Bing by Microsoft Corporation, FREE in iTunes

Microsoft Corporation, a little while, has released an iPhone app for their Bing search engine. It boasts a beautiful interface, as well as voice search, which works very well.

Upon loading Bing for the first time, you’ll be asked if you want the app to use your location. This information will be used when searching for directions and viewing your location on the map.

On the main screen will be the image of the day. As with their browser version of Bing.com, you’ll be able to view information about the image. Just tap on a semi-transparent square to view some facts about that part. The bottom bar has some basic navigation buttons, as well as a few extras. The button furthest to the left brings you back to the home screen, which can be pressed at any screen you’re on. Next to that is the back and forward buttons. These are also shown on every screen. The two buttons on the left are only shown on the home screen. The one next to the gear toggles the ‘Images, Movies, Maps, etc’ buttons. The gear itself will bring up a settings menu (shown at the bottom of this post).

At the top of the screen (in every view) is the search bar. To the right of it, is the microphone button. This let’s you speak into your device so you can make voice searches. This works very well.

All three of the above searches were performed using the voice search feature. The application picked them up on the first try. Voice recognition does require data access to function. It took maybe 1 to 2 seconds after speaking the words for it to actually show up in the search bar. All websites that are tapped on open up in the same application, not in Safari.

One downside encountered here is that you can’t copy the URL of a link. You can tap and hold, but nothing will happen (except that the entry will turn blue).

The maps and directions portion of the Bing app both work just like the stock Maps application does. Enter in a location, and it will take you to it. When finding directions, you need to be a little more specific with the locations. Adding the city seems to work all the time. Entering just a street address with no city doesn’t seem to work. Voice search does work with maps and directions.

The settings portion of the application (can be accessed from the home screen) let’s you change simple settings, such as screen orientation, units, editing safe search, and clearing search history. The buttons and information are all straightforward.

For being a free app at its first version, it is very nice. It’s pretty much recommended for everyone to get this app, even if you don’t use Bing as your search provider. Being able to use voice while having a nice and slick looking interface has won me over from using Safari for quick searches.