An incredible research paper from Microsoft highlights the advancements in search engine link detection technology. The paper, VIPS: a Vision-based Page Segmentation Algorithm - discusses the use of page segmentation through a relatively simple algorithm that allows search engines to deduce which sections of a page are content, navigation, advertising, etc. and then raise or lower the impact of links from certain blocks. A visual example is included below:

In addition, MSN announced their massive ad blitz for the upcoming Superbowl, NCAA finals & spring season. They hope to hit 90% of all US households with ads about their new search engine services (which was officially released today). With Microsoft already the number 3 share in the search market and their destiny to grow larger, it's imperative that we as SEOs think about MSn when optimizing sites. Several good threads on the subject already exist:

• WMW -  MSN Optimization
• SEOChat - MSN Ranking Factors List
• SEW - SEO for MSN