Bing Updates Template - Layout - More White Space - Less HTML - Cool

Code Named : Update Narwhal

[AndyA]

Just went to Bing to do a search, and it had been updated. No ads at top or bottom of results, just on the right side. VERY clean. Anyone else seeing this?

[ken_b]

I'm seeings top, right, and bottom.

[Marshall]

Just seeing them on the right.

Marshall

[AndyA]

Definitely updated, search history is on the right side now. The SERPs are very user friendly.

[Brett_Tabke]

I really like this. Finally a search engine that gets it that it is about the results and not all the junk. This is huge for Bing. Microsoft is out Google'ing Google.

[Leosghost]

No change here ( France ), still the old layout..possibly the light blue ad block at the top got even closer to the white background..G distinguishes it's ads better as ads..which isn't saying much..

[robzilla]

How is this huge for Bing? I like how it's less cluttered than before, but they're just following Google's example.

[AndyA]

I really like the way Bing's SERPs are presented now. Wikipedia isn't automatically at #1 for most searches, if you search for a movie or tv show, relative videos are at the top, otherwise they appear after #2. The ads are no longer mixed in with the results at the top and bottom, which makes it easy to scan the titles quickly.

Bing lists pages that can't be found in Google, for whatever reason. I'm glad I switched to Bing, less drama and it seems to me they are doing what's best for the people searching. Google should check it out, it's what Google could have been.

[Brett_Tabke]

>but they're just following Google's example.

Oh, I think Google is going entirely the other way. Google has:
- added tool bar with social nags at top of screen (interrupts search)
- added mouse over preview (distracts focus and place holder 'pointing')
- the seizure inducing update of Google Instant that flashes the screen as you type (distracts typing, decreases relevance)
- added maps, pictures, travel, (aka: Universal screen spam that may ore may note be relevant and hides 'honest' results)
- put ads at bottom of page and removed search form (relevance hit).
- added multiple links to the same site (ridiculously crashed relevance)

On the other hand; Bing has spotted and taken the opening that Google is adding so much visual noise to their SERPSs that people are having problems finding what they want. This is big for Bing.

I switched my default search to Bing 3 years ago. At that time, I was using Bing about 50% of the time. Bing still had some spam issues.

- 2 years ago, that I increased to about 60-70% of the time.
- Last year when Google was doing that thing where they displayed 4 zillion results for the same site, I switched exclusively to Bing for almost everything and found it was better than Google on most searches.
- Today, I use Bing about 80-90% of the time now. I go entire days now without going to Google web search.
- Now with this change - they just stand well above Google in usability. The student has now become the teacher.

Maybe it is time for another Bing-a-thon?
Try Bing for a month flashback: [webmasterworld.com...]

[dertyfern]

Love the new look. Hate the 4 premium spot ads though--a bit overkill.

I too have been using Bing for a number of years now and for most searches they're a perfect alternative to Google.

[AndyA]

Ads are appearing at the top and bottom of the SERPs for some Bing searches. It's difficult to discern the ads from the results, just like before. Bing should put a border around them, change the background color, text size, or the link colors to differentiate them.

Not all searches return ads in these positions, so perhaps Bing is testing this layout, or they don't have enough ads to show for that particular query. The SERPs look much better with the ads on the right side, IMO.

[AndyA]

I agree with Brett. It's time the search field was leveled. There's too much drama with Google lately. When I do a search, I'll ask for a map if I want one. Google is too cluttered, and overwhelms the searcher with too many options. They think they know what's best, but often they don't, so they throw everything on the page.

I love finding pages that an individual or small company created. The information they provide often goes far and above anything the big branded sites offer. Isn't that what search is about? Discovering something new and wonderful? I know how to find Amazon, Wikipedia, and the other big sites, and I know what they offer. I like discovering the little gems that are impossible to find on Google now, yet Bing gives them to me on page one or two.

Just because a page has affiliate links doesn't mean it has nothing to offer, yet we know Google's attitude is that they are often of poor quality or spammy, and as such shouldn't have any prominence in the SERPs. How does Google expect sites to create wonderful pages without income?

I encourage everyone to compare the two, the differences can be surprising depending on the query. Pages that I value as a searcher on Bing can't be found on Google, unless you dig way down. Is that relevance? Is that a good user experience? Doing a search on Google can be frustrating, but Bing usually gives me exactly what I want without all the fluff.

[Panthro]

I'm just seeing the same thing devoid of a bg image or any css color styling. It's much easier on the eyes, but it looks like something's broken.

[Sgt_Kickaxe]

Same result layout as before for me with some minor color changes. I do appreciate the ad links being green and BESIDE ad titles while regular results have the green links BELOW.

As Google would say you must distinguish the two. A+ Bing.

[mhansen]

A few ads... 10 blue links... no fluff and waiting time, near instant answers! This is EXACTLY what made Google the leader in search 10 years ago!

+1 for Bing!

I agree that its time to knock Google down a peg or two. I might even add a little header bar that pops up for Google referred visitors, asking them if they've tried Bing lately!

If Bing added a "custom search" (Search Bing and Facebook at Once) for sites to use, I think more Webmasters would jump into their ship and help row the boat along.

[AndyA]

If Bing added a "custom search" (Search Bing and Facebook at Once) for sites to use, I think more Webmasters would jump into their ship and help row the boat along.

There is a link for feedback in the lower right corner of Bing's home page, as well as at the bottom of SERPs. If enough people suggest a custom search for websites, perhaps Bing will roll this out. I think it would be a good idea as well.

[arikgub]

Way to go, Bing!

That's so nice. Especially, when Google's SERPs are so cluttered, it is nice to see a clear user-friendly SERPs for a change.

[LostOne]

I don't see it here yet (Atlanta area) but by golly what a great idea. After all, MSFT definitely will not go broke with this. Back to basics with search. Maybe they can throw all the ads away and copy Goog's way of stomping on the competition...offer it for "free." No clutter as many have said..just good ole search.

I've mentioned it several times. If I want to buy something (rare, really) I'll use Goog. Information or those sites Andy mentions aren't on Goog anymore...go to Bing!

[Brett_Tabke]

Now if they just buy the site explorer code from Yahoo - they will have webmasters and SEO's tripping over themselves to use them.

[bwnbwn]

Sorry to crash the party but Bing still has serious issues search- "hottapping" without the "s this is a process of tapping a live line for repairs. Bing shows me po-n videos in the search. Not something at all relevant I haven't searched for them ever on bing so why are they showing, makes no sense.

Showing these will send visitors away never to retun. This has got to be fixed for Bing to really take some market share.

If others don't see them then being in the office under a domain ip might be the ip being picked up as to why I see the videos.

[keyplyr]

Using Adblock Plus I don't see any ads at all ;)

[Andem]

This thread really made my day :D Though I must use Bing using a VPN in the States for the moment in order to see it, the layout and look is just what I've been waiting for. Well done, Microsoft and +1 Brett_Tabke.

[nickreynolds]

screenshot anyone for those of us who don't have it yet?

[robzilla]

I find the differences are not quite as distinct as you make them out to be, and I wouldn't ever expect both search engines to be all that different either. Both companies are data-driven: an A/B test performed on Google is likely to produce results much like those of a similar test at Bing, and ultimately that's how these pages are built. That's why I think Bing is still trailing behind Google, they haven't had the time to acquire the same amount of data and experience.

As for the 'universal screen spam', ads at the bottom of the page with no search form, and multiple links to the same site, all of that I see on Bing as well. Try a search for New York and you'll get images, videos, temperatures and travel stuff. Make that New York Hotel and they'll thrown in a couple of ads at the bottom, too (where there's no search form). Now, each to their own, of course, and it's good to see the underdog improving itself, I just don't see anything huge going on here.

[Web_speed]

If Bing added a "custom search" (Search Bing and Facebook at Once) for sites to use, I think more Webmasters would jump into their ship and help row the boat along.

I'm definitely with you on that. Cant wait for bing to *finally* release custom site search. Google will probably go the altavista way within 6 months once they do...

Wwwake uuup Ballmer! this should bloody be a priority!

[jimh009]

I'm not seeing this either. Bing looks "normal" to me, and not especially that different from Google.

[EvilSaint]

Seeing Top, Right & Bottom in Australia.

[foxtunes]

Google "jumped the shark" or should I say Penguin with their last update.

This is nice and crisp from bing, no ads above the search results.

[np2003]

New layout looks really good (e.g. nice and clean). The last Bing layout was sorta aweful (content overload). Wierd that times are changing? Google pages getting heavier/more loaded with crap and Bing is getting more cleanier, leaner..

[adamxcl]

I have to follow up with Brett as well and think it is very nice and big for Bing. I am using it more and more with pretty decent results. We need some competition. Google's attitude of - only we can have total ads above the fold. If anyone else does what we do, they are a crappy website - has gotten really annoying.