New Isara Search

[PK]

The new Isara search is a work in progress but we hope you like what it has to offer. It still uses Google but provides many more options.

Features:
- Choice of Web, Image, Video (YouTube), Local, News, or Blog results in convenient tabs.
- Clicking an Image takes you directly to the image.
- The pagination numbers provide real-time results (no extra page load).

Please let us know what you think of the new search results. Have fun!

[ZeroG]

I like the  the tabs on the right. Very nice and fast.

Before, the google search results were a little more limited than what you would get by doing a search right through google. Like you didn't get the 'cached' link or the 'similar pages' link at the end of the small summary. Now it is even  more limited. You don't get the indented entries marking sub-pages on a site. Also, there doesn't seem to be the breakdown in sub-pages when you get a big site like Amazon. You just get the main page and a brief summary. It would be nice if you got all of the results like you get when you query on google. But I understand that may not be possible for an embedded query result.

[PK]

Thanks for the input, ZeroG. You're right, Google keeps a lot of their bells and whistles for their own site.

Like you didn't get the 'cached' link or the 'similar pages' link at the end of the small summary.  Now it is even  more limited. You don't get the indented entries marking sub-pages on a site. Also, there doesn't seem to be the breakdown in sub-pages when you get a big site like Amazon.

The previous Isara search did provide a "Similar pages" link, but didn't provide "Cached" or sub-links. (Note: You can visit the "About Us" page and use that search form to test it. That template still has the old search form in place.) So, other than the "Similar pages", the new and old searches have almost identical results. Personally, I've been using Google for years and have probably clicked the "Similar pages" link once, and have only used the "Cached" links once or twice when a page was no longer available. In other words, not enough to miss either.  Does anyone else use the "Similar pages" and "Cached" links?

For now simply click the "More Results" in the search results page or the Search "Google" link near the top. That will take you to Google's more in depth results page.

Hopefully the new features out-weigh the limits.

[Ginafish]

I have maybe clicked similar pages once or twice, and have clicked the cache only when the original site wasn't available, which hasn't been often.

I do like this set up better than the one we had last week.

[Nick Lane]

Woo! I love the new system. One of my biggest issues has always been the inability to use image search within the results. This is fantastic. The tabs respond quickly and the layout is nice.

PK for the win!

[Sean]

New search is pretty cool.

[ZeroG]

I like the new search also. It must just be me and my obsession with SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and advanced search features. No need wasting our valuable webmaster's time on small things like cached links.

[KitKat]

  The new search is working great!   I'm very pleased with the change. 

[thartley]

I do probably more than your average searching when I am online....I've developed it into a full-fledged hobby.  I have to say, I am just loving the new search.

When my daughter asked me something about "the lady who played in Monster-In_law", in a single search, I was able to pull up all kinds of sites about Hanoi Jane and we had a mini snapshot in history lesson.

When I was searching for something else, I was shocked to find a MySpace page dedicated to all things Anti-Kenny G, and right there on their page was an article written for Laundry Day by one Patrick Kirk Gillock.   

While researching something about biking, I found a blog which featured a link to a trackback I had posted about a biking event featuring artist's works in the Jacksonville area ON ANOTHER WEBSITE.

I really like getting the image links as well as the site links, and having the option for one click over to video, books, news, etc....for my search subject.

Awesome.  I dont care what kind of design changes come up in the future, please keep the search like it is now.  I dont think I could go back to the "old way".

 

[Stasven]

So is search.isara.org still Acorn? Also, are you still working on Acorn or is it being put aside right now?

[PK]

Yes, http://search.isara.org is still Acorn. Last time I went downstairs the server was still on so hopefully it's still working. We haven't been able to add to it's database of crawled sites in a long time. The crawler kept crashing and giving a lot of errors. So when things slow down I'll check into it. But we definitely haven't given up on the idea. It's just, as you said, put aside right now.

What do you think of the new Isara/Google search?

[Stasven]

I rarely ever use the search because Safari's google search is just a lot more convenient.

[Nick Lane]

What do you mean it's more convenient? If Isara is your homepage then the search bar is right there!

[Sean]

I think he means the built in google bar like at the top of firefox.  So if he is on a different page like espn.com and he just wants to find something quickly he doesn't have to go back to the Isara homepage.

I think someone was working on a way to be able to use those toolbar searches as Isara searches, but so far no luck.

[Nick Lane]

Yeah, I got that. I have a search bar in my IE7 too, but I just click the home button and enter my stuff there. It doesn't take any longer than 0.00000215 seconds more than the other way.

[Ming]

I did the same Nick Lane. But people are use to different things.  In the future Isara will develop to that. 
good results and  feel good.  Yep.

[Kamilla]

Not only give Isara searches a better feeling, I really like the result as well with the images etc. An excellent searchengine!

[Sean]

I gotta say, for the movie name game, the searches with the images is paramount.  Really speeds things up

[KitKat]

I gotta say, for the movie name game, the searches with the images is paramount.  Really speeds things up

I agree with you Sean, it's much faster finding images. 

[PK]

UPDATE:
Made a few upgrades to Isara's custom Google search.

- Searches can now handle "quotes" properly
- Actual (long form) URLs can be viewed in search results

Don't forget that you can also search Yahoo, MSN, IMDb, and other search engines if you click their corresponding links on the Results Page (upper right).

Our new member, Ian (hillscott), has made a Firefox/IE plugin for Isara's custom search. All you need to do to install it is to click the "arrow" next to the browser search box.



Then just select "Add Isara.org". That's it!! Now you'll be able to access Isara's custom Google search (and make a difference) any where on the web. Thanks, Ian!!

[Ginafish]

LoL! Love the graphic of the kids pointing out the search box!

[KitKat]

LoL! Love the graphic of the kids pointing out the search box!

Hey, Ginafish, I noticed it too.  Nice touch!