Microsoft has launched a beta version of Bing. It is their new search engine - designed to take on Google.
It is early days, I did a quick search, looking up Nick Baggott and found the results to be much more out of date than Google. Whereas all of the Google page are recent sites or articles about me - my blog, my web site, twitter feed, facebook page, IT Toolbox, Microsoft Partner network etc (all current and live), Bing was headed up by by Chemistry blog and chemistry's web site - I left Chemistry 2 years ago now. So, on that small test, it is not as accurate as google.
However, I do like the "related searches" column, which helps you find what you need quicker. When searching for "Reading" it had a related search for "Reading FC", then when you click on that, the related searches were "Reading FC tickets", "Hob Nob - the RFC fan site" etc. This could be useful.
What Bing needs is users and it is chicken and egg. Until you get users, you don't get a good consumer experience and vice versa...
By the way, Bing is the sound your mind makes when it solves a problem i.e. aha, bing! I have found it - apparently!
Hi Nick - I heard the BING stands for 'But It's Not Google'. I have searched to find evidence of this, however can't substantiate it. It does amuse me though!
Posted by: Paula Thomas | July 11, 2009 at 01:18 PM
I have heard a similar rumour - but it is "bacause it is not" rather than "but it is not Google". However, these stories are also unsunstantiated!
Posted by: nick baggott | July 13, 2009 at 10:59 AM
sorry, because no bacause!
Posted by: nick baggott | July 13, 2009 at 11:10 AM