Search Blog

Explore Your World with Bing News

Bing Search Blog — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:50:49 GMT

Over the last few months, we’ve done a lot of work to show how Bing can understand more about your world with Satori, our technology that enables Bing to have a deeper understanding of the people, places and things around us and the relationships between them. Last week, we revealed a faster way to find people in Autosuggest. And now, we’re introducing a feature for our news vertical related to how you can explore people, places and things in a visual and easy-to-use carousel format.

Bing News is already a great place to search for news, but wouldn’t it be great to go a level deeper? Starting today, you can search for a notable person in current events and not only see the top news results from across the web, but also a visual carousel which allows you to explore important and timely topicsrelated to the specific person you’re searching for:

Building this browse-able news experience requires a deep understanding of current events, the people that matter and how relationships between these two play out in public life. We’ve really taken this concept to heart and will even display related individuals on the right-hand side. For example, why is Nicki Minaj related to Taylor Swift? Looks like she was honored alongside Taylor at the Billboard Music Awards:

And that’s not the only progress we’ve made over at Bing News. We recently extended our news articles index beyond two weeks. This means when there’s no fresh news related to a given query, we can look back over several years to bring you any relevant articles. This is a pretty significant update and is just the start as we work to make Bing News even more comprehensive. While there’s still more to do, we believe these updates provide you with a deeper understanding of the world and an opportunity to explore the connections we’re able to make over here at Bing.

Thank you.

- Tim Leung, Bing Principal Group Program Manager

The Grand Bargain

Bing Search Blog — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:08:00 GMT

Last week, my team and I sat down over bagels, donuts and coffee (I actually had a couple extra cinnamon fritters, but who’s counting?) to watch the Google I/O conference stream.

Now you’ve probably read some of the tech coverage from the conference already, and I don’t need to amplify all their stuff because hey, I work for Bing. But what Google I/O really made clear to us was, under all the technophilia, Google’s main focus is on monetizing its users’ data. They will be paying more attention to your location, analyzing your photos and turning them into animated gifs and they’d like some credit for their innovations while rarely mentioning that all this personal data collection gives them more opportunities to show you ads.

What’s different this time is people are beginning to realize what the Google consumer “bargain” really means and are having a conversation about it.

Analysts like Jeremiah Owyang of Altimeter Group called it when he advised Google customers to “know you are the product.” Mobile as an ad platform for Google is getting more granular – and the flip side of that is they know more about you.

An interesting comments debate went on at Gizmodo, where the first poster “GhostTMG” raised the question of privacy. While politely recognizing the presence of people excited about Google’s announcements the commenter wrote: “I'm just not ready to allow one organization to develop this huge of a profile of me so it can be sold off to the highest bidder.”

You know, for some folks – the bargain they strike with Google is fine. Just like personal space in an elevator, people have varying degrees of tolerance for how close another person gets to them, and varying degrees of comfort when that person is actually a corporation not wearing deodorant.

But what’s even more worthy of discussion (and you will see plenty of it in that Gizmodo comment thread) is how little people actually realize what Google does. How people’s searches are really not quite as anonymous as they think and Google actually retains data - including IP addresses - for quite some time. (See infographic below if you want to learn more about anonymization, Bing and Google.)

(Click on image to see full screen.)

A few weeks ago, a research psychologist named Robert Epstein published an article in TIME magazine that examined the difference between what consumers think Google does versus what Google actuallydoes.

“About a billion people use Google’s search engine each month to find everything from plastic hangers to plastic surgeons, and, as far as the consumer is concerned, Google is an information company, pure and simple,” he explained. “But from Google’s perspective – and I don’t mean Google’s PR department, I mean Google’s management – Google is an advertisingcompany.”

Epstein explains. “The immediate problem is that the transaction is inherently deceitful. The consumer perceives the transaction at one level, Google at another.”

Now there is nothing startling about selling online ads to generate revenue – Bing does it too. But we’ve tried to be transparent about the data we share and use, and because we are not solely an advertising-driven company, we have the leeway to make product choices that serve consumers first.

In a more recent piece for US News and World report (Google’s Gotcha) Epstein recounts all the ways that Google tracks its customers. If you watched our many Scroogled videos, you’d know some of these. And again, you may be the sort of person who doesn’t care how close that guy in Google Glass yelling “OK, Glass” stands next to you in the elevator.

But if you even know how Google tracks its customers, you are in the minority. And when people find out, sometimes they don’t like it. GFK Roper, on behalf of Microsoft, conducted a study and found 70% percent didn’t know Google read their mail in order to serve ads, and it drastically affected their perception of Google when it did… 9 out of 10 wanted the practice to stop.

Sure, you might be willing to let Google track your online searches because you like the search results they deliver, and if you’re going to be served ads, they may as well be as relevant to you as possible. But the bargain might lose its appeal when you find out they are keeping (and mining) your emails, your location, your online purchases, and your voicemails.

Similarly, at one point you might be willing to let Google store contacts and credit card numbers, because it’s convenient to keep them in one place when you need to buy something online or find that person to send an email. But this bargain could lose its appeal when you find out Google is sharing your contact information to application developers whenever you buy an app for your Android phone.

If Google knows more about your life than your significant other, your family, or your friends, what does that say? Google is a big business and has to make money – off of you. Do you trust Google to do so with your best interests at heart?

The other thing that struck us about Google I/O was this: there really weren’t a lot of Internet partnership moments in the Google ecosystem or on that stage. Google’s streaming music is intended to crowd out Spotify and Pandora. Their back-end platform for gaming no doubt impacts a dozen startups based on that premise. The true horizons for search and its ecosystem are shrinking, just when they should be getting wider.

It is easy to point out contradictions on cosmetic levels – it was ironic to hear Larry Page talk about industry negativity being bad, as his staff made digs at Apple Maps and Page himself explained that Oracle (with whom Google is in court) is all about money and not collaboration. Or just about the same time Larry arrived on stage, Google’s lawyers sent Microsoft a cease-and-desist order to remove our YouTube app for Windows Phone, in essence making it harder for our customers to watch funny cat videos. Yes, I will forbear talking about how Google imitated the Bing home page and how competition and having rivals probably spurs Google on more than positivity. The day is long and after all, I’m That Guy Who Works For Bing.

But I think it’s kind of interesting, that a company that talks a great deal about the possibilities presented by Internet innovation, the open source movement, and freedom of speech, has an ecosystem play that continues to tie their users down to one identity, one technology system, and to an ad-propelled company that can delete what a G + user says without appeal. When you sign onto Bing, you can sign on with Microsoft or a Facebook account. We don’t have to know everything about you to give you a great search experience. And yeah, our maps work, too.

- Stefan Weitz, Senior Director, Bing

Let Bing Guide You Off the Beaten Path this Travel Season

Bing Search Blog — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:15:30 GMT

Dreaming about the beach, the mountains, or your favorite shopping spot? That only means one thing—it’s time to make summer travel plans with Bing Travel. This year, we’ve decided to join the astounding 93% of you (according to a recent Bing survey) who are open to trying something new and shake up our summer travel plans by going off the beaten path.

Interested in trying a new vacation spot? Jamaica is currently the most searched beach destination for 2013, so if you want to join us in checking Bob Marley’s birthplace off of your travel bucket list, we have all the tools to not only get you there, but save you time and money as well.

Now it’s time to book a flight. Bing’s Price Predictorprovides five possible recommendations when looking at flights, ranging from “Buy Now” or “Wait,” including a confidence level and expected price increase or decrease over the next seven days. Why spend more today when you know you can save tomorrow?

In need of a new place to stay? The Hotel Rate Indicatoranalyzes historical rate data from thousands of hotels to help determine whether the current price is a good deal, or not a deal at all. Need some further verification? Through Bing’s social sidebar, your trusted social networks can further help you make informed decisions based off your friends’ reviews.

What about navigating the terrain once you arrive? The Bing Weather App for Windows Phone helps travelers prepare for the latest conditions with hourly, daily and 10-day forecasts, while the Translator Apphelps you feel like a local wherever you may be with instant translations in 42 languages. Just hover your phone’s camera over the words you want translated and text will appear over the image so you know what to order or which direction you’re going.

And what and where are people searching for in 2013? Check out the top searches for domestic airlines, beach and European destinations below. Whether it be the beaches of Jamaica, the cultural heritage of Istanbul, or visiting your family in another city, Bing has you covered before you even leave the ground.

Please join us tomorrow, May 22 from 12-1 pm PST for our #BingIt with travel expert and founder of Vagabondish, Mike Richard, for additional tips on how to make the most out of this summer travel season.

Most searched domestic airlines

1. Southwest Airlines

2. United Airlines

3. American Airlines

4. Delta Airlines

5. Alaska Airlines

Most searched beach destinations

1. Jamaica

2. Myrtle Beach

3. Puerto Rico

4. San Diego

5. Bahamas

6. Honolulu

7. Virginia Beach

8. Maui

9. Bermuda

10. Aruba

Most searched European destinations

1. London

2. Istanbul

3. Rome

4. Madrid

5. Barcelona

6. Paris

7. Budapest

8. Amsterdam

9. Berlin

10. Cannes

-The Bing Team

Travel Expert and Founder of Vagabondish, Mike Richard, Joins Us To Share Travel Tips!

Bing Search Blog — Mon, 20 May 2013 18:03:42 GMT

Summer is right around the corner, and that means it’s time to hit the road! Summer travel plans can be hard to book, with overbooked flights, steep prices and crowded hotels. Join travel expert and founder of the travel website Vagabondish, Mike Richard, to get tips and tricks for booking summer travel without breaking the bank! Whether backpacking, camping, or luxury hotels is your style, we have tips to make planning that much easier, so you can spend more time dreaming up your next vacation!

Mike is a Rhode Island native and travel junkie with an unhealthy addiction to backpacking, hiking and seeing the world. His advice, how-to tips and tall tales from around the world are a go to resources for travelers of all kinds.

To participate in the chat follow @Bing and @vagabondish on Wednesday, May 22 from 12-1 pm PT and include the hashtag #BingIt in your tweets.

-The Bing Team @Bing

Boldly Go Where No Homepage Has Gone Before

Bing Search Blog — Wed, 15 May 2013 11:18:00 GMT

On the Bing homepage, our mission over the past 5 years has been to help you explore the world around you, to seek out new views and new angles. Today, we’re boldly going where no homepage has gone before. Visit Bing today and enter one of our secret phrases in the search box to be transported to the Final Frontier.

To see all of the fun things we have going on around Star Trek, check out yesterday’s post. More importantly get out and go see the movie!

Live long and prosper.

- Sage Kitamorn, Program Manager, Bing

Bing and Paramount Pictures Bring Star Trek Flair to a Phone or Computer Near You

Bing Search Blog — Tue, 14 May 2013 17:43:00 GMT

In anticipation of the upcoming release of Star Trek Into Darkness we have teamed with Paramount Pictures to help you get it in the Starfleet Spirit. On May 16^th, the next installment of Star Trek hits theaters and we’ve been hard at work on a set of fun Bing features to celebrate your inner-Trekker.

Speak Klingon/ : Just in time for your next dinner party or interplanetary skirmish, we’re releasing Klingon to Bing Translator. Now in a few simple clicks you can translate text from English to Klingon (and vice versa!) Available via the web here and also as an update to Bing Translator for Windows Phone 8. You can read more about the feature from the Microsoft Translation Team here (Klingon version here.)

Understand a Tribble from a Romulan: Regardless of whether you’re new to the Star Trek universe or fresh from a convention, we’ve got you covered. Go ahead, ask us your favorite Star Trek question like “who said live long and prosper?” You’ll see us serve up some fun results that will help you know Bones from Sulu.

Check out the features on Bing and hit theatres on the 16^th.

- The Bing Team

Understand More with People Autosuggest

Bing Search Blog — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:57:00 GMT

A few weeks ago we invited you to experience updates to Snapshot – the center column that shows you answers at a glance. With Snapshot, we’re able to provide a richer set of search results that help you understand the world around you and take action. Since people searches are the second most searched for category, after navigational queries, and represent roughly 10 percent of all searches on Bing, we’re constantly looking for ways to make it easier for you to find the person you’re looking for.

Today, we are releasing a faster way to find people right from the search box. Now if you’re searching for a celebrity, politician, athlete or even a colleague with a publicly available LinkedIn profile, Bing provides a snapshot of information about that person below the search bar. For example, if you’re searching for Michelle Williams, we’ll ask you if you’re looking for Michelle Williams the actress or Michelle Williams the Destiny’s Child singer.

In the milliseconds between keystrokes, Bing lets you narrow down your search by clicking on the correct person. If Bing has information on a person, we let you know by displaying it below the search box. In some instances, multiple people share the same name. When this happens, we’ll provide information for the most relevant people with that name, and help you narrow down your search.

Whether you’re looking to keep tabs on your favorite celebrity or learn more about a colleague’s professional background, Bing just made it easier to find the person you’re looking for. We’re constantly expanding the number of available entities in Snapshot, including people, places and things, so stay tuned for future updates.

This latest evolution of Bing Autosuggest has been co-developed by the Search Technological Center (STC-E) in London, U.K. in close collaboration with the User Experience team in Bellevue, WA. Give it a try and let us know what you think!

- Dan Marantz, Lead Program Manager, Bing Query Formulation UX

Take the Bing it On Challenge at a Microsoft Store Near You

Bing Search Blog — Fri, 10 May 2013 18:15:00 GMT

In search we know that people prefer Bing over Google for the web’s top searches* yet many people still use Google out of habit so on Monday we rolled out the next wave of the Bing it On Challenge.The challenge is simple – search for five queries of your choice and compare the unbranded web search results from Bing and Google side-by-side. For each search result, you pick a winner or declare it a “draw”, and at the end of the five searches we show you the winning search engine. With the newest version of the Challenge site, in addition to search results, you’ll get to learn about a new homepage every day, rollover video preview and instant translation all on the same site – some of our unique features that give you even more reasons to fall in love with Bing.

In conjunction with the new site, we are also taking the challenge on the road. Starting today through June 30, you can come take the Bing It On challenge and receive a voucher for $25 off a purchase of $75 or more**. Microsoft stores are a great place to buy Microsoft products like Surface, Xbox, Windows Phone and more.

Find out if you have a Microsoft store near you by visiting www.microsoftstore.com/locations

- Bing Team

*Based on a comparison of web search results pane only; excludes ads, Bing’s Snapshot and Social Search panes and Google’s Knowledge Graph.

**Valid for $25 off of a transaction of $75 or more. Voucher expires on July 31, 2013. Redeemable only at participating Microsoft retail store locations. Excludes Surface and Surface accessories. Not valid on prior orders or purchases; cannot be transferred or otherwise redeemed for cash or gift cards. Not combinable with other offers. Limit 1 voucher, per participant, per transaction, single use only. No reproductions of voucher will be accepted. While supplies last.

Comment and Like Stuff on Facebook Directly from Bing

Bing Search Blog — Fri, 10 May 2013 15:53:00 GMT

According to Facebook, the average person between the ages of 18-24 in the US has over 400 friends. If you’re like us, it’s hard to keep up with what friends are posting on an ongoing basis, and harder still to search and find specific topics that your friends may have posted about. By bringing together Bing and Facebook, you have an easy way to complement your search with helpful, interesting or insightful content your friends have shared.

Following the introduction of social sidebar last year, we’ve been exploring ways to make it even more useful. Starting today, you will see comments on a relevant Facebook post within sidebar, as well as the ability add your own, all without having to leave Bing. You can also “Like” a post directly from Bing. Now you can see what your friends might know about what you’re searching for and engage with them directly without leaving the search page.

How does it work? Let’s say I’m searching for Beyoncé tickets because I know she is coming to town soon. I can see that my friend has recently posted that she has an extra ticket to the show. Now without leaving the Bing results page, I comment directly to her post letting her know that I’d love to join her for the concert. I’ve gone from simply browsing to attending a concert in just a few easy steps – all thanks to Bing.

Here’s another example of the sidebar commenting in action:

To experience this for yourself, simply go to www.bing.com and in the top, right corner of the page connect your Facebook account to Bing. As always, we honor your account settings and won’t share any information without your approval.

Give it a try and let us know what you think.

- Nektarios Ioannides, Program Manager, Bing

Bing It On Hits the Katie Couric Show and Hollywood Boulevard

Bing Search Blog — Wed, 08 May 2013 19:35:00 GMT

Kicking off today, Bing has sponsored the concert series on Katie Couric's daytime talk show "Katie." With performances by the legendary Rod Stewart, the innovative will.i.am, and the newly branded Snoop Lion, the Bing It On Challenge will be featured prominently on "Katie" broadcasts for the rest of the week.

As Katie lived it up on her recent stint filming out of the Jimmy Kimmel studio in Hollywood, Bing was there to see it live and to hit the famed Hollywood Boulevard to challenge passersby to Bing It On.

Check out what happened here:

Tune in to watch "Katie" (check local listings or the station finder: http://ktie.tv/NviENk) this week for some terrific performances and guest interviews.

- The Bing Team

DIY Expert and Founder of Hostess with the Mostess, Jennifer Sbranti, and Mom Central Talk Mother’s Day

Bing Search Blog — Wed, 08 May 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and we’re ready to celebrate. Party planning and DIY expert Jenn Sbranti of Hostess with the Mostess will cohost this week’s #BingIt chat on Friday May 10^thwith our friends at Mom Central. We’ll help you create the perfect DIY gift, make sure mom know just how much you love her, and discuss party planning tips to make the day extra special.

Jennifer Sbranti is the co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of Hostess with the Mostess (HWTM), a hip and modern party planning resource, where she Sbranti shares her contemporary style and no-fuss approach to entertaining with others. Her ideas have been featured in media outlets such as People, InStyle Weddings, Life&Style, Pregnancy, and Extra! TV.

To participate in the chat follow @Bing, @HWTM_Jenn and @MomCentral on Friday, May 10 from 3-4 p.m. PT and include the hashtag #BingIt in your tweets.

-The Bing Team @Bing

Watch Before You Click: Smart Motion Preview

Bing Search Blog — Tue, 07 May 2013 17:47:48 GMT

Ever clicked on a video link only to discover that video wasn’t what you were looking for? We have. That’s why we introduced Smart Motion Preview which allows you to preview a video before travelling to the site.

How does it work? Smart Motion Previews give you the equivalent of a movie trailer for video results. When we crawl videos, we create short previews (never more than 30 seconds, made up of a few very short clips) that reflect what our video crawling technology thinks are the most relevant parts. We look at the audio levels for instance to see a big play in a sports video (based on the applause from a monster dunk, for example).

What’s cool about the technology is that it helps you decide if it is a video you want to go watch. This makes it easier to sort through the clutter of all those results and help you get to what you are looking for. It’s also something you will not find with the other guys.

Check out this video highlighting Smart Motion Preview:

<a href="http://www.bing.com/videos/browse?mkt=en-us&amp;vid=f9a2db8b-f431-45a9-83d9-1a4561fafe36&amp;src=v5:embed:syndication:&amp;from=shareembed-syndication" target="_new" title="Bing: You Say Tomato" data-mce-href="http://www.bing.com/videos/browse?mkt=en-us&amp;vid=f9a2db8b-f431-45a9-83d9-1a4561fafe36&amp;src=v5:embed:syndication:&amp;from=shareembed-syndication">Video: Bing: You Say Tomato</a>

- The Bing Team

Calling All Basketball Fans!

Bing Search Blog — Mon, 06 May 2013 22:14:00 GMT

Do you dream of being on the court at a pro game? Are you a HUGE Miami Heat fan? Longing to meet a Heat legend? Then this sweepstakes is for you! Bing teamed up with the Miami Heat to bring our fans the opportunity to win an exclusive VIP Playoff Experience.

Here’s what you could win:

Two lower level tickets to an third round playoff game.
Opportunity to be on-court to present the Official Game Ball to the referees on the court prior to tipoff.
A pre-game meet and greet with a Heat Legend.
A basketball autographed by the Miami Heat team.

To enter via Twitter, click here and retweet the tweet.

You can check out the rules below.

Good luck!

- The Bing Team

Bing ULTIMATE HEAT EXPERIENCE SWEEPSTAKES

OFFICIAL RULES

NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. SWEEPSTAKES IS OPEN ONLY TO LEGAL U.S. RESIDENTS WHO ARE 18 YEARS OF AGE AT TIME OF ENTRY. SWEEPSTAKES BEGINS ON MAY 1, 2013 AND ENDS ON THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY FOLLOWING THE CONCLUSION OF ROUND TWO OF THE 2013 NBA PLAYOFFS.

1. HERE’S HOW TO ENTER: Beginning at 5:00 P.M. Eastern Time (“ET”) on 5/3/13, visit www.facebook.com/MiamiHEAT, submit a completed entry form. You may also enter by retweeting an @MiamiHeat Twitter posting about the “Bing Ultimate HEAT Experience” Sweepstakes with the hashtag #BingHEATVIP or mailing a 3x5 index card including your name, age, address, telephone number and email address to “Bing Ultimate HEAT Experience Winners List c/o Corporate Partnerships, Miami Heat Limited Partnership, 601 Biscayne Blvd. Miami, FL 33132.” If you enter by retweeting, you may only retweet once for entry. Limit one (1) entry per person per Facebook handle or per Twitter handle or name and address. Sponsor assumes no responsibility for technical, electronic, hardware, software, network, computer or data transmission errors, malfunctions or difficulties of any kind. All entries must be completed by 10:00 A.M ET on or about the next business day following the conclusion of Round 2 of the 2013 NBA Playoffs to be eligible for the drawing. All entries become the property of the Sponsor and will not be returned or acknowledged.

2. PRIZES: One (1) Grand Prizewill be awarded and, if the Miami HEAT advances to the 2013 Eastern Conference Finals, will consist of a Miami HEAT VIP fan experience, including: (a) airline tickets to and from the Miami metropolitan area, hotel accommodations (double occupancy) and transportation to and from the hotel and Arena for the winner and a guest; (b) two (2) lower level tickets to a Miami HEAT home playoff basketball game one or two during the Eastern Conference Finals conducted at the AmericanAirlines Arena the date of which shall be solely selected by the Miami HEAT; (c) an opportunity for a meet and greet with a HEAT Legend (ex: Alonzo Mourning), (d) pre-game on court photo opportunity, and (e) present the official game ball to referees pre-game. The winner will also receive one (1) team autographed basketball. Estimated Retail Value of the Grand Prize: $3,320.00. In the event the Miami HEAT does not advance to the 2013 Eastern Conference Finals, a Grand Prize of equal or great value will be awarded. All other expenses not specifically mentioned herein are solely the responsibility of the prize winner. No alternate dates are available. All minors (under the age of 18) must be accompanied by an adult at all times. No responsibility is assumed by Sponsors for canceled, delayed, suspended or rescheduled event.

3. DRAWING:One (1) potential winner will be selected through a random drawing, on or about noon the next business day following the conclusion of Round 2 of the 2013 NBA Playoffs from all eligible entries received in accordance with these Official Rules. Odds of winning a prize depends on the number of eligible entries received.

4. ELIGIBILITY and GENERAL TERMS:Sweepstakes open only to U.S. legal residents who are 18 years of age or older at the time of entry. Winners must show proof of residency. Employees of the National Basketball Association and its Member Teams, NBA Properties, Inc., NBA Media Ventures, LLC and each of their respective shareholders, employees, parents, directors, officers, affiliates, representatives, agents, successors, and assigns (hereinafter, "NBA Entities"), Microsoft Corporation (“Microsoft”), and the Miami Heat Limited Partnership and each of their respective parent companies, affiliates, subsidiaries, bottlers, divisions, distributors, suppliers and advertising, promotional or judging agencies and immediate family members and persons living in the same household of such employees are not eligible to win. No substitution of prize is offered; no transfer of prize to a third party is permitted; and non-cash prizes may not be redeemed for cash. Sponsor, in its sole discretion, shall determine the location of and the particular basketball game at which the tickets may be used. Additionally, the Miami HEAT shall determine, in its sole discretion, the time, date, location and/or (as applicable) of the game, seat locations and the meet and greet as well as the particular HEAT Legend for such meet and greet. All expenses and incidental costs not expressly stated in the prize descriptions above, including, but not limited to, ground transportation, meals (except as otherwise provided in this Official Rules), personal charges, security fees, or other expenses or incidentals are the responsibility solely of the winner. Any portion of the prize not accepted by the winner will be forfeited. Sponsor reserves the right to award a prize of equal or greater value in the event the published prize is unavailable. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply. Prize recipients will be solely responsible for paying all applicable federal, state and local taxes on prizes and, if applicable, winner may receive an IRS Form 1099 for the retail value of the prize. No groups, clubs, newsletters or organizations may reproduce or distribute any portion of these rules to their members and anyone who enters this sweepstakes through means not permitted by these rules is disqualified. All entrants, as a condition of entry, agree to be bound by these rules and the decisions of the Sponsor, which shall be final and binding. Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual (and all of his/her sweepstakes entries) who tampers with the entry process.

5. WINNER NOTIFICATION/RELEASES: The Grand Prize winner will be notified by direct message, email and/or phone within twenty four (24) hours of the drawing and may be required to claim their prize within twenty four (24) hours of notification by signing and returning an Affidavit of Eligibility and Liability/Publicity Release (where permitted by law). In the event the Affidavit and Release is not returned within twenty four (24) hours, prize may be forfeited and an alternate winner may be selected from among all remaining eligible entries. Prize may also be forfeited if (a) the notification is sent to the address provided on the entry and is returned as undeliverable without a forwarding address; (b) a telephone notification is not confirmed to Sponsor within twenty four (24) hours; or (c) the winner is unable to attend on the date(s) specified. Upon forfeiture for any reason, no compensation shall be given to the original selected winner and an alternate winner will be selected. An alternate will only be selected once. All participants, by participating in this sweepstakes, and winner, by acceptance of a prize, agrees on behalf of themselves, their executors, assigns and heirs, to release the NBA Entities, Microsoft, the Miami HEAT and each of their respective parent companies, affiliates, subsidiaries, bottlers, divisions, distributors, suppliers and advertising, promotional or judging agencies, from any and all liability, claims or actions of any kind whatsoever for injuries, damages or losses to persons and property which may be sustained in connection with the receipt, ownership or use of the prize or while preparing for, participating any prize-related or sweepstakes-related activity or any typographical or other error in these Official Rules or in the announcement or offering of any prize.Winner acknowledges that the Sponsor has neither made nor is in any manner responsible or liable for any warranty, representation or guarantee, express or implied, in fact or in law, relative to the prize. Sponsor reserves the right to cancel or suspend the sweepstakes if it is tampered with or corrupted in any manner and, in the event of cancellation, prizes will be awarded via a random drawing to be conducted from all eligible entries received as of the date of cancellation.

6. Publicity. Except where prohibited by law, acceptance of prize offered constitutes permission to use winner's name, biographical information and/or likeness for purposes of advertising and promotion without further compensation as permitted by law by Basketball Properties, Ltd., Miami Heat Limited Partnership, AmericanAirlines Arena, Microsoft, National Basketball Association and its Member Teams, NBA Properties, Inc., NBA Media Ventures, LLC and/or each of their respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates and advertising/promotion agencies.

7. WINNERS LIST:For a list of winners, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope before June 14, 2013 to: Bing Ultimate HEAT Experience Winners List c/o Corporate Partnerships, Miami Heat Limited Partnership, 601 Biscayne Blvd. Miami, FL 33132. Winners list will be sent after the prize has been awarded.

8. SPONSOR: Microsoft , One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA, 98052

Try it, You’ll Like it! Bing Challenges You (and Topeka) to Bing it On

Bing Search Blog — Mon, 06 May 2013 16:08:00 GMT

Change can be hard, even uncomfortable, but according to a recent Bing survey*, 93 percent of people say they are open to trying new things, while 45 percent say it can even be a refreshing experience. Are you ready for something new? With summer right around the corner, now is the perfect time to mix up your routine and try something new. Step out of the box and join the nearly 25 million others who in the last nine months have visited the Bing It On challenge site. In search we know that people prefer Bing over Google for the web’s top searches** yet many people still use Google out of habit. By taking the challenge, you just might find that you prefer Bing and can break your old habit for good.

Today, we’re excited to announce the next wave of the Bing It On Challenge. The challenge is simple – search for five queries of your choice and compare the unbranded web search results from Bing and Google side-by-side. For each search result, you pick a winner or declare it a “draw”, and at the end of the five searches we show you the winning search engine. With the newest version of the Challenge site, in addition to search results, you’ll get to learn about a new homepage every day, rollover video preview and instant translation all on the same site – some of our unique features that give you even more reasons to fall in love with Bing.

Additionally, we are launching a new nationwide campaign showing what happened when residents of Topeka, Kansas, the city that famously renamed itself Google in a bid for Google Fiber, took the Challenge and gave Bing a try. You’ll see these new ads popping up on TV and online over the coming weeks. Check out how our latest man-on-the-street segment went down:

<a href="http://www.bing.com/videos/browse?mkt=en-us&vid=b1e18d43-727b-4cef-b1e9-3fb8161a41d3&from=shareembed-syndication&src=v5:embed:syndication:" target="_new" title="Bing It On: Kansas" data-mce-href="http://www.bing.com/videos/browse?mkt=en-us&vid=b1e18d43-727b-4cef-b1e9-3fb8161a41d3&from=shareembed-syndication&src=v5:embed:syndication:">Video: Bing It On: Kansas</a>

Since launching the tool, we’ve heard people say how impressed they were with Bing’s results and some even noting surprise when they realized they picked Bing over Google. See for yourself today at BingItOn.com.

- The Bing Team

*The survey was conducted online with a random sample of 1,006 men and women, 18+ -- all members of the Impulse Research proprietary online panel. Research was conducted in April 2013. The overall sampling error rate for this survey is +/-3% at the 95% rate of confidence.
**Based on a comparison of web search results pane only; excludes ads, Bing’s Snapshot and Social Search panes and Google’s Knowledge Graph.

Bing Rewards Expands to MSN

Bing Search Blog — Fri, 03 May 2013 15:50:00 GMT

Starting today in the US, you will be able to earn Bing Rewards credits by exploring and discovering new ways MSN keeps you in the know. Bing Rewards members are now able to keep track of their credit balance right from the MSN homepage. From getting things done with the help of Bing’s search results to catching up on the news that matters most to you on MSN, we’re delighted to enhance the benefits and experience of using both Bing and MSN every day.

We launched the Bing Rewards program two and a half years ago with a goal of helping people discover new features, improving the search experience and rewarding people for their loyalty. Since then over 3 million members have joined and the program has grown from a standalone feature within the Bing Bar to a fully integrated aspect of the Bing web experience. Along the way, we’ve added new benefits such as silver and gold status, new rewards including apps and games for Windows Phone 8, Xbox Music Passes and Skype Credit, and the ability to earn extra credits for referring friends.

To get started, simply navigate to MSN.com and look for the Bing Rewards icon and credit counter at the top of the page (currently not available on MSN for Windows 8). If you’re a Bing Rewards member you’ll see your balance and offers automatically. Not a Bing Rewards member yet? Join here.

All the credits members earn across Bing and MSN can be taken to the Bing Rewards redemption centerwhere they can be redeemed for a selection of rewards including brand name gift cards, opportunities to enter to win exclusive prizes or charitable donations to a variety of causes.

- Alex Danskin, Bing Rewards Team