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New Bing Maps Beta and More

Dec. 2, 2009 Paul Thurrott | Paul Thurrott's Supersite for Windows

Microsoft today announced a new set of experiences that will help Bing users make decisions and get more done faster.

First, we're releasing the beta version of a new Bing Maps experience that incorporates Streetside and Photosynth imagery to deliver an engaging mapping experience as customers change views, levels, or interact with the site.  The new Bing Maps experience also features innovative new mapping applications such as Twitter Maps for real-time updates by area and Local Lens featuring hyperlocal, neighborhood content. You can explore the new features yourself at bing.com/maps/explore or, for a guided tour of the new features, check out this video with Blaise Agüera y Arcas, Chief Architect, Bing Maps.

In addition to the new mapping experience, we’re announcing a number of other new features rolling out over the next few days, including:

  • A new Bing Windows mobile application featuring improved auto-locate and voice search, available for download at http://www.discoverbing.com/mobile.
  • The new Bing toolbar which flags online content and alerts you when you’re about to make a purchase that qualifies for Bing cashback savings.  Now available for download at http://www.discoverbing.com/toolbar.
  • A social network Visual Search experience -- by integrating Facebook and Twitter feeds, Bing Visual Search allows you to quickly find your status updates of your friends and followers, sort by upcoming birthdays and more.  Coming soon at http://www.bing.com/visualsearch.

For more information about the new Bing features, check out the Bing blog and for a more in-depth look, visit www.behindbing.com.

Discuss this Article 24

gfryesc1
on Dec 2, 2009
thurrott's drunk the koolaid hard by actually writing bing will help its users make faster 'decisions'. that's the marketing department talking.
Interframe
on Dec 2, 2009
@gfryesc1: I don't believe thats the marketing department talking. If you or anyone else has noticed, Paul has been a little too obsessed with writing these "Oh noes! Microsoft is doomed!! Everything is over just because PDC 09 didn't offer up something interesting because Windows 8 and other products are in early planning stages!!". Well you get the point. The truth is, for Paul anyways, is that this is just a phase. Just because your not hearing a lot of interesting stuff from MS right now, doesn't mean their not doing interesting stuff under-wraps. He's completely forgetting products like the Xbox 360 (which Paul uses everyday for MW2) and Zune HD, or things like Courier tablet/booklet. So my point is; just because you haven't heard a lot of interesting stuff from MS lately, it doesn't mean their turning into IBM. The reality is that their (MS) probably doing tons of interesting stuff under-wraps that were not seeing quite yet. I don't think MS is committed into turning into the next IBM, not yet at least.
ibarskiy
on Dec 2, 2009
I don't know if you tried it, but the new experience is awesome. This is exactly the way I would have loved it to be; I tried to Photosynth it manually a couple of times with questionable results; this, done in-house, is pretty effing cool.
whiplash55
on Dec 2, 2009
Looks good but why does it think I'm in Germantown MD. I'm on the left coast so I guess Gemantown is near my ISP's servers. At least there not spreading climate change propaganda like Google who's decided were going to have 4.5 foot sea level rise sometime soon.
Interframe
on Dec 2, 2009
@ibarskiy: absolutly agree with you, the 3D Street View stuff shows the power of MS's own in-house technologies. It may be somewhat similar to what Google is doing, but the UI and experiance is far and above what google has. The new Bing maps definetly feels more "premium" than Google maps. And Google has nothing to point at, they've already somewhat copied the look and feel of Bing's web search with that new UI thats leaked out from them.
ibarskiy
on Dec 2, 2009
@Interframe: Ya know, that's my biggest problem with Google. Well, one of them. They have a lot of pretty cool ideas and implementations (conceptually), but their UX consistently turns me off. I'm not all about MS UX; for example, I had problems with certain UX features of Bing services pre this beta, but Google is barren. Something like the skinable Google extensions in Firefox make it usable for me, but I cringe when I look at the basic interface. And, sad as it is, it turns me off using it a lot of times. With that said, Google maps never appealed to me compared to Yahoo (which I mostly used for directions) and Live/Bing (which I mostly use to find places and for the various aerial views to get a feel for it). Of course, my other problem with Google is the perennial beta quality of most of their software (the tag is gone, but the impression is still there). That and some dumb, dumb, dumb choices (e.g. their handling of contacts is mind-numbingly dumb to me and a source of considerable headache)
Ocean
on Dec 2, 2009
There has been some interesting commentary re: Bing. One--> " it’s good to see Google step away from a plug-in even if it’s no longer proprietary (originally called “Google Gears,” they have since open-sourced it). And it makes what Microsoft is doing even more frustrating. With Silverlight, Microsoft continues to make it clear that they intend to use this web application framework, which they developed, to power much of what they are doing on the web going forward. Again, the problem here is that not only does Microsoft control this, but it requires a plug-in to use." http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/12/02/google-microsoft-silverlight/ and NYTimes: "With a single click, users can switch to another search engine. Google worries, as it should, about Microsoft’s deep pockets and its fervent support of Bing." http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/02/where-google-goes-from...
roteague
on Dec 2, 2009
Bing is my primary search engine anyway, so this just adds more icing on the cake for me. :)
WazNeeni
on Dec 2, 2009
Maps is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!! I thought the "angled" satellite shots were cool, but then I *accidentally* used the compass to turn the map. It was at this point that my jaw hit the floor. Plus, it's so lightning quick!! Even the mobile app is more accurate and faster the Google Maps.
anonymous
on Dec 2, 2009
This post was mentioned on Twitter by thurrott: New Bing Maps Beta and More: Microsoft today announced a new set of experiences that will help Bing users make .. http://bit.ly/5PZfPs
robertsjoe
on Dec 2, 2009
Google has nothing to worry about. Bing is minor leagues.
robertsjoe
on Dec 2, 2009
Aside from some of the lunatics here, Ballmer gets the award for biggest assclown. http://gizmodo.com/5416765/top-5-assclowns-laughing-at-the-iphone-back-i... Here's a joke... Windows Mobile. haahahahahahah!
Dude1313
on Dec 3, 2009
I'm thinking the respondents here are hardly a representative sampling of the vast majority of those who search on the web. Google has been gaining share since Bing launched, Factor in Google OS targeted for netbooks (the only area of the non-Mac computer segment that is actually growing..) And you can see why MS is so nervous about Google. I for one welcome Bing's efforts because as many like to crow competition breeds better products. Right now Google is the better project, thus Bing pushes Google to get even better.
ibarskiy
on Dec 3, 2009
Leave it to Ocean to post some irrelevant blabber. Seriously, get an effing life or your own blog. You're an idiot. [Silverlight <>Bing, and Bing does not require Silverlight you dope]
ibarskiy
on Dec 3, 2009
Ocean - partial apolgy is necessary - Bing Maps beta does require silverlight. I misunderstood your original point to pertain to Bing as a whole
Ocean
on Dec 3, 2009
Just learn to look before you leap...idiot.
rr0de74@live.com
on Dec 3, 2009
It is very cool. Sucks on Safari even with Silverlight, maybe its the 64bit Safari that is hurting it. Its fine on Firefox (32bit). Ocean is right if this can be done with HTML5 then it should. Plugins SUCK. I have not doubt this will only make Google step it up. I see a better, HTML 5, Google version in 2010. Then only IE users will need a plugin...and google has one for you poor souls:)
roteague
on Dec 3, 2009
"WazNeeni said: Maps is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!! I thought the "angled" satellite shots were cool, but then I *accidentally* used the compass to turn the map. It was at this point that my jaw hit the floor. Plus, it's so lightning quick!! Even the mobile app is more accurate and faster the Google Maps." It's based upon Microsoft's DeepZoom composer technology.
Ocean
on Dec 3, 2009
"Plugins SUCK. I have not doubt this will only make Google step it up. I see a better, HTML 5, Google version in 2010. Then only IE users will need a plugin...and google has one for you poor souls" This.
Andreas J
on Dec 3, 2009
I think Photosynth will be the next Street View. Why should Microsoft go around the country in a car taking pictures, if it could get their users to take pictures of their house for them? Well, thats IF their users take pictures. but I LOVE the Photosynth feature. It ROCKS. Even Bing's Street View is incredible. Too bad they got rid of the 3D feature.
Waethorn
on Dec 3, 2009
"Sucks on Safari even with Silverlight" Everything sucks on Safari. It's a contagion caused by the host. "if this can be done with HTML5 then it should" Only if HTML5 were supported fully, and it supports as many features as a plugin. Except that that isn't the case. HTML5 won't support the majority of features at all, and we can't expect anything close until something after HTML5. Likely 5.x or 6.0, by which time Silverlight will already have leapfrogged over it again. BTW: I tried Google Chrome on a PC in for service, and also tried Google Chrome OS in a VM. The Silverlight version of Bing Maps is FAR faster at streaming satellite image data than anything Google has ATM. Even Google Earth isn't as fast. I notice that zooming doesn't lag on the system when it's grabbing new image data on Bing like it does in Google Earth either.
rr0de74@live.com
on Dec 3, 2009
@Wae if I zoom into my casa on Google earth with IE8 its slow and chunky. If I do it with Safari or Chrome is 10x faster. Bing will never overtake Google unless Google made some crazy, CRAZY mistake. Silverlight will only be strong among .NET developers. It will not overtake Flash, just not going to happen. I think HTML5 will become more popular and slow the growth of Silverlight and Flash.
Waethorn
on Dec 3, 2009
"I zoom into my casa on Google earth with IE8 its slow and chunky." That's unpossible. Sorry, try again. "[Silverlight] will not overtake Flash" None of the mapping services uses Flash, so you're wrong again.
DRWAM
on Dec 3, 2009
I completely forgot about the Bing discount, and purchased a Washer, dryer and pedestals at Home Depot. I could have gotten another $150 - 200 off through Bing. Always check Bing first before the purchase!!!!

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