Bing launched a Visual Search beta today that is fun to play with. The name may be a bit misleading–this isn’t an image search engine, let alone one that allows you to find images based on visual similarity. Rather, it’s a graphically intensive (don’t forget to install Silverlight!) way to explore a small data collection.
I agree with Elisabeth Osmeloski at Search Engine Land that the galleries included with this beta launch emphasize novelty over utility. Still, it’s nice to see a visual faceted search application for exploring the periodic table. And it’s an interesting example of micro-IR.
The Noisy Channel 
5 replies on “Bing Visual Search Beta”
alright I must say they are making the effort to truly surpass Google and Yahoo in one go.!
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interesting that visual search link doesnt work anymore… its the same link from google. also fails… is it a US thing only or something?
anyway – did you try the old blackberry test again?
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Yup, the Google blackberry test still fails. Sorry if it only works on this side of the pond.
As for trying Bing Visual Search, perhaps you might try setting Bing’s country to United States in preferences.
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I probed Visual Search and I think that is simply a search based on categories with the visual component. As user I think it can´t have much success, people want to find what you are looking for. Basically it´s a commercial search
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As I said in the post, I think it offers more novelty than utility. Still, it’s pretty slick.
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