Bing's Hollywood fling (photos)

Celebrities (and some not-so-celebrities) turn up on the red carpet on Tuesday, as Microsoft unveils a bunch of entertainment features for its search engine.

Ina Fried

June 23, 2010 10:43 a.m. PT

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Walking down the red carpet

A bunch of celebrities (and some not-so-celebrities) turned up on the red carpet on Tuesday, as Microsoft unveiled a bunch of entertainment features for its search engine.

Microsoft is adding casual games, more TV content, and Zune music and lyrics to the service. Each of several million songs can now be played once for free, with 30-second samples available thereafter. Songs can also be purchased from Amazon, iTunes or Zune.

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A window on Hollywood

With Hollywood as the backdrop, Bing used Sunset Boulevard's Soho House as the venue to announce a slew of entertainment features, including the ability to watch TV shows, play games, or listen to full-length songs from within the search engine.

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Elizabeth Banks hits the Bing stage

Actress Elizabeth Banks was among the celebrities who walked the red carpet on Tuesday at the afterparty following Bing's Hollywood event.

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A power panel

The future of entertainment was the topic of debate for a star-studded panel that featured Twitter founder Biz Stone, actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Microsoft Senior Vice President Yusuf Mehdi, American Idol host Ryan Seacrest, Hurt Locker director Kathryn Bigelow, musician T-Bone Burnett, Hangover director Todd Phillips, and Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner.

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Bing aims to be an American Idol

American Idol host Ryan Seacrest moderated a panel of entertainers and technologists on Tuesday night.

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Actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt was among those who took part in a discussion on the future of entertainment Tuesday. In addition to his on-screen role, Gordon-Levitt runs a collaborative filmmaking project called HitRecord.org.

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Inside the after party

The scene from inside Bing's afterparty at the BOA steakhouse in West Hollywood on Tuesday night.

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You spin me right round

A DJ spins tunes on a MacBook, as Microsoft kicks off its Bing afterparty on Tuesday night.

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Being seen at Bing event

A big part of Hollywood parties is making sure that you are seen, which prompted many people, including these two, to seek out those photographing the event.