CFA/Search-Research: Difference between revisions

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== General Browser Capabilities ==
== General Browser Capabilities ==


=== Search Engines ===
* [[CFA/Search-Research/SearchEngines|Search Engines]]
* [[CFA/Search-Research/AddressBar|Address Bar]]
* [[CFA/Search-Research/SearchBar|Search Bar]]
* [[CFA/Search-Research/SearchResults|Search Results]]
* [[CFA/Search-Research/SearchThisPage|Search this Page]]
* [[CFA/Search-Research/Other|Future of Search]]


Current Capabilities:
== Purpose ==
* Ability to manage search engines: add, remove, restore default, reorder
Examine a bunch of browsers, existing Firefox Add-ons, and web services to generate a report that describes:
* Automatically check for updates to search engines
* Which capabilities each has
* Highlight notification of ability to add search engine
* A summary of where each is different/unique
* Some conclusions about which aspects seem most innovative and interesting that we might want to consider for Firefox


Upcoming Capabilities:
== Browsers to investigate ==
* Ability to declare a default search engine - FF3 P3? ([http://wiki.mozilla.org/CFA/Search-Research#Search_Engines_2 link])
* Firefox 2
* Ability to use a temporary search engine and then restore the default (one time use) - FF3 P3?
* Camino
* Support search engine shortcut keys (Ryan Flint) - FF3 P2
* Flock
* iCab
* IE 7
* Maxthon
* Netscape
* OmniWeb
* Opera
* Safari
* SeaMonkey
* Shiira


Capabilities in other browsers:
== Add-ons to investigate ==
* Multi-engine search ([http://wiki.mozilla.org/CFA/Search-Research#Multi-engine_search link])
=== Firefox ===
* Local search engines on default
* CustomizeGoogle [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/743 link]
* Answers [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/735 link]
* GooglePreview [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/189 link]
* LinkedIn Companion [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1512 link]
* SearchWith [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/2194 link]
* DictionarySearch [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/68 link]
* Groowe Search Toolbar [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/534 link]
* Loki [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/2306 link]
* OpenSearchFox [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/3698 link]
* Visual-Search Extension [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/5309 link]


Conclusions:
=== Safari ===
* Default search engine: if we were to implement a default search engine option, the Safari and Flock implementations are intuitive.  A right-click on search bar option to set a default engine would have been nice, but I haven't seen it on other browsers.  IE's implementation looks like a hack, and Maxthon's implementation made me want to pull out my hair.
* Notify ability to add search engine: none of the sites seemed to do a clear job of this notification.  A stronger visual cue here would help.
* One-time use of search engine: haven't seen it implemented on any other site.  If we decide to implement this feature, we should make it an option, not a rule.
* Multi-engine search: Maxthon's search is noticeably slow, but highly customizable.  SeaMonkey's solution is fast but not elegant, unless the search is esoteric.  Opera's is confusing because of the two search boxes.
* OpenSearchFox is a great FF extension that allows you to right-click any search box, and add it as a search plugin.  Opera has this functionality built in.
* Loki is a very interesting FF extension that leverages a wifi positioning system to integrate your location to your search.  It feels like too much bloat now, but with improved performance, might be meaningful to search.


=== Address Bar ===
* Sogudi - shortcut keyword searches
Current Capabilities:
* Saft [http://haoli.dnsalias.com/Saft/ link]
* Drag and drop search
* Insquisitor [http://www.43folders.com/2004/09/06/sogudi-for-searching-via-safaris-location-bar/ link] - rich search results, autocomplete, search suggestions
* Ability to browse by name from address bar (keyword.URL)


Capabilities in other browsers:
== Meeting Takeaways ==
* Customized keyword web searches - opera [http://wiki.mozilla.org/CFA/Search-Research#Address_Bar_2 link]
* Search Engines
* URL alias - maxthon
** Multiple search engines - slow, not useful for most users
* Search bookmarks and history from Address Bar - IE
** Implement default search engine selection and one-time search engine use
 
*** one-time search engine use could be a specific configurable keystroke (as in Inquisitor)
Additional features:
** Need a better way to notify users of the ability to add a search engine; Google Toolbar has a more in-your-face way of asking you
* Unified search - results include bookmarks, URL history, search history and the web
* Address Bar
* Autocomplete keywords
** Investigate way to integrate Search Bar and Address Bar into a unified search mechanism (one bar instead of two)
 
** Unlock ability to use search engines through keywords in the address bar
Conclusions:
* Search Bar
* When adding a search engine to Opera, we are able to create a keyword for using it.  It notifies if a keyword is already being used.  Very convenient!  Also, when typing a keyword in Opera, there are visual cues to let the user know beforehand which page would be displayed.
** Suggestions are being cut off
* Some browsers such as Maxthon and Safari w/ Sogudi allow users to add keywords for specific sites that are not search engines.
*** gavinbot - truncate beginning of similar results (doesn't work w/ yahoo suggests, which may not follow what you've typed so far)
* IE suggests bookmarks and history when users type in the address bar while all other sites only suggest history.
*** shift box to the right
* There are no unified searches because the address bar and search bar are separate in every browser.
** Word "Suggestion" is being cut off (fixed)
 
* Search Results
=== Search Bar ===
** We like Inquisitor - use 3 search results because that's all people look at.  But, use green URLs, blue Titles, just like Google search results.  Does it breach our Google contract though since users can bypass Google search results pages (and ads)?
Current Capabilities:
* Search this Page
* highlight entire search field when clicking in the box
** Search this site should be an extension of Find in this Page
* drag and drop search
** Change UI of find as you type because it is for accessibility whereas regular users use find in page
* highlight, right-click, and search
* Future of Search
* button information on mouse-over
** Integrate QuickSilver-type functionality into the browser; that is, have hotkeys to do searches on the browser on a pop-up layer above the webpage, w/o needing a search bar
 
** Introduce and test a unified address/search bar for the QS pop-up, and then tweak it later for the main browser window implementation
Upcoming Capabilities:
** Rich search results (a la askx.com with blogs, videos, images, news, weather, maps, etc. in search results depending on query)
* Resizable search bar (Neil Deakin) - FF3 P2
** Helping people search (providing suggestions, helping users write queries)
 
*** Visual-Search Extension?
Features on other browsers:
* SnapBack - safari
* button to clear search field - safari
* search this site - camino
* Search bookmarks and history from Search Bar - flock
* wrap up feature for search engines, to search all at once - maxthon
 
Additional features:
* keyword web searches
* support for multiple search boxes - Groowe Search Toolbar - FF add-on
* site-specific search using search box - google
* targeted search options: audio/video podcast, photo, code, technorati searches
 
=== Search Results ===
Current Capabilities:
* show recent searches/search history
* offer suggestions to autocomplete searches - FF2
* google calculator suggestions in search box - FF
* display search results in this tab
 
* Rich search results (Gavin Sharp) - FF3 P3
* display in new tab
* display in new window
* display in sidebar
* preview search results - safari
* show matching bookmarks when searching - flock
 
=== Search this Page ===
* search on webpage
* highlight search text on webpage
* match case of search text on webpage
* search for text when i start typing (quick find)
* dim background on search w/in webpage - safari
* match whole word only on search w/in page - opera
* option to search in current window, local files, internet, web cache - iCab
* option to search 2 search engines at once - iCab
* search and replace - omniweb
* search for regular expressions - omniweb
* find in all tabs - shiira
 
=== Other ===
* writing direction in search and location bar - safari
* user profile to save search and other settings
 
== Screenshots ==
 
=== Search Engines ===
==== Set default search engine ====
<b> Internet Explorer: </b>
 
[[Image:Search-Default-IE.jpg]]
 
<b> Safari: </b>
 
[[Image:SE-default-Safari.JPG]]
 
<b> Flock: </b>
 
[[Image:SE-default-Flock.jpg]]
 
<b> Maxthon: </b>
 
[[Image:SearchEngine-shortcut-Maxthon.JPG]]
 
==== Multi-engine search ====
<b> Maxthon: </b>
 
[[Image:SE-mult-Max.JPG]]
 
[[Image:SE-multoption-Max.JPG]]
 
<b> Opera: </b>
 
[[Image:SE-multi-Opera.jpg]]
 
<b> SeaMonkey: </b>
 
[[Image:SE-multi-SeaMonkey.jpg]]
 
=== Address Bar ===
 
<b> iCab: </b>
 
[[Image:AB-shortcut-iCab.jpg]]
 
<b> OmniWeb: </b>
 
[[Image:AB-shortcut-Omniweb.jpg]]
 
<b> Opera: </b>
 
[[Image:AB-shortcut-Opera.jpg]]
 
<b> Safari: </b>
 
[[Image:AB-shortcut-Safari.jpg]]
 
<b> Internet Explorer: </b>
 
[[Image:ABsearchbookmarkIE.JPG]]
 
<b> SeaMonkey: </b>
 
[[Image:ABoptionsSeaMonkey.jpg]]
 
=== Search Bar ===
[[Image:SBsnapbackSafari.JPG]]
 
[[Image:SBclearsearchSafari.JPG]]
 
[[Image:SearchBar-settings-Google.JPG]]
 
=== Search Results ===
 
=== Search this Page ===

Latest revision as of 20:05, 19 July 2007

« Comparative Feature Analyses
« Search Notes

General Browser Capabilities

Purpose

Examine a bunch of browsers, existing Firefox Add-ons, and web services to generate a report that describes:

  • Which capabilities each has
  • A summary of where each is different/unique
  • Some conclusions about which aspects seem most innovative and interesting that we might want to consider for Firefox

Browsers to investigate

  • Firefox 2
  • Camino
  • Flock
  • iCab
  • IE 7
  • Maxthon
  • Netscape
  • OmniWeb
  • Opera
  • Safari
  • SeaMonkey
  • Shiira

Add-ons to investigate

Firefox

Safari

  • Sogudi - shortcut keyword searches
  • Saft link
  • Insquisitor link - rich search results, autocomplete, search suggestions

Meeting Takeaways

  • Search Engines
    • Multiple search engines - slow, not useful for most users
    • Implement default search engine selection and one-time search engine use
      • one-time search engine use could be a specific configurable keystroke (as in Inquisitor)
    • Need a better way to notify users of the ability to add a search engine; Google Toolbar has a more in-your-face way of asking you
  • Address Bar
    • Investigate way to integrate Search Bar and Address Bar into a unified search mechanism (one bar instead of two)
    • Unlock ability to use search engines through keywords in the address bar
  • Search Bar
    • Suggestions are being cut off
      • gavinbot - truncate beginning of similar results (doesn't work w/ yahoo suggests, which may not follow what you've typed so far)
      • shift box to the right
    • Word "Suggestion" is being cut off (fixed)
  • Search Results
    • We like Inquisitor - use 3 search results because that's all people look at. But, use green URLs, blue Titles, just like Google search results. Does it breach our Google contract though since users can bypass Google search results pages (and ads)?
  • Search this Page
    • Search this site should be an extension of Find in this Page
    • Change UI of find as you type because it is for accessibility whereas regular users use find in page
  • Future of Search
    • Integrate QuickSilver-type functionality into the browser; that is, have hotkeys to do searches on the browser on a pop-up layer above the webpage, w/o needing a search bar
    • Introduce and test a unified address/search bar for the QS pop-up, and then tweak it later for the main browser window implementation
    • Rich search results (a la askx.com with blogs, videos, images, news, weather, maps, etc. in search results depending on query)
    • Helping people search (providing suggestions, helping users write queries)
      • Visual-Search Extension?
Retrieved from "https://wiki.mozilla.org/index.php?title=CFA/Search-Research&oldid=62805"