kumo

Microsoft is getting a bit of a Bing-related bump, according to some early figures from market researcher ComScore.

According to ComScore, Microsoft upped its search share to 11.1 percent last week, as compared to 9.1 percent the prior week. Some of that gain came from the fact that more people were using Microsoft.

Microsoft's engine had 15.5 percent daily penetration, as opposed to 13.8 percent in the prior week.

Earlier data also showed Microsoft off to a solid start with its revamped search engine. Of course, the real issue is whether Microsoft can make the … Read more

Microsoft's Bing search engine has started to become publicly available, allowing the world to decide whether the company's latest effort has the goods to take on Google.

The engine, which replaces Live Search, debuted Thursday at the D: All Things Digital conference and is slated to be fully available by Wednesday. (Microsoft said it would start becoming publicly available Monday, but that it wouldn't be fully launched until Wednesday.)

Among the other naming changes that go along with the new search, Live Search Cashback is now Bing Cashback, while technology from Microsoft's Farecast acquisition now powers … Read more

Microsoft on Thursday took the wraps off Bing, the rebranded and rebuilt search engine formerly code-named Kumo, designed to replace Live Search. It's a solid improvement over the previous search product, and it beats Google in important areas. It will help Microsoft gain share in the search business. It's surprisingly competitive with Google.

Bing isn't available to the public yet, but you won't have to wait long. Starting on June 1, some users will get Bing search results from Live Search. On June 3, we're told, Bing will be Microsoft's new default search. We … Read more

After leaving Microsoft in 2001, Brian MacDonald found it tough to find his second act. He was involved with a few start-ups and arranged some real estate deals in the Seattle area. He even built a boat in China.

But none really offered the challenge he was seeking. So, when he had a meeting in February 2007 with Microsoft search boss Satya Nadella, he was inspired. That night, he went home and cranked out a 10-page paper on the challenges and opportunities he saw for Microsoft in search. It was in Nadella's in-box the next morning.

"I just … Read more

CARLSBAD, Calif.--Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer kicked off his speech Thursday talking about the economy, though he also plans to show off Microsoft's revamped search engine within minutes.

In a speech at D: All Things Digital, Ballmer was asked by moderator Walt Mossberg to discuss the economy and how long the downturn will last. Ballmer said that he didn't expect the the economic collapse to be a 50-year-thing, but it won't turn around in three months either. (Thanks for narrowing that down)

"People generally agree this is a different recession," Ballmer said. "To think … Read more

Speculation that Microsoft is planning to relaunch its search engine as "Bing" has intensified after the software giant registered "bing.com.au" as a domain name.

As first reported by APC and verified by searches of the Whois database, Microsoft has registered similar domain names in other countries, such as "bing.co.nz" and "bing.co.uk."

The relaunch of Live Search is Microsoft's latest attempt to rein in search giant Google. In the testing thus far, the re-envisioned search engine has been known as Kumo.

U.S.-based ad magazine … Read more

Microsoft may change the name of the Kumo to Bing, which makes us wonder what the past tense of Bing would be. Bong. Also Last.FM is under attack from TechCrunch, and Eucalyptus is welcomed back into the App Store with open arms...and open searches.

EPISODE 982 Nokia Ovi launch http://www.nokia.com/A4136001?newsid=1317441 http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE54P1A320090526?feedType=RSS&feedName=technologyNews http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10249116-94.html http://blog.ovi.com/2009/05/26/update-on-ovi-store-opening/… Read more

Microsoft has been testing its search engine under the name Kumo, but if a report in Advertising Age is on target, it will launch under the name "Bing."

The advertising trade magazine says Microsoft will spend $80 million to $100 million on print, online, TV and outdoor ads touting its latest search effort. The magazine notes that figure is higher than most consumer product launches. Rival Google, meanwhile, spent just $25 million total on advertising last year, AdAge said.

Microsoft declined to comment on the report. The software maker is said to be planning to announce details on … Read more

Once again, Microsoft is finding itself beaten to the punch in the search game.

While it has been readying Kumo for its first public airing--probably at next week's D: All Things Digital event--Yahoo and Google have already shown off their latest search enhancements. Worse still, their demos show that Redmond's rivals are heading in some of the same directions as Microsoft itself.

According to screenshots that leaked out in March, Kumo's look focuses on a new left-hand navigation menu that breaks searches down into a number of related queries. The results themselves also feature information … Read more