Note to myself: Smallbuttough.com has a bunch of interesting links to project tools/ideas.

You heard it here...last. 

Seriously, lots of postings that the beta of Microsoft's MSN Desktop Search is now available. 

I read the news first on Marc Orchant's great blog.  Marc added his own thoughts on how the beta compares to various competitors along with links for more info (including Scoble's lengthy developer interviews which really are interesting and seem totally unscripted -- a VERY refreshing change from PR-managed, tightly controlled, and content-free interviews you usually see when new products are being discussed).

Charlene Li has a great follow-up on the Yahoo!/X1 announcment that builds on the point she made previously that web search vendors are busy in the desktop search market trying to cement customer loyalty.

Robert Scoble put together a checklist of questions for would-be desktop search reviewers and Zsmarties has some good follow-up thoughts.

Speaking of competing search vendors,  Charlene Li talks about her research showing the battle to build customer loyalty is driving innovation and specialization.