Microsoft Officially Announces its New Search Engine — Bing
Microsoft’s official announcement of its new search engine aka decision engine, aka vertical search engine aka Bing or whatever you may want to call it, has created quite a buzz. Bing, which is internally called Kumo is described by Microsoft as — “a new Decision Engine and consumer brand, providing customers with a first step in moving beyond search to help make faster, more informed decisions. ”
Google Wave has developers buzzing
When developers are comparing your new product to the unveiling of the iPhone, you know you’ve probably got something on your hands. Such was the reaction at Google I/O in the hours following Google’s first demonstration of Google Wave, a bid to redefine the way people communicate on the Internet by blending e-mail, instant messaging, file sharing, and collaboration software into one service. Following a session in which developers were given a peek under the hood at the technology and what it might let them do, several were quite impressed and already pondering what Google Wave would allow them to create.
Microsofts Bing Vs Google: Head To Head Search Results
Let’s just get it out of the way: no, Bing is not a “Google Killer.” It’s also safe to say that Microsoft doesn’t see it that way either. My understanding of what Microsoft believes it has in Bing is a much more competitive product than Live Search. I entirely agree. Over the course of the next two or three weeks there will be countless articles and blog posts discussing Bing and whether or not it can dethrone Google. Microsoft has told me that the company sees Bing as a start (or restart) and that improvements will continue to roll out over time. One can be skeptical of that position or not. Regardless, Bing is a big advancement for Microsoft’s search efforts.
State Of Search: Google Will Stay Strong Despite Bing & Yahoo
Just because a product — toothpaste, laundry detergent, whatever — calls itself “new and improved” does not mean consumers will abandon a brand that they already use and like. Microsoft’s new search engine Bing faces this same challenge in taking on Google. Google’s not broken; people like it, and there’s no compelling reason for them to switch to Bing, much less the more established Yahoo.
Went Walkabout. Brought back Google Wave.
Back in early 2004, Google took an interest in a tiny mapping startup called Where 2 Tech, founded by my brother Jens and me. We were excited to join Google and help create what would become Google Maps. But we also started thinking about what might come next for us after maps.As always, Jens came up with the answer: communication. He pointed out that two of the most spectacular successes in digital communication, email and instant messaging, were originally designed in the ’60s to imitate analog formats — email mimicked snail mail, and IM mimicked phone calls. Since then, so many different forms of communication had been invented — blogs, wikis, collaborative documents, etc. — and computers and networks had dramatically improved. So Jens proposed a new communications model that presumed all these advances as a starting point, and I was immediately sold. (Jens insists it took him hours to convince me, but I like my version better.)
Liveblogging the Microsoft Search News
While the company still is mum on what it’s announcing today at the D Conference (update it’s now official….), everyone at the event presumes Steve Ballmer will be debuting Microsoft’s new take on search, widely rumored to be called Bing. I am not certain there will be wifi coverage in the main ballroom, but it there is, I will be liveblogging his talk starting at 8.30 am PST. If there is not, look for my updates via SMS on Twitter.
Some of my notes: Steve is being very Steve – emphatic, in selling mode, drinking a massive Starbucks iced coffee. Discussing why Bing, why now he says Microsoft decided search needed a new brand, but: “Building a brand is a step, step, STEP (almost yelling)!” Bing is a brand that consumers can get their mind around. We have to grow significantly relatively to where we are. We have to build brand equity as well as technology equity. Walt Mossberg asks why “Bing”? Not Bing Crosby?! No, Steve says, it’s short, it works globally, they could get the URLs, makes for a good brand.
Back at the second keynote of Google I/O. We were promised something absolutely awesome and we got it. Steve Ballmer announcing Bing on stage. Oops, that’s D. This is about a new collaboration tool. Oh, and I’m live blogging this, and I’ve had no sleep (see Bing above), so who knows where it’s all going. Oh my, Vic just said this is going to take an hour and a half. I only have half a bottle of Diet Coke.
Yahoo Search Adds Team Shortcuts & Google Adds Tennis One Box
Not do be outdone by Live Search adding sports scores, both Yahoo and Google added some of their own. Keep in mind, both Google and Yahoo have had sports scores in the search results, but both have made additions to theirs. Yahoo has added a way to search for your favorite sports team.
Top Ten Myths About Google Analytics
We’ve noticed some misconceptions about Google Analytics floating around, and we thought we’d take a shot at correcting the most common ones. Without further ado, here they are, the top ten myths about Google Analytics debunked.
Media giant Time Warner announced Thursday morning that it will cast off its AOL division to become a standalone company. Before that separation can take place, Time Warner will buy the 5 percent of AOL owned by Google so that it will have 100 percent control of AOL. Time Warner expects the transaction with Google to take place in the third quarter and the final AOL spinoff around the end of the yea
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