A profile in the International Herald Tribune of Microsoft’s new online services chief Steve Berkowitz sheds some light on how the software giant develops its web services (including its maps, of course). Berkowitz isn’t shy about criticizing Microsoft’s past practices:

Microsoft lost its way, Berkowitz said, because it became too enamored with software wizardry, like its new 3D map service, and failed to make a search engine people liked to use. […]

“A lot of decisions were driven by technology — they were not driven by the consumer,” he said. “It isn’t always the best technology that wins. It is the best experience.”

Via All Points Blog.