MICROSOFT UNVEILS THE BING SEARCH ENGINE

MICROSOFT UNVEILS THE BING SEARCH ENGINE

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I don’t know whether it was accidental or otherwise that while Google unveiled it Google Wave application, Microsoft unveiled its Bing search engine, which is said to be answer to Google dominance in search engine. At the moment the project is still in beta but a couple of details have leaked about the project.

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The usual features were made about bringing fast search results and refined search. This means you can search information about your neighbourhood with the search engine bringing you localised results. The Image and Video searches are also refined. However, time will tell how refined are the changes compared to Live Search. It’s said its now easier to find movies, music videos and full length TV features. Related to this is another search that will bring you detailed information on a product like images, pricing information, user reviews, expert reviews, and much more from various web sites. Also using technology that it acquired when it purchased Farecast in 2008, Microsoft brings some uniquely advanced technology to search queries involving travel and buying tickets. Farecast, a tool for comparing airfares, uses a predictive algorithm to recommend when you should purchase your airline ticket. Not only is this particular feature related to airlines only but to hotels as well. Bargain Hunters rejoice!!!.

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It seems the flagship feature is what they call the Explorer Pane which breaks down your search results into related categories. In a screenshot, the search for 'hybrid cars' brought categories such as 'hybrid car parts' and 'hybrid car repairs'. Another feature that Microsoft added is the Quick Previews feature that provides a text-based synopsis of the pages displayed in your search results. When you drag your mouse cursor over individual search results, a Quick Previews box of data pops up, containing information from the site.

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Also added is what Microsoft called the Save & Share which lets you save, organize, and share recent searches. You can share searches with Facebook or Windows Live friends, or save them to your Microsoft SkyDrive folder. The Save & Share function not only allows you to save your favourite searches, but also lets you organize them into folders and add notes to them. In a move following Google, Microsoft also unveils what it calls Instant Answers. These provide things like answers on weather, airline information and time / currency / weight conversions.

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It seems the card Microsoft is playing is that it is offering features that are already available in Google, but those features which people know very little about. For example do you know that by tying, 'social network + and typing your passion Google will bring you the social network related to that passion?. Seems this is a wake up all to Google to make an effort to advertise and market the features that people can do from within its innocuous looking search box. If all the features on Bing work as promised, then it appears that Microsoft will have upped the search bar and for the first time Google will have to play catch up.