Microsoft's Bing Update Is Impressive

Microsoft has released a significant update to its Bing app for the iPhone/iPod touch. The newest version of the search app is visually appealing and includes cool new features. With it, Bing is definitely closing the gap with Google. Bing now includes a number of new features. These include: integrated Facebook "Likes," in-app checkins to Facebook, Foursquare and more. Users will absolutely love Streetside, which gives them a panoramic view of shops and businesses in select areas. As you slide your finger across a location, you’ll see an overlay of business listings, street names and storefronts. This service is only available for Chicago, Seattle, New York, and San Francisco. Other metropolitan areas are expected to be added soon.

Plans is a new feature for Facebook users to plan a night out, a dinner and a movie, or any event they want. See what plans your Facebook friends like and read their comments. Finally, users in Boston, San Francisco and Seattle will see real time transit updates to plan their commute. Users will even see if a bus is on time, early, or delayed, with predictions for arrival times. Standard transit routes are available for 11 cities. These include: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New Jersey, New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington DC, and Vancouver BC, with more to come. Here is a video:

I'll say this: Microsoft has a winner on its hands with its new Bing app. Get it today in the App Store.