Bing Takes A Quantum Leap With Facebook, Mobile, Search Upgrades

Bing really is keeping Google on its toes. It seems just yesterday Microsoft's search engine unveiled a sweeping set of new search features. Now it's doing it again.

The software giant has presented more value in its search results by trying to integrate multimedia content directly into the search engine, so users don't even have to leave the results page.

This means if you search for "Susan Boyle" on Bing, you'll be able to play Youtube videos or stream music tracks from her latest album in just a couple clicks.

"Why would an end user, if you are neck to neck on search quality, use Bing? That's the question we ask ourselves every day," said Microsoft's Bing chief Satya Nadella in a Wired interview.

And here's the latest answer the Bing team has come up with:

- New iPhone/Android apps, with a "Windows Phone 7" aesthetic
- Make restaurant reservations via OpenTablet.com from the results page
- Take virtual tours of places in Bing's map search results
- Further support for HTML5
- Results page graphics vary depending on search type (music, movies, vacations, etc)
- Searches for non-theatrical movies will focus on Netflix and streaming sources
- New interface for image search

And the biggest addition - integration with Facebook. When users pop in a search, it will now not only look all across the Web, but also into the individual user's Facebook feeds to see if there are relevant results on their friends' Wall posts or user information. Search results will also become "smarter" by tailoring them to your "Likes" and preferences on Facebook.

Bing now commands 11.8% of the US search engine market. That's a far cry below Google's domineering lead, but considering Microsoft carried less than 6% of the market just a year and a half ago, that's pretty impressive. The search engine space is one that's very inflexible and hard to shift, but Microsoft is managing to make that happen.

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Qualcomm to Refund FLO TV Mobile TV Devices

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Next-gen Google Maps for Mobile previewed

;s Maps for Mobile 5 will feature vector graphics for 3D maps, faster performance, and offline caching." src="http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/i/tim/2010/12/06/gmaps-mobile-ussfsfferryland-rm-eng_610x336.jpg" width=610 height=336> Google's Maps for Mobile 5 will feature vector graphics for 3D maps, faster performance, and offline caching.

(Credit: Google)

The next generation of Google Maps for Mobile has been previewed by Google's Andy Rubin while demoing a prototype tablet running Android Honeycomb at D: Dive Into Mobile.

The fifth iteration of Google Maps for Mobile will feature an overhauled visual style that is based on vector graphics rather than the flat, bitmap images of the current version. The upshot of this change in graphic architecture is that maps now require much less space for storage and less bandwidth to download. Overall performance of the Google Maps software should be improved, but more importantly, lighter map data requirements makes possible the offline caching of routes. This means that once a route is locked in, users will not need to maintain an internet connection for the duration of the trip, which will make Google Maps navigation much more useful for those of us who stray off of the wireless grid occasionally. Of course, altering the route or choosing a new destination will still require a connection, but small reroutes for a missed turn or two may not.

The other advantage of the vector map data is that Google Maps will now offer 3D building data for over 100 cites. These 3D landmarks can be tilted, rotated, panned, and zoomed with multitouch controls. It's a neat feature that may be useful for users who prefer to navigate visually, but I've alway felt that 3D maps are more eye candy than useful navigation tools.

Google Maps for Mobile 5 will be available for download in the coming days. However, while compatible phones will benefit from the improved performance and possibly map data caching, features such as advanced multitouch controls and 3D rendering may be restricted to handsets with the hardware to support them. Phones that will get the full Maps for Mobile 5 experience include the Samsung Galaxy S, the Motorola Droid, Droid X, Droid 2 and Droid Incredible, the HTC Evo, the Google Nexus S, and T-Mobile G2. (Notably missing from this list is the Google Nexus One.)

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An Evil Downside of Better Mobile Devices: More to Carry and Choose

5, which fits in a pocket. So now I have yet another device to either carry or choose from, not just because of functionality, but because of form, weight and other factors.

Amid continuing advances in technology, one theorem still holds true for mobile devices: every single one of them is a product of compromise. Want your laptop to run longer? That can be done but you’ll either have to give up processing power or be stuck carrying an extended battery. Gotta have your latest videos filmed in 1080p? You’re not doing that on a smartphone yet, so you’ll need to tote a separate camera.

Devices are getting better and everything is moving away from the desktop as consumers want to enjoy apps and services on the go. But for some reason, I feel like all of the improvements in mobiles are just weighing me down. Put another way: my mobile needs used to be met with a laptop and a phone. Now my hardware stack is getting so big, that I can’t carry it all. Am I alone in the quest for the perfect set of just a few gadgets that can really everything I need?

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Mobile Apps Are Early Moneymakers for Taylor Swift, Linkin Park [eMoney]

.jpg" width=275 height=229>Beverly Hills, Calif.-based Mobile Roadie has developed a platform that makes it easier for brands, musicians or others to build applications for the various mobile platforms, like Apple’s iOS and Android. Many of the applications provide access to news, streaming music, live or recorded video and photos. They can also offer the ability to purchase music, video, tickets and merchandise.

From Michael Schneider’s position as CEO of Mobile Roadie, he has a 30,000-foot view of how consumers are making purchases from mobile applications.

In several instances, he’s seeing the applications power thousands of downloads, and in at least one circumstance, generate hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenues. “[The iPhone is] like an ATM machine in the pocket. It’s incredibly easy for fans to spend money. You just have to enter your iTunes password.”

Country pop star Taylor Swift’s applications have generated more than 600,000 downloads in the U.S., totaling more than “six figures” in digital merchandise sold, according to Mobile Roadie. Nine months ago when the Taylor Swift apps were first released, 10,000 fans tried to buy a concert ticket in the first week, but not all succeeded because they were sold out.

Likewise, Linkin Park’s application directs people to a mobile optimized store, where large buttons are easy to tap to complete purchases. For the multi-platinum rock band, fans have spent more money on their phones via the apps than the full Linkin Park Web site, he said.

The mobile commerce trends are not just occurring among musicians, but other top retailers are seeing the trends pick up, as well. EBay expects $1.5 billion in gross merchandise sales via mobile this year, which is three times the amount from 2009. And Amazon.com said over the summer that it had sold more than $1 billion in products over mobile devices over a 12-month period.

Still, Schneider says these are early days. Apple’s devices, including the iPhone, iPad and iPod, are the best at generating sales because of the easy integration with iTunes and one-stop billing.

Meanwhile, Android offers a less polished experience, leading Mobile Roadie to recommend to clients that they direct customers to Amazon.com’s MP3 store, or other third parties. The billing systems are also out of whack. Users may have to use Google’s or Amazon’s own billing platform, or be bumped out to the browser, where they might be offered a choice of PayPal, Visa or MasterCard. “Android doesn’t have the iTunes equivalent, and therefore hasn’t been as successful at monetizing digital content,” he said.

This week, rap mogul Diddy, a.k.a. Sean Combs or Puff Daddy, is releasing an app using Mobile Roadie’s platform in coordination with his upcoming new album release on Dec. 14.

It will have links to all of his previous albums to encourage fans to complete their album collection, but it also will include the ability to scan so-called QR codes. Fans will be able to find these barcodes on promotional materials, such as posters. If scanned, they’ll offer users the ability to download the app, or if it’s already installed, they will be able to unlock full tracks or other content for free.

Schneider said the experiments in mobile commerce are just beginning to happen, “Right now people are just wrapping minds around mobile being a critical and important part of selling and the fact they can do really big numbers,” he said.s

Tagged: EMoney, Amazon, Android, applications, apps, commerce, Diddy, e-commerce, eBay, Google, iPhone, Linkin Park, mobile, Mobile Roadie, music, Online, phone, platform, QR codes, retail, shopping, Spending, Taylor Swift | permalink

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