Filed under: Internet, Photo, Features, Windows, Microsoft, Beta, Search
A look at 7 Windows 7 federated search connectors
by Lee Mathews Dec 30th 2008
Now that half of the known computing world has gotten their paws on the Windows 7 beta, it's high time to start tweaking and modifying Microsoft's latest OS. One feature begging to be monkeyed with is Windows Search.
Windows 7 supports a new feature called Federated Search. It's based on OpenSearch and RSS2 and enables searching of remote repositories from the Windows desktop. Microsoft embracing Open initiatives? Might there be some less-than-altruistic motivation behind this?
Better desktop searching may mean less browser-based searching, which might allow Microsoft to gain a little ground on Google. Still, the ease of creating connectors and the number of possibilties add some serious cool factor to Windows 7. They're a bit hard to find as of yet, but the popularity of the Windows 7 Beta torrent will no doubt lead to some new ones being created in the coming weeks.
The first one I encountered when running build 6801 was Long Zheng's Flickr Connectr. Though it's a man-in-the-middle solution and slightly slow at times it works well, and you can see it in action in the screen capture above. Image results can be displayed just like other files on your desktop - in list or details view, as thumbnails, or using Windows 7's content view.
Windows 7 Forums has several useful connectors for download, including YouTube, Yahoo, Live Search, Google News, and Google Blogs.
Brandon Paddock of Brandonlive.com has created a connector for DeviantArt. I wasn't able to find the download link on his blog, but you can still download it directly.
Want to see the connectors in action? Read on, and check out the gallery!
Windows 7 supports a new feature called Federated Search. It's based on OpenSearch and RSS2 and enables searching of remote repositories from the Windows desktop. Microsoft embracing Open initiatives? Might there be some less-than-altruistic motivation behind this?
Better desktop searching may mean less browser-based searching, which might allow Microsoft to gain a little ground on Google. Still, the ease of creating connectors and the number of possibilties add some serious cool factor to Windows 7. They're a bit hard to find as of yet, but the popularity of the Windows 7 Beta torrent will no doubt lead to some new ones being created in the coming weeks.
The first one I encountered when running build 6801 was Long Zheng's Flickr Connectr. Though it's a man-in-the-middle solution and slightly slow at times it works well, and you can see it in action in the screen capture above. Image results can be displayed just like other files on your desktop - in list or details view, as thumbnails, or using Windows 7's content view.
Windows 7 Forums has several useful connectors for download, including YouTube, Yahoo, Live Search, Google News, and Google Blogs.
Brandon Paddock of Brandonlive.com has created a connector for DeviantArt. I wasn't able to find the download link on his blog, but you can still download it directly.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
whiskey said 9:27PM on 12-30-2008
YAY! Hurray for Microsoft! Now they will let you find more easily copyrighted pictures for your Powerpoints! Wait, WHAT?
I am sorry... I might be a little slow or maybe dense... But how on earth does this make the OS more secure, stable or reliable?
The thing is that i really cannot find a real practical use for this... More drive by infections for everybody... yaaay! :S
Reply
Malteserr said 9:38PM on 12-30-2008
Damned if you do, damned if you don't
Learn to appreciate things.
Chris said 3:34AM on 12-31-2008
"Oh sure, let's put in tons of security features and stuff that only IT people will actually understand and not put in anything cool for the end users."
Um, no.
whiskey said 3:59AM on 12-31-2008
Business sense, Malteserr... That's what i was expecting to appreciate.
A compelling reason for me (or anyone else) to spend my money on their stuff.
Latest Tech News @ Technology.com.au said 3:36AM on 12-31-2008
Full of information, good and its all about the IT world.
Reply
Willy said 8:05AM on 12-31-2008
Who are those handsome men in the photo above?
Reply
Djblois said 1:20PM on 12-31-2008
Do any of you get the point of this? It is a way to do web searching within Windows explorer. It has nothing to do with realibility, security, etc.... It has to do with functionality. Now you can search your documents and the web all from one window instead of 2!! I am not saying this is the greatest thing because I have not tested it yet and also because I think it can be even more useful but stop complaining about things this feature is NOT.
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Evenio said 3:44PM on 12-31-2008
The phrase "based on" would be setting off alarm bells in my head if I were a Windows user.
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anonymuos said 5:15PM on 1-04-2009
Actually, federated search isn't OpenSearch. Federated search is search which spans over distributed locations and returns federated results.
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Daniel said 8:52AM on 1-15-2009
We liked the Federated Search element enough to warrent spending some time to create one of the first standard web search addons - you can grab it http://mse360.com/blog/?p=36
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