Go over to a machine running Windows 8.1 and type something like the city name “San Francisco” on the keyboard.

Don’t open a search box. Just type and press Enter.

The result is a beautiful page with everything you ever wanted to know about the city San Francisco.  It truly is stunning.

Since the dawn of man, we’ve been opening our browsers and visiting Google.com. But what if we don’t have to visit anything?

This represents a potentially BIG win for Bing at the expense of Google. Since Microsoft owns the operating system, they can deeply integrate Bing into it. Microsoft’s clear goal is to search your PC, the cloud, your apps and the web - all at the same time.

New Bing Search experience coming to Windows 8.1 via the Search Charm

Microsoft apparently “looked hard” at how Windows 8 users have been interacting with the modern user experience introduced in Windows 8 and discovered via consumer feedback that users want the ease of having fewer places to search. With the upcoming Windows 8.1 update, users can utilize the Search Charm to find personal items as well as content from the web.

“We’ve been working hard with the Windows team to re-imagine what search can and should mean in the Windows experience. With search in Windows 8.1 our intent is to have one way to find what you’re looking for, no matter where it lives – whether it’s a document on your PC, a photo album in the cloud, an app, PC setting or a website. In just a tap or a click you can play, view, launch, or browse,” Microsoft stated in an official blog post.

The new search experience in Windows 8.1 will be the first step towards an “intent-driven computing experience” that provides images, events, attractions and more, rather than just plain old boring search results. “Modern search needs to be complete and help you find what you’re looking for, whether it’s on your PC, in your top apps, or on the web,” Microsoft adds.

Job well done, Microsoft.

What do you think? Is Google in trouble?  Why or why not?

During the week, Jeff Ogden’s an award-winning marketing expert and President of the nicest company in B2B marketing, Find New Customers. He’s also the Creator and Host of the popular and highly syndicated show, Marketing Made Simple TV.

On the weekend, he’s a father, husband and sports fan.