Google Adds Features and Plugin to Desktop Search

Matthew Bischoff writes "Today Google added new features to its popular desktop software. Google Desktop now supports alternative Netscape based browsers like Firefox, PDFs, images, video, and music files. Google also added a plug-ins feature so that developers can integrate their software into the Google Desktop catalog. Another new addition is a supported way to search from Google's deskbar software. It's probably a matter of time until we see desktop search integrated into all of the Google products including the controversial Google Toolbar 3." Google Desktop is also officially now out of beta.

Other new google things

[panic911]

If you go to toolbar.google.com [google.com] in firefox (or Netscape, I assume), they now promote the open-source googlebar extension for Firefox. They also offer a toolbar 3.x beta for IE now.

Also, they have setup a download page where you can grab individual download packages, or all of their packages in one zip file. www.google.com/downloads/ [google.com]

And of course there was the slashdot article [slashdot.org], the other day describing the new Weather feature and Gmail Improvements.

Re:Wow, who uses this?

[mobilebuddha]

i don't use google desktop search. copernic desktop search software is much better (at least for me). once you move your emails in outlook from 1 folder to another, google will no longer be able to open up the email correctly. it's also not intuitive as to how one can reindex email/files etc after installation. as much as i like a lot of their services, desktop search isn't one of them.

Re:Is Microsoft out of the loop?

[PxM]

Also, good to see Google isn't doing an eternal beta on this product like its Google News offering (the whole beta thing gets annoying after 2 continuous years!)

That's a legal issue. If Google starts making money from other news sites without actually paying them, then they risk legal action for use of copyrighted material. Right now, they have no ads because this (in theory) puts them in the fair use section

--
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Or a free Nintendo DS, GC, PS2, Xbox [freegamingsystems.com]
Wired article as proof [wired.com]

Spellcheck and PDF

[JaxWeb]

I think most Slashdotters will be pleased (or at least would be, if they used IE) with the new Spellcheck feature on the Google Toolbar. That's a pretty cool feature.

The ability to search PDF's seems like it could be useful if it is actually searching inside the PDF. I haven't actually seen another Windows based tool do that, so for me this could make Google Desktop more than the "toy" it is (for me) at the moment (It doesn't do anything a structured file system cannot).

So good improvements. I can't see what is so controversial about the toolbar though.

Re:Controversial Toolbar?

[oiarbovnb]

It is controversial because of copyright [slashdot.org] stuff. Our wise editors forgot to provide a link.

Re:Controversial Toolbar?

[Martin Blank]

Some people object to the information that the toolbar uploads to Google in exchange for using the advanced features.

Controversial? Misunderstood Is More Like It.

[TheFlyingGoat]

The only reason the Google Toolbar 3 is controversial is because Slashdotters haven't taken the time to look at how it really works. Most think that the Autolink feature creates links that weren't put there by the page's creator (automatically linking an address to Google maps, for instance). In reality, you have to visit a page then click the Autolink button. It's automatic in a semi-automatic gun kind of way. Sure, it's doing a lot of stuff on its own, but it needs you to start telling it to do so before it starts. Not controversial since it's use is optional.

Re:Why? Whats it for? Whats it do

[typobox43]

There is a plugin [google.com] for this new version of Google Desktop search that allows you to specify additional file extensions to search as text files - for example, your .c and .h files.

Re:Why? Whats it for? Whats it do

[Martin Blank]

It finds files by content, and much faster than does the Windows search. Without indexing on, Windows must search every file individually. With the caching on, it's somewhat faster, but still abysmally slow compared to Google's search. There were some very painful limitations until now, particularly the lack of PDF searches. I'm hoping that there will be some ability to customize the searches somewhat further to allow for searching straight text files like .c, .h, or .php.

Google's search utility uses a variant of their own caching technology to make searches much faster. The new plug-in technology will allow someone to make add-ons for searching code.

Re:Keeping porn out of search history?

[Anonymous Coward]

You can pause indexing ... right-click the icon.

Re:Spellcheck and PDF

[Kagami001]

I haven't actually seen another Windows based tool do that

Adobe provides a filter [adobe.com] for the built-in Windows indexing service.

searching pdf

[Dink Paisy]

MSN's desktop search tool will search PDF files if you install Adobe's Acrobat IFilter plugin [adobe.com]. I've found it valuable several times.

Re:google: the next Msft?

[Anonymous Coward]

The rate Google is making strides to take over and redefine people's www interaction is quite alarming.

Yes, Google is "taking over people's www interaction"... BECAUSE THEY VOLUNTARILY DOWNLOAD AND INSTALL IT.

Over the past month or so, people are whipping themselves up into hysterics with paranoia about Google. Take the toolbar, for instance. Loads of people were saying things like "OH NOES! It's fooling people into thinking I'm linking to something I'm not!" when in actual fact, the user is clicking a button to add the links themselves.

Blind panic. Think of the children.

Re:Spellcheck and PDF

[cyngus]

A neat little feature of Mac OS X I'd like to point out is spellcheck everywhere, or rather the potential to have it. With Mac OS X text container you can get most of the features of TextEdit (RTF compatible editor) using the built-in frameworks (NSSpellChecker). OmniWeb did (and probably still does) use this for all text input boxes, so boxes like the one I'm using for this had spellcheck-as-you-type, underlining misspelled words in red. Sadly neither Camino or Firefox has adopted this. For the curious running Mac OS X you can see the spell check process running by using the top command line program. Its called "AppleSpell".

Re:Why? Whats it for? Whats it do

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm hoping that there will be some ability to customize the searches somewhat further to allow for searching straight text files like .c, .h, or .php.

You can download a plugin [google.com] that "enables Google Desktop Search to index any file type as a text file".

Re:Someone please tell me

[511pf]

Yes, you can search network drives via a registry modification detailed here:

http://users.tns.net/~skingery/firefox/GDS_Tips.ht ml [tns.net]

Re:You want to know what the catch is?

[I.M.Anonymous]

Google's privacy policies state that:
1.) Any information on you is fair game.
2.) They will happily turn over any information they have on you at any government request.
3.) Your Gmail may reside on their servers indefinitely, even after you delete it. This may also be "indexed" on their servers and the contents read at any time.

Since you claim that this information is in Google's privacy policy, can you provide a link?

Let me quote first from Google's deskbar privacy policy http://desktop.google.com/privacypolicy.html/ [google.com]

Your computer's content is not made accessible to Google or anyone else without your explicit permission.

Now let me quote from Google's gmail privacy policy http://gmail.google.com/gmail/help/privacy.html/ [google.com]

Because we keep back-up copies of data for the purposes of recovery from errors or system failure, residual copies of email may remain on our systems for some time, even after you have deleted messages from your mailbox or after the termination of your account. Google employees do not access the content of any mailboxes unless you specifically request them to do so (for example, if you are having technical difficulties accessing your account) or if required by law, to maintain our system, or to protect Google or the public.

Now feel free to link to the privacy policy of any company in the USA that claims to protect your privacy even after martial law is declared and claims that your data is deleted from their servers the instant you hit delete.

Re:google: the next Msft?

[efedora]

"My desktop is not for sale as advertising space. If it were, then the revenue generated from it should be MINE, not Googles."
So let me get this straight. You want to use Google tools for free and when they post ads TO YOU you want them to pay your for the privelige?
So don't use Gmail or Google search. Not sure what search engine you will use though. I don't know of a subscription based model with no ads.

Google...make way for Copernic Desktop Search

[dantheman82]

Why use the Google Desktop search when the new Copernic Desktop Search v1.5 beta has so much more?

Comparisons:
1) Searching text files (.java, .php, .c, .h, .) is simple with Copernic Desktop Search (even v1.2) while it is a downloadable add-on in Google.
2) Music/Video/Images are both searchable and *viewable/watchable/hearable* from within CDS while it was just added in a limited capacity in GDS.
3) Thunderbird and Eudora both searchable in CDS and Thunderbird just added in GDS.
4) Smart indexing of *network drives* in CDS 1.5 beta is totally awesome. It is amazing to see what you have instant access to on your corporate network in terms of internally searchable code files and business docs.
5) CDS 1.5 beta searches iTunes, QuickTime and OGG information (artist, album, etc) while GDS is likely more limited.
6) CDS 1.5 has targeted search (search email first, or files first, etc.) while GDS has been known to choose it's own path.
7) The GDS killer IMHO - preview of every major filetype is within the actual CDS search...like DOC, XLS, PPT, HTM, Email, code files and also highlighting search terms in different colors showing their context.

Prove me wrong after you download it and try it [copernic.com] (for free of course).

Re:You want to know what the catch is?

[Frac]

I trust google-watch even less than google.

Here's why [google-watch-watch.org].

Re:google: the next Msft?

[Bullet-Dodger]

Frankly I prefer the honesty of a spam, or a flashing and blinking popup with audio, to what Google's doing. At least I know the spammers intent. I'm not sure what Google is trying to do.

Provide web searching and other services in exchange for you seeing text-ads. They don't slip them in, Google's services have ads as part of them. If you don't like their ads, don't use Google. I can't fathom why you think this is underhanded.

GMail, no thanks. I DO NOT WANT CONTEXT-RELATED ADS EMBEDDED INTO MY EMAIL.

They aren't actually embedded, they're off to the side. And if that's not acceptable to you then fine, don't use it. Google is providing a webmail service in exchange for you seeing ads. Most people don't find the text ads so horrible, and they're not doing anything underhanded.

Re:Why? Whats it for? Whats it do

[Martin Blank]

Google makes a network search appliance [google.com] that may solve this little dilemma for you.

Re:Is Microsoft out of the loop?

[Elwood P Dowd]

Again, there are no context sensitive ads for desktop searches with GDS.

Re:searching mhtml

[Gleapsite]

There is a plugin Here [google.com] That allows you to search ANY text file, you just have to declare it in the config.

Re:Why? Whats it for? Whats it do

[nmg196]

> What, exactly does it do? Find files by name? I already have a tool to do that.

What tool? Windows has something built in, but it will take half an hour to find the file but Google Desktop Search can do it in a few milliseconds.

> Tell me something neat and impressive that I can make it do,

Search your entire email in 20ms.

> I tried searching, for example, for some phrases that I know are in
> some sourcecode files I have. It didn't find the files containing the code.

You were using a BETA. Ever heard that word before? The new version searches anything you want if you install the "any file plugin".

> If found stuff in a word doc that i made just to test it, but the built
> in search already does that.

You can search word document you already have open, but if you have 100 word documents, it will take several minutes if not hours to search inside them for the phrase you are after. You do NOT have a tool which can search them in a sensible amount of time.

> So, what's it do? Why do I need it? Why does this need to be
> integrated into every app on my desktop?

If you install things that you don't even know what they do, your computer must be so full of crap that I'm surprised you can find anything without Google Desktop!