Microsoft takes on Safari with its revamped Bing app featuring private search and more

Microsoft’s focus on iOS clearly isn’t waning. Because the developer, which recently brought an impressive document scanner, Office Lens, to the App Store, has sent out an update for its Bing iOS app making a number of much appreciated changes.

First and foremost, Bing for iOS, which is available free of charge on the App Store, has added a brand new private browsing mode. When enabled, this mode will ensure that the Bing app doesn’t retain any evidence of your browsing activity; a similar mode is also available inside of both Safari and Google Chrome for iOS (with the latter offering a so-called “Incognito Mode”). It’s also possible to manage your search history from inside Bing 5.5: users of the app can now either clear their entire browsing history, or just a selection of specific searches which they’d like eradicating from their iOS device.

Bing can also launch third-party iOS applications from its search interface, and users can enjoy a brand new experience when searching for images, too. Well, the experience offered isn’t entirely new; Bing added a similar feature to its Bing for Web service earlier this month. Now, when users perform image searches on their iPhone, it’s possible to view contextual information on individual pictures from inside the application.

Here’s a complete list of changes made in the updated Bing for iOS:

Take control of your privacy:

Keep your searches private in Private Search Mode

Manage your search history: clear everything or specific searches

New ways to experience search:

Go beyond WEB search and find what you need in your favorite apps

New image search experience

In-line previews in Video search

New Bing Rewards card to track your points

Numerous bug fixes

Recently, Microsoft has bolstered its presence on iOS, adding new applications, publishing updates for its existing apps, and even acquiring successful applications available on iOS, like Sunrise Calendar. Cortana, Microsoft’s virtual personal assistant for Windows Phone (and rival to Siri), is even set to make her debut on iOS devices this fall, according to the company.

For now, however, iOS device owners can enjoy taking the revamped Bing app for a spin. You can download Bing now on the App Store, and it’s optimized for the iPhone and iPod touch.