Microsoft bringing Google-like instant search to Bing

By Aemon Malone Published March 7, 2011

Microsoft is set to go toe-to-toe with Google by outfitting its Bing search engine with an “instant results” feature to deliver near-real time results for search queries.

Last September, Google introduced Google Instant, a system that delivers search results seemingly as terms are being typed into the search field. “Instant” searches add a feeling of interactivity to Web searches in addition to potentially shaving a few seconds off the process of finding relevant content.

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Microsoft has been diligently working to mold Bing into a worthy competitor to Google. In February, the rivalry between the two search engines erupted into a minor spat after Google accused Bing of adjusting its search algorithm to copy Google’s search results. Subsequently, our own experiment found that about half of the first page results were identical between the two search engines.

Search results aside, Microsoft may allow itself room to innovate with its instant search venture — at least in theory. The addition of instant searches is actually part of a Bing makeover that will incorporate HTML5 into the search site. According to WinRumors, the unveiling of the HTML5-based Bing site will coincide with the launch of the long-awaited Internet Explorer 9 Web browser. You can see a preview of the site here.

HTML5 is the emerging standard that aims to incorporate a basic level of interactivity into web pages — challenging Adobe’s Flash in the process. Although HTML5 has yet to gain approval from the Word Wide Web Consortium (w3C), the governing body of Internet standards, we’ve already seen a few forward-thinking browsers begin to support some of its capabilities.

The reliance on HTML5 means that to use the new Bing site — and its instant search capability — you’ll have to be equipped with a thoroughly “modern” browser. That might upset some Bing loyalists who aren’t eager to upgrade. But Microsoft’s decision to become an early adopter of HTML5 might be a signal that we’ll finally see some big innovations — and not Google imitations — from Bing.

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Computing

Google will begin labeling AI-generated images in Search

Google Search on mobile

AI-generated images have become increasingly predominant in the results of Google searches in recent months, crowding out legitimate results and making it harder for users to find what they're actually looking for. In response, Google announced on Tuesday that it will begin labeling AI-generated and AI-edited image search results in the coming months.

The company will flag such content through the “About this image” window and it will be applied to Search, Google Lens, and Android's Circle to Search features. Google is also applying the technology to its ad services and is considering adding a similar flag to YouTube videos, but will "have more updates on that later in the year," per the announcement post.

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Google Search has a new way of preserving internet history

After retiring cached results at the start of the year, Google is now, as reported by The Verge, adding embedded Internet Archive links to search results so we can still view older versions of websites.

You'll find the new Wayback Machine links right where the cached links used to be by clicking the three dots next to a link in the results and selecting "More about this page." The option to "See previous versions on Internet Archive" should be at the bottom of the page. Changes to the search engine can take a while to consistently show up for everyone, so keep checking back if you can't see it yet.

Computing

Microsoft Word vs. Google Docs

A person using a laptop that displays various Microsoft Office apps.

For the last few decades, Microsoft Word has been the de facto standard for word processors across the working world. That's finally starting to shift, and it looks like one of Google's productivity apps is the heir apparent. The company's Google Docs solution (or to be specific, the integrated word processor) is cross-platform and interoperable, automatically syncs, is easily shareable, and perhaps best of all, is free.

However, using Google Docs proves it still has a long way to go before it can match all of Word's features -- Microsoft has been developing its word processor for over 30 years, after all, and millions still use Microsoft Word. Will Google Docs' low barrier to entry and cross-platform functionality win out? Let's break down each word processor in terms of features and capabilities to help you determine which is best for your needs.
How does each word processing program compare?
To put it lightly, Microsoft Word has an incredible advantage over Google Docs in terms of raw technical capability. From relatively humble beginnings in the 1980s, Microsoft has added new tools and options in each successive version. Most of the essential editing tools are available in Google Docs, but users who are used to Word will find it limited.