New: Google Adds ‘Subscribed Links’ To Search Results Preferences.

Many folks breeze past it, but Google lets you have some say in how your searches are displayed. Here’s the basic page we’re all familiar with when we go to Google.com:

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To the right of the search box is  a link titled ‘Preferences.’ If you click on it, you can set some basic preferences, such as language displayed, quantity of search results, and what level of adult content you want to see.

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But now, and without announcement, Google has added “Subscribed Links,” which can display specific information, such as calories and protein, or snow information for skiers, directly in your search results.

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There’s even a “Subscribed Links directory.” Here’s a selection of the 48 options.

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Other options include results from Wikimedia, a Flight Tracker, Fandango movie information, Local Gas Prices, Search Engine Watch, weather, and, for you college kids, Cliff Notes.

Here’s what a simple weather search will net you:

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I chose to subscribe to the CalorieLab Nutrition Database, Digg, the “user driven social bookmarking, blogging, and non-hierarchical editorial” information site, and Weather. We’ll see if it’s a benefit, or just gets in the way. One has to wonder if Google Knol will become an option soon!

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