Microsoft preps MSN version for Windows 8 and IE 10

Microsoft will debut a major redesign of its MSN consumer web portal with a new layout and navigation scheme optimized for the upcoming Windows 8 operating system.

The redesigned MSN will go live on October 26, the same day that the Windows 8 OS and the new Internet Explorer 10 browser will be made available, Microsoft said on Monday.

This new version of MSN will be accessible only from devices running the new OS and browser. All other users will see the existing site.

"MSN for Windows 8 will not replace the current experience but rather, offer an enhanced version optimized for Windows 8 and IE10 users," a spokesman for Microsoft said via e-mail.

The new MSN portal will have the look and feel of the Windows 8 interface, formerly referred to as "Metro." This Windows 8 UI has been designed not only for use with traditional PC input devices but also with touch and styluses on tablets, all-in-one systems and "hybrid" laptops.

"We thought deeply about how you could interact with MSN in an increasingly touch and tablet-friendly world," wrote Bob Visse, MSN General Manager, in a blog post.

:story: Network World