Did you know that Windows 7 includes doohickeys called Search Connectors that let you search specific sites and services from the comfort of a folder on your desktop? This has been one of the most under-hyped capabilities of Microsoft’s newest OS, but it’s pretty darned convenient and powerful. And I’ve got a selection of search connectors you can install today to try them out for yourself (if you’re running Windows 7, that is).
First, keep in mind that search connectors are add-ons — none come pre-installed with the Windows 7 beta, and by all reports, I’m not expecting any to come with the final product when Windows 7 ships on October 22. Anyone can write a search connector though, and a number of folks already have done just that.
SevenForms, for example, has collected search connectors for YouTube, Flickr, Deviant Art, Yahoo Image Search, Yahoo Video, Technet-Edge, MSDN Channel 9, Bing, and more.
Even better, would you like to add a search connector for your own Web site? It’s pretty easy — here’s the code:
<?xml version=”1.0″ encoding=”UTF-8″?>
<OpenSearchDescription xmlns=”http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearch/1.1/” xmlns:ms-ose=”http://schemas.microsoft.com/opensearchext/2009/”>
<ShortName>Business Hacks</ShortName>
<Description>Search Connector for Business Hacks</Description>
<Url type=”application/rss+xml” template=”http://api.search.live.com/rss.aspx?source=web&query={searchTerms} site:blogs.bnet.com/businesstips/&web.count=50″/>
<Url type=”text/html” template=”http://bing.com/results.aspx?q={searchTerms}+site:blogs.bnet.com/businesstips“/>
</OpenSearchDescription>
Just copy that code into Notepad, replace the bits in bold as appropriate, and then save the file with an OSDX extension. When you double click the file, it’ll install itself in the navigation pane of Windows Explorer. Happy hunting. [via SevenForums]
