Although it may go like heresy , Google is n’t the only game in township . Despite Google ’s heavy index and generally excellent results , it does n’t even come close to indexing every page on the Web , and other hunting railway locomotive catch pages Google does n’t . In add-on , because each engine has its own algorithms for determining the ordination in which matches appear , you may find that you get more - useful result on some topics with another tool , such asYahoo , Ask.com , Cuil , or the venerableAltaVista .

Add Options to Safari

One reason more Mac users do n’t utilize these alternative search engines is that Safari ’s built - in search feature is hard - wired to use only Google . Google is also the default option search locomotive engine in other popular browsers , such as Firefox and The Omni Group ’s $ 15 OmniWeb ( ) . But do n’t let that stop you . If you want the convenience of searching from your browser app ’s toolbar and the flexibleness of using another search railway locomotive , you have some options .

If you ’d care to vex with Safari , many third - party ballyhoo - atomic number 49 let you add other search engine to the web web browser ’s toolbar — and most include other helpful features as well . David Watanabe ’s freeInquisitoradds predictive look for to Safari ’s search field of operation : as you typecast , it hazard which search terms you want to use , much as Google does . It also lets you quickly select from various area - specific versions of Google and Yahoo , and you may employ it to add lookup engines that are n’t in the plug - in ’s stock list to Safari ’s search barroom .

If you like the gadget of Safari ’s toolbar hunt theater , but want to employ something other than Google to explore the Web , try a plug - in like Glims . Using its preferences , you’re able to pick out any of legion establish - in search engines or add your own to the tilt .

Glims

If you like the convenience of Safari’s toolbar search field, but want to use something other than Google to search the Web, try a plug-in like Glims. Using its preferences, you can select any of numerous built-in search engines or add your own to the list.

MacHangout.com ’s freeGlimsoffers predictive searching and get you vary or summate search engines . It also adds a long list of other features to Safari . Hao Li ’s $ 12 Saft ( ) lets you type an abbreviation for a search engine ( apply one that ’s included or add up your own ) , followed by your lookup footing , into Safari’saddress prevention — so you may bypass the normal hunting field altogether . For example , you could typeosxh safarito searchMac OS X Hintsfor crown on using Safari .

Adjust Other Browsers

Most other Web web browser make it very comfortable to apply whichever hunting railway locomotive you need — no add - ons required . In Firefox , take a dissimilar one by selecting it from the start - up menu to the left hand of the lookup field of study ; if you need one not listed there , select Manage Search Engines to tot up your own . Similarly , OmniWeb , Mozilla ’s Camino ( ) , Flock ( ) , Alexander Clauss ’s iCab ( ) , and Opera Software ’s Opera ( ) let you choose from several build - in hunt railway locomotive options or add your own . Mozilla ’s SeaMonkey ( ) is the most circumscribed . It lets you choose Google , Ask.com , or dmoz.org and does n’t let you add your own .

Search Multiple Engines at Once

Since every search engine provides different results , you may have to turn back a few before you get the result you need . Why not save yourself a couple of steps and search multiple search engine at once ?

Use a Multiple - Engine Search SiteThe easy way of life to do this is to confabulate a multiple - engine search site in your internet browser . For example , Dogpilecompiles results from Google , Yahoo , Microsoft Live Search , and Ask.com , whilePolyCola.comprovides side - by - side outcome from any two of seven locomotive , let in Dogpile itself .

Get a Serious Search ToolIf you ’re doing across-the-board enquiry , consider a high - power pecker such as Devon Technologies ’ $ 50 DevonAgent ( ) . In add-on to being a stand - alone World Wide Web web browser , it ’s a full - featured research putz . DevonAgent lets you make complex hunting that admit Boolean operator , proximity terms , and filtering — spanning not just a few hunting locomotive but as many as you like .

DevonAgent

DevonAgent can run complex Web searches and then analyze the data for you. For example, select one of your keywords in DevonAgent’s results window to see a network diagram showing how that term interrelates with other common terms that appeared in the search results.

DevonAgent can scarper complex Web search and then analyze the data for you . For example , select one of your keywords in DevonAgent ’s final result windowpane to see a internet diagram showing how that term interrelates with other common terms that appeared in the lookup results .

DevonAgent downloads and analyze all pages that equalize your enquiry and then demo you with a summary of just the results you ’re look for . For case , you could have the program comb stacks of search railway locomotive for PDF files in which either Francis Bacon or Edward de Vere appear within ten word of honor of the termplaybut where the name Shakespeare is not observe ( see “ Beyond Basic Searches ” ) . Although these elaborate searches may take 60 minutes rather than second , they can wrench up results that are far more specific , and more useful , than distinctive Web searches .

fourth-year ContributorJoe Kissellis the senior editor of TidBits and the author ofnumerous einsteinium - booksabout OS X.