bing

Not to sound too repetitive, an update is available for Microsoft's Bing app for those using a Windows Phone on the Sprint, AT&T or T-Mobile network.  The new version is  5.1.2010 and you can get it by choosing the "Update Available" menu option in the old version or by pointing your mobile browser to m.bing.com/download (yeah... I know it's different than the twitter post but it's what worked for me).

No specifics on what the update covers but just off hand, it looks like a maintenance update.  If we discover anything different we'll pass it on. [via: Twitter.com]

We assume you've heard the whole China-Google-IE6 debacle that's going on, along with the the Apple-Google falling out, so it really comes of no surprise that Microsoft is using this opportunity to edge Bing over Google search.

In fact the rumor du jour is that Apple is seriously considering replacing Google search as their default search engine on the iPhone with Bing.  And why not?  Bing has turned out to be a big hit for Microsoft, which is no small feat considering the competition.

We expect as Google gets bigger and more powerful this will happen more often. How long do you think Firefox will continue their relationship with Google and Chrome? We've also heard recent inside report that some OEMs are not happy with Google and the Nexus One for obvious reasons.

Sure if Microsoft pulls this off, it's partially because they're a pawn, but a win is a win in business. Plus the better Bing does, the more money Microsoft can sink into fixing our Bing for Mobile 5.0 application, ahem.

[Businessweek via The iPhone Blog]

Well, look at that. Somebody over at Microsoft just won $20, 'cause they managed to get the Bing application into Apple's App Store, making it available for the iPhone and iPod Touch.

I gave it a quick run-through and found it more or less acts the same as Bing on Windows Mobile. Can't speak to whether it suffers from the same complaints we've seen recently.

More screen shots after the break, and more at The iPhone Blog.

Google has once again taken the lead in innovation by rolling out their QR code based 'Favorite Places on Google'.

A QR code, seen above, is a 2D tag system that is gaining popularity as the standard for matrix codes.  Google is sending out decal codes to 100,000 local businesses that are the most searched on Google.  In turn, they can place these decals in their store front.  When a tech-savvy (and probably Android wielding) customer walks by, they can scan the code and pull down coupons, information, reviews, etc.

Pretty brilliant.

The question is where is Microsoft on this front? A few years ago they had a QR development program called 'Windows Live Barcode', later renamed 'Confucius'. It then vanished and presumably reappeared as 'MS Tag' which is now a proprietary matrix code system, albeit a very nice one. However, QR code support is gone.

There are really nice third-party alternatives right now for Windows phone, specifically 'BeeTag' (download here) which works flawlessly on our Touch Pro 2 (give it a shot, scan the above QR code). But in order for Microsoft to at least match what Google is now doing, they'll have to put QR code support back into MS Tag, something we hope they will do. Furthermore, can MS Tag survive up against QR now that Google is actually deploying it?

On another front, Google is also now offering 'Google Goggles': a visual identification and search program for Android (see demo here).  PC World has confirmed with Google that "other platforms" are planned but no time-frame is given. In the meantime, Microsoft and Bing, we await your response.

Whew, busy day for software.

Crashing in on Google Map's update today is none other than Microsoft who has effectively re-launched their Bing service.

First up is the browser client, which now offers a "Streetside and enhanced aerial view" in addition to normal maps and uses Silverlight (something we heard about yesterday) to power it all.  There's also an "application gallery" which

...will give users the opportunity to develop “geospatially rich data visualization applications.” Users can seek out applications such as Travel Webcams and Twitter Maps, which uses Twitter’s newly released geolocation tool to map their geographic location as they tweet — even from the Streetside mode.

In conjunction, Microsoft has also revamped Bing Mobile v5.0, which was something it needed as the old user interface was...well old and not very touch friendly.

Overall, the visual changes go a long way to making this standout program even better and the new"wait screen" is a nice twist. However, they also took out some things like gas prices and it is a little slow to load and keep in the background.  Still, we'll assume it will only be improved  upon.

Sound off in comments on your likes/dislikes or new things you found!

• Web:  www.bing.com
• Mobile: (via Mobile IE, not Opera): m.bing.com\download

[Microsoft Press Release]

It's been a little while since we've heard anything out of the Bing camp. Since Microsoft's search engine dropped the Live Search name, we've only seen a rebranding of the mobile app, and a possible hint of more substantial change.

Now we have something more official, and word that an update to the Bing app is due this fall:

Congratulations to our friends over in Windows Mobile for the launch of Windows Mobile 6.5 today! It’s an exciting time for mobile and for Bing. With today’s announcement we are kicking off what we like to call the Autumn of Mobile!

This week in New York we were able to share a sneak peek of the Bing for mobile application due out later this Fall. In case you missed it, here’s a screenshot of what’s to come. The Bing app continues to be a great tool for local searches, maps, and directions, and now it has a whole new look.

Judging by the screen shot, the new app looks to be, bingeriffic. (Ducks!)

Bing blog via LiveSide.net

So after months and months of wheelin' and dealin', Microsoft and Yahoo have finally come to terms on a partnership that will take them both closer to Google in terms of market share. As CEO Steve Ballmer puts it, "a stronger No. 2." (Ahem.)

In a nutshell: If you go to the Yahoo search page, you'll see the Yahoo search page. But Microsoft's Bing will be doing the heavy lifting. Same goes at all Yahoo owned and operated sites. Data sharing between the two companies will be "the minimum necessary to operate and improve the combined search platform." And 88 percent of the search revenue on Yahoo-branded sites stays with Yahoo for the first 5 years of the 10-year agreement. Bottom line is Yahoo's anticipating somewhere in the neighborhood of $275 million a year once things are approved and up and running.

At this point, it's tough to say what, if anything, this may mean for Windows Mobile, other than changing up search options. But you can read the entire press release here. After the break, the key terms of the deal as put forth by Microsoft, and video from Ballmer and Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz (both of whom will be on a conference call later today). And for the truly hard-core, the two companies have set up a joint Web site here.

It goes without saying that Live Search Mobile would take on the Bing moniker at some point, and that point is now. Fire up Live Search and hit the Menu softkey, and you'll see the "Client update available" is lit up.

For the most part this appears to be a simple rebranding, though the map interface has been tweaked slightly. We're still expecting a more thorough refresh this fall. More pics after the break. And if you're reading this on your phone, click here to manually get the upgrade.

Thanks to cplush on Twitter for the tip!