Ok, we've got an interesting post ( Microsoft Bing: 7 Quick 'n' Dirty Tricks ) from Microsoft on some of the things that Bing can do. Let's take a look, and remember, these are some of the best things it can do, else why talk about them?
1. You can search for desktop backgrounds; there's a special image size category. Yes, you can do that in Exalead, you can also choose specific sizes in Google and there's a wallpaper option in Google and Yahoo as well. So, nothing new there then.
2. Consumer tools. You can get the contact numbers of any company quickly. It's helpful that the Customer service number is on the results page, so a point for that. However, the same information is available (though one click away) via Ask, Yahoo and Google. Better than Exalead, which doesn't have extended information.
3. Search categories are great for quick gadget research, with a menu of subsearches. Yes, I'd rate this better than the Google related search options. It's also better than Exalead and Ask. Yahoo is the search engine that comes closest here, but I'd still give the edge to Bing.
4. Background image on the home page. Quite frankly, why do I care? It's a complete irrelevance to me. Even Bing says 'it'd be nice if you could turn it off, but it's sorta fun'. No, it's not 'sorta' anything. It's of no value or assistance at all. You can change the background in Ask, you have Google doodles, and Exalead allows you to have the much more useful thumbnail short cuts.
5. You can create an RSS feed for any search. Even then they admit that it's not as up to date as Google Alerts. You could create RSS feeds in previous versions of the search engine, so this isn't an addition or enhancement, it's simply the status quo. While I can't add feeds from Exalead, Ask or Yahoo, I can with Icerocket, so this isn't that much of a new or exciting feature.
6. Video preview. This isn't bad. Mouseover the video link and you'll get to see some of the video. I can't do that in Yahoo or Ask, but I can watch the video on the results page in Google, Exalead. Of course, what this also means is that Bing is not going to be allowed in schools since a couple of mouse clicks gets you to unlimited porn. Bing also makes the point that I can sneak around IP filtering for sites like Hulu. Yes, I bet they're going to love that, but is Microsoft really thinking that I'm prepared to sit and watch a postage sized stamp video?
7. Results previews create summaries for each result. Exalead allows users to preview a page, but I'd have to say Bing wins out on all of the search engines I've used as examples here. So another point.
All told though, not exactly a winning combination. I'm aware that Bing is trying to position itself as a decision engine with marketing towards people who want to buy products, and that's fine, as far as it goes. But I'm still not convinced that Bing is offering anything exciting or innovating or different enough to make any serious searcher want to move from their original choice of engine.
1. You can search for desktop backgrounds; there's a special image size category. Yes, you can do that in Exalead, you can also choose specific sizes in Google and there's a wallpaper option in Google and Yahoo as well. So, nothing new there then.
2. Consumer tools. You can get the contact numbers of any company quickly. It's helpful that the Customer service number is on the results page, so a point for that. However, the same information is available (though one click away) via Ask, Yahoo and Google. Better than Exalead, which doesn't have extended information.
3. Search categories are great for quick gadget research, with a menu of subsearches. Yes, I'd rate this better than the Google related search options. It's also better than Exalead and Ask. Yahoo is the search engine that comes closest here, but I'd still give the edge to Bing.
4. Background image on the home page. Quite frankly, why do I care? It's a complete irrelevance to me. Even Bing says 'it'd be nice if you could turn it off, but it's sorta fun'. No, it's not 'sorta' anything. It's of no value or assistance at all. You can change the background in Ask, you have Google doodles, and Exalead allows you to have the much more useful thumbnail short cuts.
5. You can create an RSS feed for any search. Even then they admit that it's not as up to date as Google Alerts. You could create RSS feeds in previous versions of the search engine, so this isn't an addition or enhancement, it's simply the status quo. While I can't add feeds from Exalead, Ask or Yahoo, I can with Icerocket, so this isn't that much of a new or exciting feature.
6. Video preview. This isn't bad. Mouseover the video link and you'll get to see some of the video. I can't do that in Yahoo or Ask, but I can watch the video on the results page in Google, Exalead. Of course, what this also means is that Bing is not going to be allowed in schools since a couple of mouse clicks gets you to unlimited porn. Bing also makes the point that I can sneak around IP filtering for sites like Hulu. Yes, I bet they're going to love that, but is Microsoft really thinking that I'm prepared to sit and watch a postage sized stamp video?
7. Results previews create summaries for each result. Exalead allows users to preview a page, but I'd have to say Bing wins out on all of the search engines I've used as examples here. So another point.
All told though, not exactly a winning combination. I'm aware that Bing is trying to position itself as a decision engine with marketing towards people who want to buy products, and that's fine, as far as it goes. But I'm still not convinced that Bing is offering anything exciting or innovating or different enough to make any serious searcher want to move from their original choice of engine.
The big question now is whether Microsoft will take a big chunk out of Yahoo's paid search revenue, as mentioned here: Does Microsoft Big Change Paid Search.
Posted by: Marco | June 05, 2009 at 05:08 PM
I tried the wallpaper-function on Alicia Silverstone. It brought not one wallpaper of the actress, but Cameron Diaz or Alicia Keys. I tried the "large" size and got wallpapers.
That's my favorite result:
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=alicia+silverstone+filterui%3aimagesize-large&scope=images&filt=all&qpvt=alicia+silverstone&FORM=R5FD4#focal=a0692f69ea170b4f2155ef8567a336c2&furl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hollywood-celebrity-pictures.com%2FCelebrities%2FAlicia-Silverstone%2FAlicia-Silverstone-42.JPG
It links to a site for "Immigration Humor" which has nothing in common with Ms. Silverstone and doesn't even show the picture it linked to.
Posted by: KMB | June 05, 2009 at 11:24 PM
It's good to see they've designed Bing with some flexibility. I'm actually a fan of Bing and wouldn't mind seeing it doing better against the monopoly that is Google
Posted by: German Rocket | June 18, 2009 at 05:20 AM
I agree in that Bing.com may not be exatly a 'winner' however I will give Bing.com a fighting chance. Just don't expect me to stray too far from Google ;)
-Rob Greco www.shockwaveprofits.com
Posted by: Robert Greco | June 24, 2009 at 06:01 AM