Microsoft Bing adds Silverlight-powered Visual Search
For years Google has been the only option when it comes to search. Oh, there were alternatives, including Microsoft’s own various attempts at turning the Web into an organized collection of sites and pages, but Google ruled all. But maybe no longer, as Bing is attempting to upset the apple cart. Bing is currently evolving, and the first new feature being rolled out is Visual Search.
Microsoft’s search offerings have never really caught on, maybe because of branding, maybe because of a lack of features, maybe because Google is just so dominant. But there’s a feeling this is changing, with Bing having a great launch, managing to pick up users aplenty since, and taking over Yahoo Search in the process.
The last week has seen Microsoft engineers tweeting about the coming of Bing 2.0 although details have been thin on the ground. But the first feature of the evolving Bing was announced at TechCrunch50. Visual Search does exactly what it says on the tin, turning the usual text-based search into one based on visuals instead.
Bing Visual Search sees you able to set and refine your search using visual stimuli (images) rather than textual stimuli. Searches can be narrowed down quickly and effortlessly until suitable results are found. The method works extremely well for some broad searches, and Microsoft has begun with 49 galleries already, with more to follow.
According to Seattle PI, Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft’s senior vice president of the Online Audience Business group, told the audience at TechCrunch50:
The whole concept is that the world of search is going to change. You’re not just going to be looking keywords-to-URL. There’s going to be a more graphical way to search and discover information, and it’s going to pivot on how people use the search service.
Bing Visual Search is currently in beta and U.S.-only. It also requires Silverlight, although many people who use Microsoft services will already have that installed anyway. If successful, Visual Search should be moved out of beta, integrated into all the different regions Bing caters for, and expanded to include more numerous and varied searches.
It’s a great new feature which is not only user-friendly but which also differentiates Bing from Google. Microsoft seems set on trumping Google and the new features being rolled out on Bing, of which Visual Search is just the first, look set to deliver that promise.
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September 17th, 2009
It’s a bit premature for you to claim Google will be destroyed, now isn’t it? For real, Bing barely breaks the 10% mark and you are already dancing on Google’s grave! I guess I expected more from a tech expert, but I suppose you are totally under Microsoft spell.
September 18th, 2009
Have you read about a certain fruity vendor who has a 10% of the desktop segment ? Some of those users are convinced Microsoft is doomed.
Even better are Penguinista with perhaps 2% and ring the bell of doom for Redmond.