scrolling from left to right?
By adjusting your computer screen resolution, you can see the entire homepage without scrolling left or right. Choosing a higher screen resolution will allow you to see more objects on the screen at once. Adjusting your screen resolution is a simple and quick process that varies according to the operating system (OS) of the computer. Click on the following links for instructions for your OS: Windows Vista, Windows XP, Mac OS X Leopard or Mac OS X Tiger.
How can I increase the size of the text (or font)?
You can increase your Web browser's font size in three simple steps. The process varies according to Web browser. Here are instructions for the most common browsers: Internet Explorer, Firefox and Safari. MSN Weather module
How does the new MSN weather tool work?
With the latest version of MSN.com, the weather tool is featured in two areas — the upper-right and lower-left corners of the page. Customizing your weather information is a simple and quick process. Follow these instructions to start using your new MSN weather tool today. You can track up to nine cities at once with your weather tool.
How do I personalize my homepage?
MSN.com has several new features that enable you to personalize your MSN homepage in a variety of ways: Choose a homepage color and number of headlines to display. Customize content such as local news, weather, horoscopes and stock quotes, and access Hotmail from your homepage. More details can be found in the MSN homepage tour.
We hope that you're pleased with the changes we've made; our goal is to help you connect with all the exciting features and tools available on MSN.com. So click around and see what's new. Play with the background colors and font sizes. Make MSN your own. If you have feedback on any of the things you see on MSN, please write to us and tell us what you think.
By Stephen Cvengros, Executive Producer, MSN.com
Stephen Cvengros, Executive Producer, MSN
We’re pleased with the new features we are offering and hope they help you feel better connected with info and communication tools available on the new MSN homepage. (An example: Hotmail preview, which lets you manage whether your email appears from visit to visit as opened or closed on your homepage.) We also hope you’ll nose around a bit and find some new background customization (try the graphite; it’s hot), local news that is always present and a quick read on weather.
Plenty of thought and feedback went into creating this new design: We took into account your comments to us over the years; requests you’ve sent us: good, bad and ugly. We met with focus groups, and we had a beta site live for several months, gained insight and adjusted the page.
I know how change is sometimes confusing.
Several months ago, I purchased a new car. One night, I needed to use the dome light, but couldn’t figure out how to get it to come on short of opening the door. I knew that couldn’t be the solution, but I hadn’t gotten familiar with how the shiny, new thing worked. (I didn’t read the operating manual; fortunately, my wife did.)
Bottom line is that like any new model, I knew there was a basic solution, just needed to figure out how it worked.
To that end, we have included a Homepage Tour. In the future, you will find the tour and other info to help you better understand how the site works, what fantastic gems we have seemingly hidden away on the network and the introduction of new topics, features and tools in the new “MSN & You” section of the page. This particular blog (“Inside MSN”) will also keep you up to speed on what’s new.
Some other changes to the page include:
· Adding a bottom-of-the-page navigation with quick links to more special sites, tools and areas users are interested in, making access easier.
· Moving Video to a more prominent position, meeting users’ growing appetite for the feature.
· We’ve lightened up on the boxes on the page and opened it up to provide a little “breathing room” for your eyes.
What is not apparent today are some design surprises we have created to improve coverage for you when the time is right. (All right, so check in Sunday for one of the first of these items with our sparkling new NFL module.) I want to urge you to play around with the customization pulldown menu above the Hotmail preview. I’d also suggest you put in your horoscope and maybe drop in a couple of stocks you’re following (weirdly in the current market, either one seems like a mystical choice at this moment).
Have some fun with the page and drop us a line about what you think.
As with all Web pages, this Homepage is organic. It will change as our last big release did over time and you’re going to be the driving force. We hope you enjoy it.
By Steph Stephen Cvengros, Executive Producer, MSN
en Cvengros, Executive Producer, MSN.com
Now that the torch has been extinguished in Beijing, our Olympics coverage is coming to a close.
Many of you have joined MSN for one of the biggest online stories of the year. You got to know Lolo Jones, Usain Bolt, Nastia Liukin, Debbie Phelps and, of course, her son Michael much better. We believe the exclusive video offered by NBCOlympics turned the corner for online content and streaming video.
We've got even more surprises and coverage ahead. The Democrats are in Denver. Followed closely by the Republicans and their party's party in Minneapolis-St. Paul. (Neither of these should be confused with the Republicrats, who are already way out of the box.) The political pep rallies begin the end of a very long election season. Along with our news partner, MSNBC, we've got it covered through the debates, promises, denials, votes, Election Night coverage and swearing-in of a historic president.
The NFL kicks off next week with Brett as a Jet, Chuck still running the Bucs, and LT ready to light up the Chargers. We'll be delivering powerful real-time coverage, power rankings and free fantasy football delish
.
Next month, we're going to whet your appetite with a brand-new food section called Delish. But we've got you covered on the other end too, helping you look out for those nasty pounds that creep up on us every holiday. (Don't look now, but Christmas is less than four months away. And those leftover Halloween candies will be hanging around the house soon.)
Speaking of the holidays, need to clear out old junk or find a treasure for that special aunt? The Keno Brothers have joined MSN with " Collect This," sharing their amiable insights into antiques and collectibles.
A new homepage is in the hopper and will soon offer access to new and improved local news, your most recent Hotmail messages and more personalization choices.
And we'll keep providing you with everything you need to know in your area, too. From where to be eco-friendly in disposing of antifreeze to finding the hottest new restaurant or discovering which gas station has the lowest prices within driving distance.
It's all about you. Our users.
Keep us dialed in for a big fall season full of surprises, breaking news and valuable information to make life a little easier and smoother.
Cassandra Douglas, Managing Editor, MSN.com
Cassandra Douglas, Managing Editor MSN.com
New and improved user experiences are always in the works around the MSN network. Here’s a look at Is It True? and City Guides — two recommended features I hope you’ll enjoy.
Is It True?
MSN.com investigates rumors and urban legends with a new feature — Is It True?
Be the center of attention at water-cooler conversations and cocktail parties with knowledge you'll glean from Is It True? The feature tracks down the truth of urban legends, rumors and other topics of intrigue. Find answers to such pressing questions as, “ Was sex therapist Dr. Ruth a sniper?”
“We’ve teamed up with “MythBusters” to deliver this experience and are also building up our own original content stores," says MSN editor Kristen Kennedy. "We offer users a wide range of topics, from celebrity trivia to the latest science news."
When I ask about her favorite rumors, Kennedy replies, “There are so many.”
Here are a few urban legends Kennedy and team have been able confirm or deny
(the answers may surprise you):
· Can loud music lead to a lung collapse?
· Can frogs rain from the sky?
Visit the Is It True? main page daily for new topics.
The New City Guides
MSN’s City Guides have a new look and offer more ways to find out what's happening in U.S. cities – big and small. New enhancements include more detailed events coverage and a summary of recently viewed articles and items.
“I’m happy to have much deeper events coverage,” says Rick Vanderknyff, senior editor of City Guides.
Deeper, indeed. Using City Guides, I found community events, nightlife, movie theaters and local restaurants in my hometown of Andalusia, Ala. — estimated population 8,740. This enhancement will make those of us who frequent small towns very happy because it’s usually difficult to find out what’s going on outside major metropolitans.
City Guides also can make finding and attending events in almost any city a seamless process. “You can research and buy tickets in one visit,” says Vanderknyff.
When you click for details on an event you can see a Virtual Earth map, view restaurants and read more about the performer.
The new City Guides remembers who you are. Each time you visit, a list of recently viewed items is saved so they’re easy to find the next time you come to the site.
Users can even participate in shaping City Guides content by posting their own restaurant reviews.
For details on the new City Guides go here or go the main events page and “just start exploring,” as Vanderknyff suggests.
Try these features and let us know what you think by clicking send a message below.
By Don Sena, Managing Editor, MSN.com
Don Sena, Managing Editor, MSN.com
Do you know what a gunwale is? Have you actually ever witnessed a parry? Does dressage get you excited?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, chances are you’re a big fan of the Summer Olympic Games. But even if you are unfamiliar with these terms associated with canoe/kayak, fencing and equestrian events, you probably have your own favorite Olympic event or athlete that you’ve waited a long time to see in an international competition of this caliber.
MSN also has been waiting four long years to bring our audience coverage of the XXIX Olympiad in China. Through a partnership with NBC Olympics, MSN will showcase exclusive Olympics coverage from the opening ceremonies through the last medal awarded on August 24. You will be able to find complete coverage of the games at NBCOlympics.com, but you will also be able to follow every stroke, iron cross and dunk right from the MSN homepage with our Olympics coverage module. At the top of the MSN homepage, we’ll expose features, interactives, breaking news and exclusive video not seen anywhere else on the Internet. In addition, if the South Korean women maintain their complete dominance in archery or Michael Phelps captures eight gold medals, MSN will bring it to you front and center on the homepage. From athlete profiles to results to video of events you missed, MSN and NBC Olympics will serve it up, be it at the office or home.
We realize that Olympics coverage is not one-size-fits-all. Some fans want to follow the results throughout the day; others don’t want media outlets to spoil the games before they’ve had a chance to watch them on the NBC telecast. To help fans enjoy the Olympics in the way they want, the MSN homepage will offer two versions of our Olympics coverage. Those who want to know all the news as it happens will find robust coverage, including breaking news updated 24/7. For fans who do not want any event results that have not yet appeared on the telecast, we will offer “non-spoiler” Olympics content where you can hide the results. However, those fans will still get deep features and video that has already aired on TV. The “hide results” button on the Olympics module helps you enjoy the Olympics coverage in the way you want.
And, despite what the International Olympic Committee or the Chinese government want you to believe, the Olympic Games are not just about sporting competition. The games have always shined a light – for better or worse – on the host country, and MSN will be covering all the hard news, politics and culture surrounding these historic games in China.
Lastly, Microsoft’s Silverlight software – which downloads faster than Usain Bolt can run the 100-meter dash – gets you some expanded features on the homepage Olympics module, such as more content and interactivity.
For an enhanced experience, the Olympics module will be presented on the MSN wide page format. Increasing your screen resolution will allow you to see the entire page on your screen at once. These step-by-step instructions will show you how to do this.
So, check out the MSN homepage now and explore the coverage. If you have any suggestions or just want to drop us a note, please send a message below on this blog.
Don Sena is the Managing Editor/Director of MSN.com. Before coming to MSN, he was an award-winning reporter and editor at the Chicago Tribune and The Washington Post newspapers.
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