29 Coolest Custom Search Apps Built on Google

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Google released a Facebook application this week built on the Google AJAX Search API. It didn't work for long, alas, but there are plenty of developers creating interesting projects using the API, which basically lets you build your own custom search engine. In this article, we take a look at 29 of the neatest applications that have been built to-date.

See also: A Guide to Google’s APIs

Tools for Blogs

GreenLinks – Allows you to link a word of text to an AJAX-powered results box with tabs to switch between web, blog, news, and other types of Google search.

CybersView – Interesting display of Google results for “Internet life” using blog search, Web search, and YouTube videos.

Xenomachina – Nifty bookmarklet for commenting on blogs that allows you to highlight text while making your post that will pull up a Google search pane.

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Hoctro’s Place – This user has provided cut and paste code and step-by-step instructions for setting up Google AJAX Search in your blog.

Search Mashups – A good, clean example of AJAX search integrates into a blog design. Provides a template with code you can use to do it yourself.

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Google AJAX Search Plugin – For WordPress bloggers, this allows you to add Google AJAX Search.

Custom Search Engines

Atlas – Allows users to create a custom map pulling data from Google Local Search and Wikipedia.

Babelplex – Gives users the ability to search in two languages at once. In this example, English and Korean:

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Windsports – Pulls extreme sports videos such as kitewing, mountainboard, and snowboarding from YouTube and Google Video.

FeedSearch.net – A tool using the Google AJAX Feed API to help you find interesting RSS feeds to subscribe to by searching for keywords.

FoxyTunes – A search engine designed for finding info on artists. The service integrates Google search and YouTube video results in addition to items from sites like last.fm and Pandora.

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Librarian Chick – Uses the Google AJAX API to provide custom search results for book titles, authors, and genres.

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Mashed Tickets – A ticket comparison shopping service that plots music tour locations and dates on a Google Map with additional data from Google Video and Local Search.

Oddflower – A social search engine of sorts combining data on user’s interests with Google Search.

Searchthebeat – Uses Google Search to find mp3s while also displaying relevant videos from YouTube.

Stylehive – Fashion and shopping comparison site integrates a custom Google search within the site.

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The Recycling Center – Uses Google Search to find recycling centers and plots them along with contact info on a Google Map.

Tips-Search – A custom Google Search that finds “Top 15 Ways to do X” type articles. Displays results from Google and Yahoo side-by-side, such as in this example of a search for Firefox tips:

SuccessForce – Integrated Google Search with the leading provider of web-based CRM software, Salesforce.com.

ccFotos – An app that does a Google search and pulls thumbnail images from the sites in the results.

UniCommunity – A different view of Google search results that shows 1 result from each of Google’s main search indices and then allows you to expand and minimize using JavaScript.

Maps + Search Mashups

The unofficial database – Combines Google Maps and Search with its own user review system for finding and learning about restaurants

TrekMap – Combines data from Google Maps and Search and allows users to “marks” spots on a map with information about the location.

Two Minute World – A visual search tool of sorts that allows you to spin around a globe, select a location, and see related search and video from Google.

Wines and Times – A highly detailed site for wine enthusiasts looking to tour different vineyards in the US. Combines data from Google Maps and Search.

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Geocoding UK Postcodes – Step by step instructions for using the Google AJAX Search API to geocode UK postcodes so you can create Google Maps displays.

Generate a Local Map Search – A step-by-step guide to generate code for creating a local map search using the Google AJAX Search API.

Built by Google

Google AJAX Search for iPhone – Built by Google, this uses their own API to optimize Google Web, news, image, and blog searches on the iPhone.

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Google Map Search – Google eats its own dog food, combining data from Local Search with Google Maps.