The landscape of search is changing. Both and have dramatically overhauled the way each handles search over the past few months, employing different approaches to help information seekers find what they’re looking for.
One engine is trying to get to know what the web is looking for, providing quick and handy summary information for some searches so you can find what you need quickly. Meanwhile, the other is turning searches social, suggesting information from your friends on social networks and even enabling you to seek a friend’s advice while searching to make sure you get the best answer possible.
[More from Mashable: ]
So, which one is best? Let’s take a look at what both have to offer.
Google: Quick Answers
Search for 'Andromeda' in the New Google Knowledge Graph
[More from Mashable: ]
Google started rolling out across all search tools in May. Now, when you search for something in Google, the engine will try to determine exactly what you are searching for by tapping into information from knowledge databases, such as , and . Since the engine is looking at topics as a whole rather than simple keywords, searches are more intuitive and more likely to provide information about what you're really looking for.
A summary of some topics also appears on the right side of the page beside your search results. For instance, a search for "William Shakespeare" will bring up a photo of the playwright from Wikipedia along with a brief biography and a short list of his plays.
Results are also tailored to show what information people are most often looking for about a given topic. In the case of Shakespeare, that information is his birthday and the titles of some of his works. In the case of the San Francisco Giants, however, searches yield information about the league, what years the team has won the World Series and links to information about each player.
results also show up in summary information and search results. In the case of our Giants search, for instance, the most recent update on the team’s Google+ page shows up.
Bing: Social Answers
The New Bing
While Google includes some search results from Google+, takes to a whole new level. Where Google has a summary on the right-hand side of the page, Bing instead provides information from social networks. While the platform only provides information from , Bing has plans to integrate , Google+, and into search as well.
The toolbar, labeled “What Your Friends May Know,” showcases information about your search topics from friends on various social media sites, and also offers the option to pose questions to those friends to help with your search. For instance, if you were looking for a great Thai restaurant in NYC, you could ask your Facebook friends what they might recommend while also checking out some basic search results. Additionally, search results can be pinned to a Facebook post, so if you’re trying to choose between two restaurants, you can provide links to both options for friends to peruse and discuss.
For location-specific searches, Bing will also let you know which of your friends lives in the area. So, a search for Thai in NYC might suggest talking to specific friends who live nearby for a more localized perspective and opinion.
In addition to finding out what your friends know, Bing searches also offer a “What Bing Knows” tab, providing varying levels of information on things like local restaurants, movies, events and people. A “What the Web Knows” tab provides general results from the web.
At the time of launch, Bing executive Derrick Connell told Mashable that the goal of the new Bing is to “surface people, not web pages.”
Which is Best?
What search engine is best depends on how you plan to use it. While Google’s search may be best for gathering information about your favorite sports team or a famous author, Bing may have the search giant beat in the realm of social and local knowledge.
What search engine do you prefer, Bing or Google? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
This story originally published on Mashable .