Aug 18, 2011 11:14 GMT  ·  By

Customers running version 14.0 of the Windows Live Toolbar will be able to upgrade seamlessly to the new Bing Bar 7.0, with Microsoft serving the new toolbar through Windows Update. The Redmond company has confirmed via KB 2549984, that Bing Bar version 7.0 is provided as an update through WU to those customers that have installed an older variant of the toolbar, released under the Windows Live brand.

For those users that are wondering, the MSN Toolbar has been rebranded as the Bing Bar.

“An update is available through Windows Update for Windows Live Toolbar version 14.0. This update improves the stability and reliability of Windows Live Toolbar version 14.0. After you install this update, the currently installed toolbar on your computer is upgraded to Bing Bar version 7.0,” the software giant said.

I have never been much of a fan to browser toolbars, and this is why for a long time, I never even dreamed of recommending anything else than ignoring such software, or immediate uninstalling them, in case they somehow managed to sneak through, piggyback riding on other solutions being deployed.

However, after seeing what the new Bing Bar can do earlier this year, I had a bit of a change of heart. It might be a good idea for users to at least try the Bing Bar and see whether it can enhance their browsing experience.

According to Microsoft, the Bing Bar 7.0 installation is designed to resolve a few problems, also introducing a number of new features.

“This update resolves some issues in which the toolbar causes Windows Internet Explorer to crash. Additionally, this update adds new features. These include news, weather, maps, mail, Facebook, search, finance, games, video, rewards, movies, and translation. After you install this update, the following extensions are installed in Internet Explorer: Bing Bar and Bing Bar Browser Helper Object (BHO),” Microsoft said.

The Bing Bar is available for download here.