Search in Google Reader

It’s probably one of the most requested feature for the Google Reader, and the lack of it has really kept users from fully using the Google Reader’s capabilities as an “inbox for the web”. There were many times when I wanted to look at a particular post and I still had to go back to Google to search for it, note which blog it was posted (if i really can remember it), then go back to Reader and manually look for that post, then probably star it for filing. Then again if the you have been using Reader for a while and already has a lot of starred items already, then you have the same problem.

I can only guess on the added complexity of creating a search engine customized for a user’s subscribed feeds that made it harder for the Google Reader team to do it, but It’s nice that it’s here. A member of the Reader team announced it in the official Google Reader Help in Google groups, calling it “The feature you’ve all been waiting for…”

The Google Reader search sits on top of the page, consistent with where the feature is found in other Google services. The reader team has been known for it’s radical and innovative approach to user interfaces, and the search feature is no different. While at first glance it looks like any other search feature, closer inspection reveals that besides the main search field, there’s a hybrid text field / combo box that lets you narrow down your search to specific subscription, folder (tag), starred or shared items.

The search result integrates seamlessly with the Reader’s main interface, adding a new “search results” tab in addition to the Expanded View and List View. Each item in the search results shows the title of the post where your keyword was found, the subscription where it was posted, and the date when it was posted.

Now that search is available in Google Reader, your inbox for the web just got smarter and a lot more useful.