Microsoft releases first iPad application – Bing for iPad

By Tom Warren, on 7th Apr 11 5:19 pm with 25 Comments

Microsoft unveiled its first iPad application on Thursday.

The software giant has created a special version of Bing for the iPad, wrapped inside its own application. The new application allows Bing users to browse news, movies, Bing homepage images, local business listings and more. The company has also introduced an exclusive feature of Bing for iPad owners. Trends lets Bing iPad users explore the latest trends on Bing. iPad users can see what people are searching for right now and find out what it is and why it’s popular.

Bing for iPad

Bing for iPad also includes Bing Maps with multiple map views (including road, aerial and birds eye). The software giant has also included access to its vast movie listings and weather information. “Not only have we focused on making the app beautiful and functional, we’ve also focused on making search easy,” says Bing lead program manager Zachary Gutt. Bing has also included a voice search feature that allows iPad users to search with their voice. Finally, Bing for iPad also includes an autosuggest feature that helps users refine their search by providing suggestions based on their recent searches and related searches done by other people.

Bing for iPad Maps

Bing for iPad is available immediately in Apple’s iTunes store. Unfortunately it’s U.S. only at the moment, a Microsoft spokesperson confirmed to WinRumors that it plans to expand this internationally in the future:

“While the Bing iPad app is currently available for download in the U.S. iTunes Store we’re working to expand to more markets in the future and will announce additional locations as they become available.”

http://twitter.com/derbrotkasten TDA

And the WP7 app sucks and hasn’t been updated since launch, great.
- Anonymous
  
  Wow i am surprised at the childish crap people talk in here about Microsoft not updating WP7 Bing. C’mon Microsoft is thinking how they should have been doing things from the beginning. They are a software company and should act like one. They Compete with Google on search so it should be that they work on it on all playing field. It would be stupid for Bing Division to wait for an update of WP7 to be released when they could be winning customers as soon as they have an app ready for any platform that comes to market. Yes, they should be improving the WP7 but i rather have them take their time and work on WP7 at a good pace then speeding development. We will get all these features and more when MS released their tablet UI. I strongly support MS doing things this way,
- Anonymous
  
  Listen to this man, people.. words of wisdom. (no hint of /s, at all)
- http://twitter.com/derbrotkasten TDA
  
  I’m not saying they shouldn’t release Bing for other platforms, but at least give your own platform the same amount of attention. The iPhone version is in every way better than the WP7 version (well, except for the interface ) and even features street slide.
- Anonymous
  
  Wow i am surprised at the childish crap people talk in here about Microsoft not updating WP7 Bing. C’mon Microsoft is thinking how they should have been doing things from the beginning. They are a software company and should act like one. They Compete with Google on search so it should be that they work on it on all playing field. It would be stupid for Bing Division to wait for an update of WP7 to be released when they could be winning customers as soon as they have an app ready for any platform that comes to market. Yes, they should be improving the WP7 but i rather have them take their time and work on WP7 at a good pace then speeding development. We will get all these features and more when MS released their tablet UI. I strongly support MS doing things this way,
http://twitter.com/Wheezle211 Wheezle

Not that I expect tablet-style applications on WP7, but it’s very annoying the way MS seem to give all the love to iOS.
- Jows
  
  i second that…
  
  Also MS really needs to do something about WP7 in Europe… when do we get it official in the Netherlands??? WHEN???????? Is it so hard to translate all that stuff? I got my HTC HD7 and i like it, but my friends all waiting on the Dutch version. Xbox Live… no we cant use it… Marketplace… no we cant use is… Bing Maps… no we cant use all the functions… for fack sakes… dont focus on Iphone or Ipad!!!
  
  And all they say is… later this year… later… later… and finally they are too late…
  
  (sorry about my English)
- Anonymous
  
  Maybe they’re a little gunshy to release anything to the EU, seeing how every innovation is met with an antitrust money grabbing lawsuit. How much did the last few help you, as a consumer? Did you see any of that money?
http://profiles.google.com/bob.bobson52 Brian Spencer

To the prior commenters: you have to remember that Microsoft basically acts like a bunch of different companies. So, think of Bing more like its own company that has an alliance with the rest of components of Microsoft (i.e.,Office, Windows, Windows Phone, etc). Yes, they try to make the service work well with other Microsoft stuff, but their primary concern is to increase the usage of Bing. This is exactly why you see them targeting iOS devices.
http://www.facebook.com/simon.andrews Simon Andrews

I really don’t understand why they constantly launch *everything* as US only. If I recall correctly, even OneNote is US only. Even Bing is still seriously limited outside of America, and it’s been years since it was launched.
- Anonymous
  
  Yes! They always forget the “world wide” inside “www”.
- Guest
  
  onenote is avalible in the UK
Anonymous

Nice looking app though. Could all be done in HTML5 / silverlight though
- http://twitter.com/HenriSta Henri Stadzisz
  
  Talking about Bing and HTML5, the new Bing maybe-html5 homepage is very disappointing…
- Anonymous
  
  How is the new Bing new HTML features dissapointing?
http://twitter.com/efjay01 Ef Jay

We should all just take the hint, Microsoft wants us to buy iphones and ipads. Windows 7 and WP7 are just hobby projects for Microsoft.
- Anonymous
  
  Sun Tzu, 3.6 – Therefore the skillful leader subdues the enemy’s troops without any fighting; he captures their cities without laying seige to them; he overthrows their kingdom without lengthy operations in the field.
- Anonymous
  
  I like your Sun Tzu references, keep them coming… we might get something useful in the comments other then the whinning that often happens in these situations.
http://www.rwalrond.com RWalrond

Why not release this also for Windows tablets? Today Windows tablets like the EP121 and the EXOPC are fantastic devices that could use a few touch friendly applications.
I know Windows 8 is coming but come on Microsoft, if you’re going to show iOS some love, you could at least throw us Windows Tablet owners a bone!
http://twitter.com/karlcramer Karl Cramer

I find it interesting how some divisions have the authority to figuratively “cross enemy lines” and others don’t. Zune and Zune Pass would be a huge hit on Android phones since the default media player and services are so lacking on that platform.
- Anonymous
  
  Definitely agree with you on that and a change in strategy which would do wonders for Microsoft and believe it or not they are demonstrating this with bing. The already have shown sign that they might do this with Zune. Remember Apple became bing after the went to the PC market and even thought the Apple Market is not as bing just the word of mouth of an awesome app could make people think twice about buying a PC when the pirce value of PC is greater than a Mac(You get more for what you pay).
Syrious

Still waiting on my NoDo from AT&T.
Syrious

Still waiting on my NoDo from AT&T.
Syrious

Still waiting on my NoDo from AT&T.
http://www.facebook.com/raj.somarouthu Raj Somarouthu

Another very good review by Chris Pirillo on youtube ..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vP3q8-zcN7c