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Why Apple likely won't make Yahoo the default search engine on iOS
Kara Swisher of Re/code yesterday published a story claiming that Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer is working hard to hopefully convince Apple that it should replace Google as the default search engine in iOS with, wait for it... Yahoo. A number of Yahoo insiders I have talked to said her plan to pitch Apple on the idea as its marquee mobile search partner is far along. The company has prepared detailed decks, including images of what such a search product would look like, and hopes to present them to Apple execs. That has not happened as yet officially and no deal is imminent - it's just the big honking goal of the new Yahoo effort, said sources. Still, several said Mayer has already buttonholed a few Apple executives on the topic, including its powerful SVP of design, Jony Ive, who knows the former Google exec well. Now Kara Swisher certainly has a reputable track record when it comes Yahoo-related scoops, and while Marissa Mayer may in fact have grand hopes to make Yahoo a much more integral part of the iOS experience, one shouldn't expect Apple to be swayed by Yahoo's slide decks, no matter how detailed or intriguing they might be. As for why, Danny Sullivan over at Search Engine Land recently posted an extremely informative article articulating the myriad of roadblocks which make a Yahoo/Apple deal extremely unlikely. For starters, Sullivan writes that Yahoo by itself doesn't boast any unique search technologies that would enable it to ably replace Google without end users noticing a difference in search results. Indeed, Yahoo search is currently powered by Microsoft Bing. In the years since Yahoo last did search, the amount of information to comb through on the web has increased - meaning much more noise to draw signal from. Meanwhile, potential employees serious about web search have long ago decamped to Google and Bing. Both those companies have huge teams involved in running mature search operations. Despite some Yahoo hires, there's been no signs the company is drawing anywhere near the staffing that Google or Bing has. So what about Bing itself? Of course, if Apple goes that route, why not work with Microsoft directly instead of providing users with Bing results dressed up in Yahoo clothing? But over and above that, there's no getting around the fact that Google search remains an unrivaled service. To that end, Sullivan recalls the backlash Apple -- as a company that espouses a first-rate user experience -- received following the less than stellar rollouts of Siri and Apple Maps. Why would Apple, the reasoning goes, make such a drastic and potentially detrimental move as it pertains to mobile search? Sure, opting for Yahoo would undoubtedly upset Google, but one would hope that Apple's unyielding goal to provide a top-notch user experience would trump the company's current misgivings about Google in particular and Android in general. As a final point, and this can't be stressed enough, search done well is hard, hard work. This quote from Quora founder Adam D'Angelo is worth noting: Because search is so profitable, Google and Microsoft have invested huge amounts of money on developing the best possible search engine. They have hired tons of smart people and directed them at the problem, they put a million computers on the task, and they created all kinds of special-cased services (maps, news search, image search, Google Scholar, etc.) The space has gotten so competitive as a result of the profitability that search engines pay computer manufacturers dollars per computer for them to set the default search engine for every new computer they ship. Likewise, there are deals with all the browser makers. With no evidence that Yahoo has been engaging in search algorithm technologies, it just doesn't seem to jibe that Apple would abandon Google for anything other than Bing. There's much more to digest on this topic in Sullivan's full article. It's well worth checking out.
Bing Travel's airfare price predictor is gone, but not forgotten
Despite Microsoft's years of effort, most of us haven't switched from Google to Bing for our various searches. Still, one of our favorite Bing features has always been the airfare price prediction. Added in 2009 after Microsoft acquired the startup Farecast for $115 million one year earlier, it could give you an idea of the best time to buy an airplane ticket at its lowest price. That feature is gone now, as a Microsoft spokesperson told GeekWire "It was a business decision to focus resources on areas where we feel there are the greatest opportunities to serve travel needs." It faded out earlier this year, and Tnooz mentions that key members of the Farecast / Bing Travel team left Microsoft back in 2009. Last year, Farecast's founder Oren Etzioni lamented the state of of the service, telling GeekWire at the time "I would have expected more [from Bing] during the past few years." Apparently what was left didn't survive Microsoft's current reorganization, however travelers looking for the best time to buy can still find a similar service from Bing frienemy Kayak.com. Kayak launched a curiously similar price prediction feature last year, and now Google is beefing up its search results for travel queries with direct information on hotels, room photos and reviews. Ah well, at least Bing is still our go to for easy Bitcoin conversions.
Bing finally supports image matching in search
You know Google's Search by Image feature? Well, Bing now offers the same functionality -- albeit more than two years later. Microsoft's search engine will now let you search for a particular picture, as Google has been doing since mid-2011. While Google's Search by Image works by dragging and dropping a photo into the text box, Bing's version uses an Image Match button to pull up different sizes for a given picture. It's definitely a useful feature, especially if you need a particular resolution or are looking for a particular source. Better late than never, Microsoft, but you certainly are tardy on this one.
Bing search gets a scientific calculator almost two years after Google
If Bitcoin currency conversion is too trivial a use for you, loyal Bing user, perhaps the addition of a calculator will help solve the equation of your unhappiness. Simply type a math problem into Microsoft's search engine and, as Windows Phone Central has noticed, an interactive scientific calculator will pop up with the answer. From there you can do as much math within a browser tab as your non-Googling heart desires. WPC also notes that while the calculator interface won't be making its way to Windows Phone, entering a math problem into the mobile flavor of Bing will still return the answer to your query. It's no graphing calculator, to be sure, but Mountain View wasn't built in a day, either.
Microsoft's hardware leader steps aside ahead of Stephen Elop's arrival
Microsoft said that Stephen Elop would run its hardware division as soon as it finished acquiring Nokia's device business, and the company has just taken a big step toward making that leadership change a reality. Current Devices & Studios lead Julie Larson-Green has told her staff that she's leaving her position to become the Chief Experience Officer at the Applications and Services group, which oversees Bing, Office and Skype. The move sees her report to Qi Lu, the app section's Executive VP. Larson-Green will manage devices until Elop arrives, but the announcement effectively marks the end to her brief 7-month tenure of the crucial organization. She was certainly busy during that time -- she oversaw the launches of the Xbox One, new Surface tablets and Xbox Music, among other projects. However, we may not know the full extent of her legacy until sometime after she has changed roles.
Bing Maps Preview now lets you explore more cities in 3D
Microsoft's been hard at work on enhancing the Bing Maps experience within Windows 8.1, and it all started with the release of a preview application last year. With one of the focus areas being 3D exploring, Bing has announced that Maps Preview can now provide a 360-degree view of 15 more cities, both from the US and abroad. Here in the States, this includes Montgomery, Alabama; San Francisco, California; Tallahassee, Florida; and Seattle, Washington, to mention a few. Meanwhile, in Europe, Bing has added 3D mapping access to Duisburg and Dresden in Germany, as well as Marbella and Murcia in Spain. The Redmond-based outfit says we can expect the list to keep growing, too, as it is always working to support additional places.
Bing search results now show key events in famous people's lives
Whether you use Bing or Google, you're surely used to that box on the right side of the screen -- you know, the one that gives you quick facts about whatever it is you're searching for, whether it be a celebrity, animal or your next vacation spot. In the case of Bing, that box is about to get a little more informative: Microsoft just launched a new feature called Timeline, which shows a list of major events in a famous person's life. So, if you search for Steve Ballmer, you'll see that he graduated college in 1977 and was named CEO of Microsoft in 2000. (You'll need to click "see more" to get to the part where he stepped down -- guy had a long career.) So far, Microsoft says it's generated timelines for about half a million famous people, and that more are being added all the time. Hopefully that includes new Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella -- Bing gave us so little information we had to go all the way to Wikipedia for the full rundown.
New Bing fitness app for Windows Phone tracks you after the run is over
Windows Phone owners have their choice of activity tracking apps, but few of those apps will tell you how to remain healthy after you've taken off your running shoes. It's a good thing that Microsoft has released a beta of Bing Health & Fitness for Windows Phone, then. The software uses GPS to quantify your biking and running like many of its peers, but it also provides health advice; much like the Windows 8 app, you'll find a diet tracker, exercise instructions and a symptom research tool. Your info will also sync across all your Windows-based gear. Those eager to slim down and shape up just have to swing by the Windows Phone Store to get started.
Microsoft: Bing's altered Chinese search results are a glitch, not censorship
Anti-censorship blogs have found that when using Bing, it appears the Chinese government's muzzle for "damaging" web-based news extends beyond its borders, but Microsoft says that's not the case. Bing search queries are returning with wildly different results for Chinese-language users on US soil, according to Greatfire. The site tested a series of searches in Chinese for hot-button topics ranging from the Dalai Lama, Tiananmen Square and the corrupt government official Bo Xilai. In the case of the Tibetan spiritual leader, results don't include his Wikipedia page, personal website or various news reports like they do for searches in English. Instead, Chinese-language Bing users both domestic and foreign found links to a state-sponsored documentary and China's heavily censored version of Wikipedia, Baidu Baike. If a user is in mainland China, Bing denotes that the search results have been altered, but not so in the US according to The Guardian. Bing's Senior Director Stefan Weitz has denied this and tells us that it wasn't complying with China's stringent legal requirements -- it was a glitch. According to a statement by Weitz, an error caused "an incorrect results removal notification for some searches noted in the report" but that the results were unaltered outside of China. However, Redmond didn't note whether or not the error had been fixed. We've included the full statement from Microsoft after the break. Update: In a blog post, Weitz has once again spoken up to "emphatically confirm" that Microsoft is not engaging in political censorship for Chinese language queries performed outside of China. He says the error was only in the Chinese removal notification showing up incorrectly, and that Bing is "in the process of fixing the issue." [Image credit: Freddie boy/Flickr]
Windows Phone 8.1 leak reveals new messaging and storage settings, and more
Up until now, the most we'd heard about the next rumored update to Microsoft's Windows Phone OS centered on two features: Cortana, the company's Siri-like digital assistant, and Action Center, its native notification center. Today, however, we have a clearer idea of where Windows Phone 8.1 could be headed thanks to a Reddit user who's allegedly gained access to the new SDK as part of Microsoft's developer preview program.
Bing now shows how much your Bitcoin is worth in other currencies
While some may be opposed to the idea of Bitcoin, others are doing all they can to adjust to the recent digital currency rush. Today, Bing, in partnership with Coinbase, announced it has added support for Bitcoin within its currency-conversion tools. Simply put, you can now use Microsoft's search engine to see what the value of your new-age money is in, say, dollars, pesos, euros or any of the other 50-plus currencies Bing has indexed. And it's all done in real time, too. No Bitcoin? No problem -- there's nothing wrong with entering some random numbers for fun's sake.
Google will escape fines in EU antitrust case by promoting rival services
Google has finally reached a settlement in its long-running dispute with the European Commission over the way that it displays search results. From now on, it must give equal visibility to rivals like Bing and Yahoo when it shows ads for its own products and services, like hotel reservations or customer ratings. The EU has been probing Google for over three years now about its practices, and recently said that it would need to substantially improve its offer, and fast, or face a fine of up to $5 billion. Google's competitors accused it of burying their ads in its search results, and a recent offer to display them in a shaded box was sharply rejected. A way of showing such services so that they're "clearly visible" to consumers as equal to Google's will now be determined "objectively," according to the commission. Once that happens, it'll need to comply for at least five years.
Microsoft to use Foursquare data in Bing and Windows products
It may not be the biggest news to come out of Redmond in recent hours. Still, the Windows faithful will no doubt be interested to hear about a licensing agreement involving two pretty notable outfits. Today, Foursquare announced it has struck a deal with Microsoft to use its location data in Bing services and Windows-powered devices. This, naturally, includes search and maps for Bing; and, for Windows, phones, tablets, laptops and desktops -- and yes, convertibles too. In a statement, Foursquare notes that, "in the near future," Microsoft will be utilizing the newly acquired license to enhance its products with "contextually-aware experiences and the best recommendations of any service in the world." That's not it, however, as Foursquare also revealed Microsoft has invested ($15 million) into its socially-driven company, which it says will help the service continue to grow and be accessible by more people.
New Microsoft app brings recipes and grocery lists to your Windows Phone
The Bing Food & Drink app for Windows 8.1 is handy if you need to look up a recipe on your PC, but what if you're searching for ingredients at the store? Never fear, as Microsoft has quietly released a beta Windows Phone version of its culinary software. Much like its desktop counterpart, the mobile port will let you both search for great meals and create grocery lists. Microsoft makes full use of its own platform by syncing selections with the desktop app, putting a Live Tile on the home screen and making it easy to share favorites. Lumia-toting amateur chefs will want to grab the app today from the Windows Store.
Bing Rewards launches on mobile, but not for everyone
Now you can earn rewards for using Bing on your mobile device, as long as it's not a Windows Phone. Snubbing its own mobile OS once again, Microsoft brought Bing Rewards to iOS and Android devices Wednesday. Already available for desktop, the program helps hold down Microsoft's 18.2% share of US searches by giving you credits every time you use Bing. You can then redeem credits for gift certificates to the likes of Dominos and Amazon, but not yet on mobile; that and Windows Phone support are "coming soon." You earn 1 credit for every 2 searches you complete, up to 10 credits daily. Which means, if you start now you could Bing yourself $1 short of an Applebee's Chimicheesecake by St. Patty's Day. To take part, sign up on the mobile site using your Microsoft ID or Facebook login.
Bing Translator for Windows repeats what you said, but in another language
It's not that deep.
Google Image Search makes it easier to sort results by licensing rights
Google Image Search has allowed users to filter results based on how they're licensed since 2009, but the option remained hidden under an advanced options menu where few users ever look. Now, a request by law professor and Creative Commons founding member Lawrence Lessig has changed that. Bing added the option to filter by licensing rights last July with placement front and center, and Googler Matt Cutts tweeted that his company's search engine has a similar option, shown above. Perfect for bloggers in a hurry (cough) or anyone looking to whip up an image for a new meme, it can pick out images labeled for reuse, reuse with modification, or commercial variants of either.
This one weird Siri feature turned me into a Bing user
Even Spider-Man couldn't make Bing cool. So when Apple introduced Bing integration into its Siri voice assistant for iOS 7, I wasn't exactly thrilled by the change. Bing is basically the search engine equivalent of the sixth Doctor, loud clothes and all. Sure, Apple included a Google workaround for Siri for die-hards. If you wanted to use Google to search for specific terms, you can Google those phrases. For example, you say "Siri, Google fezzes." It's pretty unsatisfying. This just tells Siri to open a new Safari window with a Google search. You lose the cool (and I use that term in its proper bow tie sense) integrated result on the Siri dialog screen. Now, after months of using the latest Siri, I'm publicly outting myself. I like those integrated results and I don't care that Bing, saddle shoes and all, has joined Wolfram Alpha and Wikipedia as a primary Siri information source. Bing's results are... just fine. Sure, I'm not so far gone to reason that I am using Bing as a verb (which you can do; just say "Siri, Bing TARDIS") because there are, after all, standards. But I'm enjoying the slick new integration with web results tied directly into the dialog. If one weren't a search engine snob, one probably wouldn't even notice that those results involved Bing at all. (I specifically exclude the Duck Duck Go die-hards from this write-up. The DDG folk are basically the rabid libertarians of the search engine world. That's an entirely different creature from Google snobbery.) Bing is doing my searches, and it's doing them well. And, as shocking as it is to discover, Siri has made me a regular Bing user. Whodathought? Steven Sande and Erica Sadun have been working on the third edition of Talking to Siri, the book that covers all the ins and outs of everyone's favorite digital assistant.
Bing broadens Snapshot to include TED Talks, famous speeches and more straight from the results page
How do you improve adoption of a search engine? You make it so users never have to leave the results page, or so Microsoft's latest Bing enhancements would suggest. With the bevy of new features Bing's introduced today, users with an academic or historical bent can now get pretty much all the info they need directly from Snapshot, its preview window for queries. Searches for prominent people will now surface links to any famous speeches or TED Talks they've given, with content playing either from within that pane or just one-click away. Bing will also present users with online course listings for Universities, Wikipedia-sourced summaries for historic events and scientific theories, as well pertinent Animalia info (so you can figure out if that's a husky or a wolf you've just adopted). In all, it seems like these search enhancements are geared towards the academic set. So, it's good news if you're the lazy collegiate type -- now you don't even have to open separate tabs.
Completed Firefox 26 brings a new Android home screen (video)
Firefox 26 has exited beta at last, and it includes a few big treats for Android users. The mobile browser now includes a promised home screen with quick access to favorite pages, bookmarks and the Reading List. There's also new optimizations for Intel-based devices, and searchers can switch to Bing or Yahoo if they'd rather not rely on Google. Desktop users aren't completely left out of the update parade, mind you; the full-size software no longer launches Java plugins automatically, and Linux users can play H.264 video with the right add-ons. Whichever new Mozilla client hits the spot, you can download it today through one of the source links.
