Microsoft and Apple are, as we all know, longtime rivals. But with a lot of people using Apple’s iPhone mobile device (including some 10% of Microsoft’s own employees), the Redmond-based software giant could not pass up on developing applications for the iPhone – it already rolled out Seadragon and Bing for iPhone.
To provide easy access to its search engine, Microsoft developed the Bing for iPhone app and rolled it out to the masses back in December, 2009. At the time version 1.0 of the Bing for iPhone app came with the following highlights:
- Enhanced voice search
- Bing automatically finds your location and thus helps you discover stuff close by.
- Easily discover new locations by category (like theaters, banks, restaurants and so on).
- Smooth mapping action
- On the app’s home screen you will see the Bing image of the day.
- Endless scrolling results for regular searches and for image searches.
The Bing for iPhone app has been updated to version 1.1; the update brings with it a lot of new features. Florian Voss, Bing for Mobile, explains: “In the months following the November release of the app, we received great feedback from people with suggestions for improvements, many of which have been added to this release. For instance, we’ve made a number of stability fixes and usability tweaks, especially in image search, and design updates have made options and dialog boxes easier to use.
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Here is what Bing for iPhone 1.1 has to offer.
- Copy and paste URLs.
- The option to bookmark maps, directions, websites, search terms, and even the weather report. The bookmarks can be accessed from the Bing homepage.
- Share things with friends via email.
- Search settings come with parental controls.
- View and edit search history.
- Surf the web using private search.
- Let the iPhone determine your location and look for things near that location.
- When you enter start and end locations in directions, Bing presents suggestions from contacts, the address book.
- Added support for 1st generation iPod touch devices.
The Bing for iPhone app is available for download straight from the App Store here. The app is available to US citizens only.
"We are planning to release international versions of the Bing iPhone application, but we have no dates to share at this time," Microsoft said in a statement sent to CNET. "Similar to our larger international strategy with Bing, we don't want to take a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, we want to be thoughtful and ensure we're customizing the product for specific markets."
Microsoft and Apple are, as we all know, longtime rivals. But with a lot of people using Apple’s iPhone mobile device (including 