Microsoft’s updated Bing’s Facebook “Like” integration “to annotate any of the URLs returned by our algorithmic search results to all users in the US .” The integration, or Liked Results update is aiming to make Bing search results more effectively social, further solidifying the Microsoft-Facebook partnership. “Using Liked Results, the Bed & Breakfast that my friends have liked gets highlighted with their pictures and names – making it easier for me to quickly refine my search and decide where I should stay.”

Chances are, the vast majority of users’ search results won’t become any more social than on Google, but Microsoft is definitely not planning on slowing down with its grand plan. Liked Results is still a relatively fresh point of integration for social interaction.  Every since the initial announcement of the Bing-Facebook partnership crossed the wire, many tweaks and updates have been rolled out. Concerns were raised regarding the sharing of Facebook user data with 3^rd party apps, this being an ambitious and growing search tool.  However, the update to see Facebook friends on Bing’s search list, attention is beginning to turn to Google and its plan of fighting back.

Google rolled out another specialized search feature called Recipe View. Search for specific recipes without leaving the search engine’s pages. The feature offers a broad spectrum of filter options, which seems to make it a very handy tool for Google’s foodie demographic. Google hasn’t forgotten about Bing though, and recently updated its Social Search function.

Social and recipe search are making real-life gains in the online sector, as it seeks contextualization in a constantly changing world.   But international search providers are also extending their reach by growing search services as well.  China’s largest search engine Baidu, who’s market share overwhelmingly surpasses Google’s in the country, may face an antitrust investigation after it was accused of blocking and degrading the search results of Chinese wiki website Hudong.com.