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Goodbye Microsoft: Siri and Spotlight replace Bing with Google

In news that Microsoft will undoubtedly not be too happy about, Apple has decided to replace Bing with Google as the default search engine for Spotlight on Mac computers and Siri web searches in iOS. This is according to a TechCrunch report issued yesterday.

Things are happening fast — apparently, the switch started rolling out to Mac and iPhone users early yesterday, and by late afternoon it was completed.

In a statement issued to TechCrunch, Apple said: “Switching to Google as the web search provider for Siri, Search within iOS and Spotlight on Mac will allow these services to have a consistent web search experience with the default in Safari.”

Apple is, however, retaining Bing as its default search engine for pictures in both Spotlight on Mac and Siri, while YouTube will continue to handle all video searches in future.



It would appear that Apple has been carefully planning the switch from Bing to Google to coincide with the launch of macOS High Sierra yesterday, and not with the debut of iOS 11 a week ago. Unless you are part of the minority group who still believes that Bing trumps Google in every way imaginable, you will most likely agree that Apple’s decision should lead to an improvement in search results, both in the case of Siri and with Spotlight on Mac.

The iOS search bar will also use Google as its default search engine.

It is important to remember that on Mac and on iOS, search results will all be encrypted. However, as soon as you enter the world of Google, the web giant will start tracking searches in order to serve you with more targeted search results and ads.

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About the author

Chris

I've been a passionate evangelist for Apple and the Macintosh throughout my working life, my first love was a Quadra 605 working with a small creative agency in the south of Norfolk UK in the mid 1990's, I later progressed to other roles in other Macintosh dominated industries, first as a Senior graphic designer at a small printing company and then a production manager at Guardian Media Group. As the publishing and printing sector wained I moved into Internet Marketing and in 2006 co-founded blurtit.com which grew to become one the top 200 visited sites in the US (according to Quantcast), at its peak receiving over 15 million visits per month. For the last ten years I have worked as an Affiliate and Consultant to many different business and start ups, my key skill set being online marketing, on page monetisation, landing page optimisation and traffic generation, if you would like to hire me or discuss your current project please reach out to me here.

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