With Microsoft's efforts to new search engines, MSN has also have some very important innovation. The reason is not because of its new appearance, it is not due to it attempt to extrude the Google's Multi-Million-Dollar Ad Campaign. It is significant because its home architecture reflects the stroke of the Web standard.
Now keep in mind, (in my opinion) The new visual design of MSN is more intense. It monotonously boring, four four square meters. (Don't blame the designer, if there is anything.) It seems that it is like directly from the draft of the product manager to the coding person's hand. The design of the page is of course no novel or innovation, and more like imitating Google and Yahoo, which is obviously chasing it in an attempt. (Perhaps someone or saying MSN design, especially the top part of the page, there is a little novelty. It looks like a Yahoo's Pointy Tabs root Google simplified mode mixes, people feel confused. Search page simplified version is too Simple, it seems that it seems that it has not been completed.
Remove the user's design, I saw some interesting things worth mentioning, it is worthy of attention:
XHTML 1.0 Strictt
Not only the new MSN page can be well-deserved to show off its XHTML 1.0 strict document type declaration, and the home page made together - when writing this article - only 28 validation errors, (* Translator Note: Decline To 8), the search page contains only one error. Not perfect, but it is more close to the big website created in the past few years. The vast majority of verification errors are simple and easy to correct. However, the IFRAME used by the advertisement will become a problem: it does not allow it in XHTML 1.0 Strict.
CSS layout; clearer semantics
This new site is different because it uses CSS to make page layouts and improve semantic clarity. Used a large number of titles and unquenceless lists. Appropriate use of a form to display the stock market summary; another may be part of a Legacy AD system.
Upgrade information
A certain degree of prejudice (or said: not completely IE-centric) intrinsic upgrade information is displayed above the home page in the case where CSS is not available:
Why is MSN look like this? Your browser cannot find our style and appearance information. If you prefer, you can continue to use this page, or you can upgrade your browser to the latest version. If you are using Internet Explorer, go to the Microsoft Internet Explorer website to install its latest version. If you are using other browsers, access your browser's website for more information.
Style switch
A more prominent feature uses a simple client style switcher to make the user select in the blue and white body background.
Handheld media device type
View the contained style sheet in the home page, you will see some @Media Handheld {} to define the rules defined by the handheld device. Rules like this:
@Media Handheld {# Sitenav, # Content1, # Content2, ... {FLOAT: NONE;}}}
Many floating objects can be prohibited. Seeing that this big site has also begun to consider the handheld media equipment is really encouraged. This is reasonable, especially with a platform like PocketPC. I hope that PocketPC Team is a strong support behind these handheld devices.
However, I noticed a lot of @Media Handheld {} alone, only one rule is included, rather than using groups to include all handheld equipment rules. strange. Look at it.
Dynamic style sheet
Use the request string to point to their style sheet, which means that the dynamic script is operated behind. One of the side effects that dynamically generate CSS is that almost all blank characters in the style sheet are removed. This makes it difficult to understand, but they can easily upgrade (may also be because different styles are generated according to different browers). This may explain why each @Media container is only wrapped in a rule. Possible to different media types, rules will be tagged, and the current style sheet has not grouping the rules of various media devices that can be shared. (Translator Note: According to the feedback this paper, this is because Internet Explorer on Microsoft PocketPC has bugs for processing @Media rules, so it is possible to write a rule, so write it separately.) Input button outline
Don't assume that all browsers allow full manipulation of the INPUT button. If so, I have suffered such a bitter, your button will finally become this look (in Safari):
IE5 / MAC is forgotten in the corner
I am not sure MSN.com seems to look like this updated and improved MSN for Mac browser (only for MSN subscribers), fortunately there is Tantek when he is still helping to test. Just look at Msn.com in the IE5 / Mac, one thing is clear: It seems that the new MSN site seems to look like in IE5 / Mac. Day.
The "Faster Load Time" is listed as the largest new feature in the link of the Explanation of Benefits of the New MSN. It is not very sure that the old HTML file size is much, but if it can be more interesting.
Update: Some of you may be interested to know that folks from the MSN team have definitely seen this page, and are aware of the feedback, compliments, and criticism See Venkat's comment below for more info, and a link to a new MSDN blog. WHERE VENKAT PROVIDES A FEW THOUGHTS AND Asks for feedback.
Original posted at 11:00 PM in CSS, Web
