Microsoft today released their new bing app for the droid (LINK: http://www.bing.com/community/blogs/search/archive/2010/08/30/bing-for-mobile-comes-to-your-verizon-android.aspx (http://www NULL.bing NULL.com/community/blogs/search/archive/2010/08/30/bing-for-mobile-comes-to-your-verizon-android NULL.aspx) ). Officially the app is for Verizon phones (US), however, there are many “reports” of the app loading and running with no issues on other non-Verizon phones (Unofficially, I’m an EVO owner and I like the app a lot, that should tell you).
The following items from the bing blog posting -
Are you a visual person? Try the image search feature that has endless scrolling results (Tip: this also works for any search result). Then easily swipe through image previews and click straight through to the image host site.
Voice search is also great when it comes to your local business listings. Give it a try, even something complex, hold the phone to your ear and speak, or press the mic button—it’s that simple.
The Android app also has a pretty smooth mapping feature. First, Bing will automatically find your current location. You can then easily discover new places by category such as restaurants, banks, theaters and you can choose whether you want walking or driving directions. Swipe through each step of your directions, and check out how fast the map pans and zooms. For times when you only have one hand free and can’t pinch, there is the handy zoom-out button.
There are a bunch of other features we’d love to tell you about, like local listing reviews, ratings and news
Review – TGM Reviews the bing app
- The voice search didn’t work for me (not sure if its my American “accent” or the fact that I own an EVO). However the regular search gave me very good results.
- Surf from within the bing window is smooth, and the pinch, spread, and double tap adjust the page your surfing nice and smooth. (The TechGeekandMore.com site – Full not mobile version looks great)
- Movies playing near you feature (If you turn on location on your phone) was very accurate for the area I was in.
- Maps feature is clean, I just wish it included street view not just aerial maps.
- Local feature (which include Restaurant, Shopping, Nightlife, etc.)
- News feature is simple and broken down very cleanly.
- Directions feature was easy to use and the function was smooth during the 1 time I was able to test it this evening. Directions worked better than the Google Maps version I usually use.
**Overall – This is something that I consider a “MUST HAVE” for the droid.
