Microsoft has rolled out a new version of its Bing app for Apple’s iPad which introduces a new gesture called “Lasso” which is a competitive alternative to Apple’s built-in copy/paste feature.
Lasso allows an iPad user to use their finger to draw around any work or words on a webpage to launch a new search from that selection. This is an alternative to using Apple’s built-in tap, drag, and button press using the built-in copy/paste tool, or simply typing the words in the search box.
Microsoft mentions in a blog post that this new feature makes it easier to search for something on a tablet.
From our research, we know that many searches are inspired by things people see on the web. Today, it can be somewhat painful to search on a tablet when you’re engaged in reading something; just copying and pasting pieces of text from a webpage to a search box can take up to nine steps on the iPad. With Lasso you can circle and search in just two steps.
iPad users can download the Bing for iPad app in the App Store.
