Microsoft's Bing Deploys Google-Mimicking Interface To Retain Search Users 35
Microsoft's Bing search engine has deployed a controversial interface change that mimics Google's appearance when users search for "Google" or "Google.com" while logged out, blog WindowsLatest reports.
The new design adjusts the page layout to conceal Bing's search bar and navigation, displaying instead a Google-like interface with a central search box that redirects queries to Bing's results.
The new design adjusts the page layout to conceal Bing's search bar and navigation, displaying instead a Google-like interface with a central search box that redirects queries to Bing's results.
WHY ISNT THAT THE DEFAULT? (Score:4, Insightful)
Right now when you go to Bing.com you are served up an endless stream of garbage, clickbait-filled ads.
Then if you search "Google", you get a UX that mimics Google's - clean, simple, to the point.
Bing, PLEASE take a hint.
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Get the popcorn out, I love it when conglomerates fight!
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Use DuckDuckGo as a search engine, it delegates its searches to Bing but cuts the crap out. The big disadvantages of that approach are that it offers news items under a msn.com address, and the results are often dead links (sometimes long dead links). I often use copy-link and then paste-and-go to DuckDuckGo links because going there directly adds some crap which breaks the search result.
Re: WHY ISNT THAT THE DEFAULT? (Score:2)
I don't use Bing at all because it gives horrible results. DDG the same
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DDG can use Google. It used to do it by default, but you can still use a "!g" prefix to force a private search via google. Or "!w" to search in Wikipedia, etc.
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The bigger disadvantage is that your search results are Bing quality.
MSN news isn't paywalled (Score:2)
The big disadvantages of that approach are that it offers news items under a msn.com address
I've always seen DuckDuckGo's MSN news as an advantage. Unlike a lot of the sites that MSN syndicates, MSN isn't paywalled.
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Then if you search "Google", you get a UX that mimics Google's - clean, simple, to the point.
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. ;)
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Dear Microsoft, (Score:2)
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Nobody does strict search terms or exclusions any longer. I used to be awesome at getting the results I wanted with quotes or + and - signs, domain exclusions, etc..
Now they no longer care much about what you asked for, or at all what you probably want... it's purely what can get an ad in front of you.
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Agreed. I used to have great GoogleFu, and before that I was pretty good at massaging Alta Vista search terms as well. My skillz haven't deteriorated, but search sure has. My technique may actually be better now because I spend so much effort trying to get past all the crud - but the results aren't nearly as good as they used to be, and getting the best possible results takes longer.
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You expect Microsoft to try to make something good? Available evidence strongly suggests that was _never_ one of their business goals.
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Microsoft search has sucked for 30 years. In the early 2000's, I used to search MSDN with Google, and got far better results than searching MSDN with MSDN. Windows search still sucks. There's exactly zero chance this will change soon.
They've done stuff like this before (Score:1)
A few years ago a friend of mine bought a new (Win 8.1) PC, one of the first things she wanted to do was to install Firefox on it. She did a search on "Firefox install" or something like that, downloaded it and prepared to install. McAfee started screaming - Bing had found her some malware-contaminated Firefox, I can't remember what the site was where she got it, but it looked legit.
This stuff works for a bit (Score:3)
These kinda of shenanigans works for a while but eventually they are spotted, and you get called out.
the users end up feeling abused, cheated, mislead etc. Is that lost of trust in the brand really 'worth' a few ad impressions today? Does Microsoft think it is going to make that person that was already trying to choose Google in the first place, less likely to chose Google over bing in the future?
I'd love to see the actual numbers on this but even cynical as I am I have tough time thinking is good for the revenue long term.
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You searched for "chicken sandwich", we're giving you results for "chick'n" sandwich instead!
A company using deceptive practices is a very strong evidence that they have a shitty product.
Right now, much of industry is in a terrible state, they rely and are addicted to advertising dollars, despite lack of evidence on effectiveness of advertising. But the middle men are absolutely obsessed with it, and that's Microsoft and Google. Google is a massive company almost completely through advertising. They get
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Hey... it's kinda hard to feel bad exploiting the stupidity of people who aren't smart enough to go to google.com to use their favorite search engine.
If anything, I gotta give Microsoft credit for making things "easier" for them.
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the users end up feeling abused, cheated, mislead etc.
A slight UI foolery doesn't lead to any lasting feelings at all. Oh no a website looks different. As it has cost me nothing I have little to no feelings at all providing the result is what I want. Ultimately a user is not brand loyal enough to care that Bing stole ad revenue from Google.
Now on the flip side if you part with actual money then you do very much feel cheated.
Correction (Score:5, Insightful)
You misspelled "deceive."
HTH. HAND.
10 Years Old, they just updated the image and js (Score:1)
No surprises there (Score:2)
Logged out? (Score:2)
What do they mean when logged out? Logged out from what? A search engine? What moron thingks they need an account to use a search engine?
Even worse, what idiot uses Bing?
Re:Logged out? (Score:4, Funny)
What moron thingks they need an account to use a search engine?
Even worse, what idiot uses Bing?
The Venn diagram for these two groups would be a circle.
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What do they mean when logged out? Logged out from what? A search engine? What moron thingks they need an account to use a search engine?
I sometimes get prompted to log in to Google when doing a search. (It doesn't happen often, probably because I mostly use DDG these days). So yeah, I can see reasonably not-dumb people who aren't tech-savvy falling for it.
Even worse, what idiot uses Bing?
I do, indirectly, via DDG, so I'll leave it up to you to decide if I'm an idiot. Between Google results getting worse and DDG results getting better, DDG is getting fairly close to parity with the big G. So by extension, I'd guess that Bing also probably isn't as crappy as it used to be -
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What do they mean when logged out? Logged out from what? A search engine? What moron thingks they need an account to use a search engine?
Even worse, what idiot uses Bing?
What makes you think the account is for a search engine? If you're using Edge and you end up at bing.com from Windows 11 machine you will be logged in with your Microsoft account. If you use Chrome and have your Google account enabled you will be logged in when you do a google search.
No one uses an account for a search engine. It may surprise you that Google and Microsoft both offer things other than search.
Scumfucks (Score:2)
This is the kind of scumfuckery I expect from Microsoft.
To avoid M$ analytics, use DuckDuckGo (Score:2)
Bing without Microsoft analytics is DuckDuckGo [duckduckgo.com]. You won't pull any Microsoft analytics unless you follow links to "News" results syndicated by MSN.
Abuse of monopoly power, again (Score:2)
Yep, it hides the "Microsoft Bing" header, so the page looks like a Google page. Interesting that Bing downloads the Google doodle banner while uBlock Origin prevents Google downloading its own banner.
Yep, once again, Microsoft is using its control of customer's computers to prevent customers using Google. This is what, their 3rd attempt in 12 months. Microsoft also did the forced installation of Co-Pilot and Recall spyware.
Never type google into bing (Score:2)
Never type google into bing. It can break the internet!