Microsoft's Bing is Best IPhone Search Application

Who would have thought that the best iPhone search application would actually be brought to you by Apple's chief competitor. The official Bing search application takes advantage of the best features of Microsoft's search engine and combines them with the power of the iPhone to create a seamless and useful utility. It is both free and surprisingly elegant; it is a win-win for Apple, Microsoft, and the end- user.

The Bing Search App looks and feels much like the search engine does on a desktop PC. It shares the desktop version's stunning daily image, but the image is nicely formatted for the iPhone's small screen. When the application opens, you are greeted with the daily image, and a selection of tools. These tools include an image search, movie search, map search, business search, news and directions. This toolbar is toggled with a button on the bottom so that you can focus on the image if you would like. These contextual tool menus are excellent, especially when combined to the Google Application or the native Google Search in Safari. Speeding up searches by choosing a context is something that is definately needed on a hand held device.

In my state, a texting law has just been passed, and users are heavily fined for, or appearing to, use a cell phone for text messaging. Therefore, voice controlled applications are a must on my iPhone. Google has had this feature since their application debuted a few years ago. The Bing application's voice feature seems more responsive an more intelligent. The voice feature, when combined with the context menu, is where the Bing Application shines. The ability to speak addresses into the map application for directions, or to describe an image that you are searching for is something that the Google application just can't compete with as of yet. On the Google application, you might get what you are looking for, but the information is grouped by content and not context. The Bing process just seems smoother.

Another feather in the Microsoft's cap when it comes to the Bing application is the ability to be used in landscape mode. Simply put, the Google search App, at this time, does not support landscape mode, and that is a deal breaker. The moment that I found out that the Bing application could be used in landscape mode, I immediately deleted the Google app. To me, a great iPhone application needs to fully leverage the iPhone. The Google application simply does not live up to my expectations, luckily; the Microsoft has picked up the slack.

Microsoft's Bing application for the iPhone has combined powerful search, elegant interface, and the best phone on the planet. Not only does it look good, but it works great. Leave it up to Microsoft to bring me the best search application for the iPhone.

If you are interested in the Bing application, check out the iTunes store [iTunes link]