Finally!! The multi-tabbed Internet Explorer

Check out the new MSN Toolbar. It has finally fullfilled the ultimate prophecy. Internet Explorer with Mulitple Tab option!! I wonder why the usual Microsoft Publicity machinery kept quiet about this. It offers short cut keys for opening the new tabs (Ctrl+T). So far, my experience has been good. I quite accidently found this new feature. My intention was to check out the latest MSN Messenger.

Other features of MSN Toolbar
The MSN Toolbar otherwise is pretty much similar to Google. I wish they had RSS support on the MSN Toolbar so that I can get the atomic feeds for the news that I wish to see. Also the only news that the MSN Toolbar is pointing to is the MSNBC. I wish the MSN would go to a page like Google News. I guess they would probably be offering this with the Windows Live (which is what MSN would be called as in the future).

MSN Messenger
Now to my thoughts about the new MSN Messenger (it's been a long time since I have used it).
I will compare it to the Yahoo Messenger which I consider to be the gold standard in messenger (I'll pretend that Google Talk does not exist and wait for the final version)

Wink: MSN Messenger's answer to Yahoo Messenger Audibles?
It goes one up on Yahoo Messenger and the winks play around on the screen. Sadly, there is not enough wink in the messnger. If anybody at MSN reads this, please add more Winks. Its got potential but needs more content. Yahoo Messenger scores not because the Audibles can do fancy things but because they are really funny and localized to some of the popular languages.

No Photo Share Feature
The Yahoo Messenger for sharing photos while chatting in the same window is missing in the MSN Messenger. This feature is great when having chats with folks at home. Show a photo and talk about it. It would be great if MSN could better that and put it in the next version.

Voice Clip
I think this is a good feature. I have not used it but it has potential.

Desktop Search
The console for the Desktop Search is better than the Google Desktop Search but I wish the MSN Search was more integrated with Desktop search. I guess Google is still better in this front. I hope when they integrate these when they relaunch MSN as Windows Live. I am also of the opinion that the appearances of MSN Search needs to be changed. I prefer the Live search interface. Simple and appealing.