Imagine this with Bing inside. It’s easy if you try.
If I were a spit takin’ man, I’d do a spit take right now. Motorola, stalwart of freedom, will work with Chinese carriers to add Bing to Chinese Android-based phones, ousting Google Search and Maps from the scene. Now this isn’t meanness on Motorola’s part although Reuters notes that this move could have something to do with that whole Great Chinese Google Hacking Incident a few weeks ago.
Considering most Google interaction in Android comes in the form of widgets – Motorola has their own syncing system and UI, for example, called MotoBLUR which stores your information in the could for easy uploading to any MotoBLUR phone (think of the way the Sidekick used to do it and how great that went for them) – and apps. Because Android is ostensibly open, you can take the source and put whatever you want on it. To wit: AT&T stuck Yahoo onto the new Backflip.
So while this all may seem fairly political, it probably isn’t. Search is search and Android is Android, in the end, and when and if Google decides to get vindictive with Android adopters – cutting out major functionality if you fail to use Google apps, for example, then things will really get hairy.
Dear Motorola,
Do you really want to shoot yourself in the foot?
Shouldnt you give users the option to customize their Android/Google phones? Isnt that what Android is about? In the very least, why offer Microsoft products? Why not offer Yahoo? AT&T sucks, but at least they gave the next biggest search engine that actually works.
Love,
Android Users
Dear Android User, I understand that you might hate MS but could you tell me why it’s wrong for Motorola to use Bing? The search engine is a pretty good alternative to the other search engines. Please stop worshiping Android like it’s godsend.
Sincerely,
A Tech Enthusiast
So offering Google services only is “choice” in your mind? Also FYI, Bing is set to power Yahoo eventually. You MS-phobic nitwits need to realize that Google is also a corporation and makes it money ONLY through advertising. Just because the use open source technology doesn’t negate the fact they continoulsy mine your information and try to shove ads in every ‘experience’ they offer.
What’s wrong with making money from advertising. The important point is, that google seperates advertisements strictly from their search results (marked at sponsored adds).
Most magazines, TV-Stations, Sort-Clubs and websites make their money from advertising.
And google does have other sources of icome:
android market
google apps
income from youtube song purchace
only to name some important ones
You Google-phobic nitwits need to realize that Microsoft MINES THE SAME DATA and therefore the *only* thing that matters is which gives you better results. Google does for me, so that’s what I’ll choose every time. YMMV.
When Bing and Yahoo! Search merge in a couple of months, they’re also going to merge their algorithms and search indexes.
Prepared for Bing 2.0.
Hm. Well, M$’s Google copy is just that – and not very good, either.
That aside – Microsoft considers linux and open source to be “a cancer”, they are quite willing to make inroads in China by making use of Google’s principled stand on censorship (i.e., M$ only care about the bottom line, not about human rights), they have been known to bribe governments in Africa when they were threatening to adopt linux in schools, bully hardware vendors into not offering alternative OSes, etc.
Sure, they are less powerful now, and so not able to be as malicious. But the intent is still there – and by using their services you are helping their aims.
Uh, sounds like you’re not aware. In the next 9 months yahoo search will be powered by Bing! So any provider at this point might as well go straight to the search source.
This is only the beginning.
Next up:
- Android Phones in the US
- The iPhone
And Bing Maps is 1 generation ahead of Google Maps.
http://www.bing.com/maps/explore/#
http://www.ted.com/talks/blaise_aguera.html
Huh? You’re an idiot for that comment.
I can’t even use Bing Maps cause of Silverlight. Sheesh.
@bernie lomax
What OS/browser are you on? Or this is just a usual “Silverlight is bad because is made by MS etc.etc.. – so I choose not to install it, and I never really I tried the app” type of rant?
It is a technology that enables Bing maps to do that cool stuff from the demo. It’s free and you are free to choose not to try it.
BTW: I am a member of Bing Maps team and I know how much effort and research is spent to create those features. Every single thread here about Bing Maps devolves into “I never tried it because I hate Silverlight which I never tried to use too”. For once I would like to hear opinion on those features, not the never ending Silverlght discussion.
I guess that is too much to ask…..
Yes. When you can’t innovate, buy it. Jeez
@Dzipi I can’t say I’m a fan of Flash, but I would prefer Bing to use Flash instead of Silverlight. This debate shows me that Microsoft still does not understand anything about freedom and the internet:
1. The fact that Bing needs a plug-in in the first place. When stuff like freeciv.net (far more advanced than Bing maps) runs in browsers without any plug-ins (except for IE, which needs Chrome frame as it doesn’t support modern web standards)
2. Given that they do need a plug in for Bing Maps, use Flash!! The only reason to develop Silverlight is a perceived need to control and dominate. Both are terrible and terrifying characteristics of Microsoft. I would never install Silverlight. And as long as Bing Maps uses it, I will stick with the technologically superior alternative: Google Maps.
Is it only for Chinese users or worldwide users?
If Moto only use bing for Chinese users, then it makes sense that they have to because of the the issue of…(i don’t have to speak it out, do i?)
Again, Google’s Android strategy is flawed. Soon they’ll be paying all the carriers to place their search and products on Android phones. Go open source!
I think Google didn’t really have a choice of NOT opensourcing it. They are are using many opensource technologies under the hood, and their licences would compel opensourcing the code.
Android is a great effort from Google, but as far as opensourcing, I don’t think they had the choice.
The point is that Google is funding the development of Android, but if they want a presence on Android phones will eventually have to pay carriers for the privilege. What happens if 75% of the Android phones on the market come with Bing pre-installed? How does that benefit Google? It makes no business sense.
As long as people can get online, it benefits Google. Remember, they own AdMob, the company which places ads in your apps. Hating on Google is pointless, you might as well just hate the entire Net.
Seriously, Motorola?
Damm that is huge, just when everyone thought that fat bastard was dead…
Launched:
Bing
Windows 7
In Queue:
The New MSN
http://www.msn.com/preview.aspx
Office 2010
Windows Live Wave 4
Office Web Applications
IE 9
Windows Phone 7 Series
New XBOX Form Factors
Project Natal
Pivot / IE 10
Courier
No different than: On my Sprint non-smartphone, Google search is built into the UI, so I don’t have a choice unless I launch the crude web browser and enter in another search provider’s URL.
Sorry all of you – Google is good for search, but nothing beats Bing for Porn, I mean Video search :)
Mr. Gates, why did you link to Morgan Stanley’s website?
Mr. Gates – I don’t think this is true person commented. Someone made fake name and commented here. Anyway, Google is no more available in China so for specially handsets in China, so the better option is bing. But its not easy to replace google with other search engine in UK, USA, India and other developed nations.
Guess this is really some problem for Chinese Google aficinados..
http://techmill.net/2010/03/politics-to-handphones-motorola-replaces-google-with-bing/
this is great news
I highly doubt Bing would replace Google in the US considering that Google designed the Android operating system.
it’s great news… :D