Microsoft

Five Windows 8 apps that add search capabilities

By // June 27, 2012, 8:51 AM PST // justin_m_james

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  • Introduction

    NOTE: If you'd prefer to view this information as a blog post, check out this entry in our Five Apps blog.

    One of the more intriguing features of Windows 8 is the ability for applications to add themselves as a search provider. This means you can enter a search phrase in Windows 8 and have results pulled from various apps instead of from the operating system itself. While the Windows 8 Store currently does not have many apps in it, there are several that show off the search integration nicely. Here are five of them.

    Photo: iStockphoto.com/sodafish

  • Wikipedia

    Roughly half the Web searches I do are really just shortcuts to get to Wikipedia. With the Windows 8 Wikipedia application, it's easy for me to do this without going to a Web browser. It takes me straight to where I want to be instead of needing to first go to search results and then clicking the Wikipedia link at the top.

  • Amazon

    If I'm not looking something up on Wikipedia, there is a good chance that I want to find it on Amazon, to research the price or which model to buy.

  • Amazon

    The Amazon search in Windows 8, makes it easy for me to hand my money to Amazon.

  • Cookbook

    The Cookbook application by Bewise is a visually impressive application. Looking up food and recipes in it makes me hungry!

  • Cookbook

    Since I eat three meals a day like most folks, I have three opportunities to try something new and interesting. Quickly finding new foods or recipes for old favorites is a joy with this app.

  • Appy Geek

    Appy Geek searches the tech media and does it nicely. It presents the results as a convenient set of pictures and blurb text on the left, with the bulk of the screen for the results. This is a very convenient way to determine whether the results you found are what you are looking for.

  • StumbleUpon

    StumbleUpon's search is unique, in that it does not provide you with a list of results, it takes you directly to a result that fits your interests. This is a fun way to discover new things, much like you can get lost in the Wikipedia "rabbit hole," as I often do.

Introduction

NOTE: If you'd prefer to view this information as a blog post, check out this entry in our Five Apps blog.

One of the more intriguing features of Windows 8 is the ability for applications to add themselves as a search provider. This means you can enter a search phrase in Windows 8 and have results pulled from various apps instead of from the operating system itself. While the Windows 8 Store currently does not have many apps in it, there are several that show off the search integration nicely. Here are five of them.

Photo: iStockphoto.com/sodafish

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Microsoft Enterprise Software Software Collaboration Mobility Cloud Hardware

By Justin James

Justin James is an OutSystems MVP, architect, and developer with expertise in SaaS applications and enterprise applications.