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New Media News Every Morning

Should Bing! Buy SnapShots? (Microsoft)

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Dear Bing!, we have a problem. Despite the fact that you were able to assimilate Yahoo! search (without having to buy the whole company), you are still falling behind your number one nemesis, Google.

Not only has Google come out with Instant Search, but now they are already rolling out their preview feature to the masses.

Instant Previews provides a graphic overview of a search result and highlights the most relevant sections, making finding the right page as quick and easy as flipping through a magazine. To use it, click once on the magnifying glass next to the title of any search result and a visual overview of the page will appear on the right. From there, hover your cursor over any other result to see a preview. (Official Google Blog)

Although Microsoft could simply hire a few extra engineers to create the same exact thing upon Bing!, it might be a better idea to acquire a startup by the name of Snap Shots instead. [Read more…]

Originally posted on November 11, 2010 @ 2:52 pm

Bing Creeps Me Out With Twitter Recommendations

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After being thrashed by Google’s Instant search, it looks like Microsoft has come up with a new strategry in order to subplant the search engine king.

With Twitter growing to more than 145 million accounts, finding interesting people to follow can be difficult. People Recommendation on Bing Social helps you discover interesting and relevant Twitter users based on your searches. Whether someone is “Influential” and helping shape the conversation or “Popular” like a celebrity, the new Twitter User Recommendation feature helps to identify Twitterers related to your query. (Bing Community Blog)

Excluding the fact that Twitter already has a similar feature on Twitter.com, Bing’s tweet recommendation feature could help Microsoft challenge Google for search supremacy (the latter who owns the web).

A few users however may not enjoy have Bing! play tweet match maker based on search queries (as it does sound kinda creepy to have a search engine company “know” your tweet preferences).

Bing! has not indicated whether they will port this feature upon Yahoo! (which they recently assimilated), although as of right now there is no word on if they will include Facebook in the near future (which would give Bing! one leg up over its Google foe).

Originally posted on September 20, 2010 @ 4:41 pm

Can Bing! Save Firefox?

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Unless you live outside of the geek-o-sphere, you probably did not realize that Mozilla recently added Bing! as a search option to Firefox.

Today Bing and Firefox announced that Bing will be included as one of the search engine choices within Firefox on both the Mac and PC.

We’re very excited to be included in the search engine choices in the upcoming version of Firefox.  Having Bing in the “out of the box” list makes it easier than ever for the Firefox community to experience the benefits of Bing.

We expect the Bing option to show up in an upcoming build of Firefox 4. (Bing! Community Blog) [Read more…]

Originally posted on October 7, 2010 @ 1:44 pm

Yahoo! Welcomes Its Bing! Overlords (Search)

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After previously announcing plans to assimilate Google’s former rival, Bing! has confirmed that they are now powering Yahoo! search, ushering a new age of search duopoly for all.

Today I am happy to share that Bing is powering Yahoo!’s search results in the US and Canada (English only for now, the other languages will come in the weeks and months ahead).

So what’s next?  We continue to work hard on the migration to adCenter, and are optimistic about completing this phase later this fall.  As we have said all along, our primary goal is to provide advertisers with a quality transition experience in 2010, while being mindful of the holiday season. (Bing Community Blog)

While taking over Yahoo! will help benefit Bing! (who is trailing Google badly, especially in the mobile search department), users will now be forced to choose between two search engines backed by two powerful companies.

Although Bing! is overjoyed about its new conquest, Yahoo! seems to be ashamed at forfeiting its number 2 position as evidenced by the “powered by Bing” text at the bottom of the screen.

With Yahoo! losing its search soul in the US and Japan, it looks as if one of the mightiest tech companies known to the geek-kind is slowly fading away into irrelevancy (despite the companies awesome portfolio).

Originally posted on August 24, 2010 @ 3:52 pm

Bing! Hearts Android (Sort Of)

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After making its debut upon the iPhone, it looks like Bing! is expanding its mobile presence by (finally) embracing Android.

However it looks as if Bing! embrace of Android is half hearted.

Today we are happy to announce the first official Bing for Mobile Android App available to Verizon customers.  You can now download the free Bing App from your Verizon Wireless Android phones’ Marketplace.

The app homepage features the Bing image of the day, complete with clickable hotspots that you can explore and discover related trivia (Bing Community Blog)

Note: Emphasis mine.

While Bing!’s embrace of Android should help Microsoft steal some mobile momentum away from Google, truth be told launching the app only upon one carrier is baffling.

Although Bing! is still available for Americans only, Android has (more or less) been embraced by all US carriers, even AT&T (who also carriers the iPhone).

While we will probably see Bing! eventually be ported to other carriers (thanks in part to the numerous hackers available), Microsoft may want to rethink its approach at handicapping its own mobile search engine, especially if they want to dethrone Google as the king of mobile search.

Originally posted on August 30, 2010 @ 5:36 pm