Search Provider for Twitter

One of the cool features within Internet Explorer is the “search provider” box, in the top-right hand corner :

This allows you to type in a search value – eg. Nine Inch Nails – and then one-click to search Wikipedia (I use that a lot) – or to Google, Amazon – and there’s lots more available online – AOL, Lycos, Yahoo, ESPN, eBay – just to name a few.

Twitter also has a search page – which is now the surrogate alternative for “hashtags” – which went kaput after the Twitter API was changed somewhat.  No updates or action since July 2008.

Instead, search.twitter.com became the only way to view hashtags – this was especially useful during Tech.Ed 2008 in Sydney – when I could just search for #teau08.  I was even able to subscribe to an RSS feed – and view later.

So – what has this got to do with Internet Explorer ?

Well – you can add a “search provider” to allow you to search twitter – and thus search for hashtags, or other text – and it couldn’t be simpler.

• Just click on “Find More Providers”

• Open a NEW browser tab
• Go to the Twitter Search page – and do a search for TEST
• Copy the URL from the address bar
• Switch back to the “Add Search Providers”
• Paste in the URL :   http://search.twitter.com/search?q=TEST
• Enter a comment/name : Twitter Search
• Click Install

• Just click “Add Provider” on the next screen

Now – the find bar shows Twitter as an option :

 

And you can now quickly & easily search for hashtags – or whatever else you might be looking for – LIVE on the Twittersphere.

Click here to see the Twitter feed for GrumpyWookie.