Submitted by Bob Bhatnagar on
Microsoft has released version 1.1 of its popular Bing search tool for the iPhone. The daily image and trivia features pop up on the home screen after launching the app, and users can use voice commands to search the web or maps. Image search allows for quick previews of images and can save to the camera roll directly.
The update adds bug fixes, usability improvements, and more features. Searches and sites can be bookmarked or shared. Bing will now use location services to find nearby search results. Microsoft has added iPod Touch compatibility and SafeSearch settings with passcode protection. iPhone owners have already downloaded over one million copies of the app since it first launched in November.
Only two months ago Business Week reported rumors of Bing replacing Google as the default search engine on the iPhone. This change has yet to happen and Apple never commented on the matter. In the meantime, users who use Bing from an iPhone are greeted with a simple mobile site in the web browser. The Bing app provides a much more rich and versatile experience.
The latest version of Bing can be found on the iTunes store and costs nothing. Microsoft was responsive to many iPhone users' suggestions and concerns in developing the update. Currently the new app has an average rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars from 1515 users.