ContentThe AWS OpenSearch Engine on unto.net has a few new features and a slightly different default behavior.
The AWS OpenSearch Engine now supports a “style” parameter that allows the user to customize the way the product search results are displayed. This was added because different uses of the search engine require different ways of reading back the results.
The default, and most verbose, style is “Descriptive.” This will incorporate as much about the product as can be reasonably parsed out. Since each type of product category has a different set of data available to it, this will get more complete over time. Example: Six Feet Under as Descriptive.
The second style is “PriceWatch.” PriceWatch is good if you just want to do a quick search on unto.net., or if you want to follow a particular product closely. Typically one would enter just the ASIN (which can be found on an Amazon detail page) as a search term, then save the search as OpenSearch RSS in their blogreader. (Also, the AWS OpenSearch Engine automatically creates a link to subscribe to a search in Bloglines.) Example: Six Feet Under as PriceWatch.
The third style is “ProductWatch.” This is a very minimal view of a product — and it does not include prices. And for product categories that support it, the results will be sorted in the order, most recent first, that they were added to Amazon. For instance, if you were an avid follower of Radiohead, you could do a ProductWatch search for “Radiohead” and save it in your blogreader. Then, whenever a new Radiohead release (such as an import single) landed on Amazon you would be alerted immediately. Prices are not included in the product description to avoid false updates whenever a price changes. Example: Six Feet Under as ProductWatch.
And lastly, a few more product categories have been added - Instruments, Sports, Outdoors, etc.
On a related note, the bandwidth and hosting costs for unto.net are basically covered by AWS referral fees. So if you happen to find products on Amazon via the unto net or via saved searches in your blogreader, it’s great for me (and no downside to you) — I sincerely thank you. Please let me know how I can make it better for you.