Does Bing Have Google Running Scared?

suraj.sun alerts us to an anonymous-source story up at the NY Post, not what we would normally consider a leading source of tech news, claiming that Microsoft's introduction of Bing has alarmed Google. "...co-founder Sergey Brin is so rattled by the launch of Microsoft's rival search engine that he has assembled a team of top engineers to work on urgent upgrades to his Web service, The Post has learned. Brin, according to sources..., is himself leading the team of search-engine specialists in an effort to determine how Bing's crucial search algorithm differs from that used by [Google]. 'New search engines have come and gone in the past 10 years, but Bing seems to be of particular interest to Sergey,' said one insider, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The move by Brin is unusual, as it is rare these days for the Google founders to have such hands-on involvement in day-to-day operations at the company, the source added." CNet's coverage of the rumor begins with the NY Post and adds in Search Engine Land's speculation on what the world of search would look like if Yahoo exited the field.

Comments

The sound of "found": Bob Hope

[David Gerard]

This morning, our dear leader Steve Ballmer is unveiling our completely new search service, that has Google absolutely shitting its pants, unrelated to anything we at Microsoft have ever done before: Bob Hope.

We spent lots of time listening to you, except when you told us how much MSN Search^W^WLive Search^W^WKumo sucked 'cause youâ(TM)re just wrong about that, to learn which buzzwordy Web 2.0 thingies you use search for today. Finding a webpage that has anything to do with the search terms you entered is so passe, dahling.

So today we're introducing a new kind of search, that goes beyond traditional search engines that do tedious things like find stuff, to instead help you make faster, more informed decisions. (Windows 7 is peachy keen, by the way.) We think of Bob Hope as a Decision Engine. We've sued Stephen Wolfram into atomic dust using our patents on FAT and Mono, co-opted the Wolfram Alpha engine and swapped Mathematica for Visual Basic and Wolfram's brain for the exhumed corpse of Bob Hope.

So why did we pick Bob Hope as the new core of our search? We needed a brand that was as fresh and new as our approach. A name that was memorable, short, easy to spell, and that would function well as a URL around the world.

And just look at these results!

What do we want?
Braaains.
When do we want them?
Braaains.
What do I need to run Windows 7?
Braaains.
What's Bill Gates got that means you should buy everything you can from the company he founded?
Braaains.
What's the final proof of Steve Ballmer's equal genius to Steve Jobs?
Vistaaa.

This is something new, something improved! You need to try it! It'll give so much more betterer results than that other search engine we can't name because Steve will wedge another chair up our butts! Please, come and try our new and improved service! FOR GOD'S SAKE TRY THE DAMN SERVICE. OR THE PUPPY GETS IT. We're Microsoft. We're serious as a heart attack on this one.

No Big Deal!

[cashman73]

I wouldn't worry about anything until Sergey starts throwing chairs around!

Google actually IS vulnerable

[GodfatherofSoul]

For the past 5 years or so, I've outright dismissed every pretender "Google killer" that comes along. Then, after the Bing release I started thinking about my latest searches through Google. The fact is I've been getting so many advertising links returned instead of what I'm looking for that the first page often doesn't give me what I'm looking for (quite different from the past). I don't know when this degradation in performance for commercial interests happened, but I'm now aware of it and annoyed enough that I'd consider another search engine. That to me is what makes this time different.

Re:Well, I didn't think Americans would fall for.

[Fantastic Lad]

Trolled into dust, oh my!

There are two kinds of moderator. Those who are brave enough to be honest with themselves and those who are not.

And I guess there is a third. The Bumpkin.

-FL

3 letters..... LOL

[gearloos]

LOL nuff said...

Re:Not bad, just wish they chose another name

[HermMunster]

Didn't Bing Cosby mentally and physically torture his step son? My understanding is that his biological children were treated like royalty but the son of his wife was heavily abused by Bing.

Re:Yes, it could.

[CODiNE]

So when you have (Bing is not Google)is not Google the double-negative cancels out and Bing IS Google, next for ((Bing is not Google) is not Google) is not Google the odd "is not Google" remains and indeed Bing is NOT Google.

So 50% of the time Bing in fact IS Google.