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Yahoo Releases Desktop Search Tool Beta

Posted by timothy on from the beta-would-be-a-great-name-for-software dept.

Rolan writes "Yahoo! has released to BETA their Desktop Search Tool. It has a much longer list of file types that it will search, including compressed files, than the Google Desktop Search Tool. Though, the usefulness of a good number of those file types would come into question for most people."

4 of 191 comments (clear)

  1. Usefulness by papadiablo · · Score: 5, Interesting

    While it's an interesting subject to explore, I'm not convinced of the usefulness of this product. I installed the Google desktop search when it first game out, used it for about a week, and then stopped. Usually I know where things on my computer are, and don't need to search for them. But if I do need to search for them, chances are I will just use whichever application is appropriate to search for them. For instance, if I'm in Outlook and I want to find a mail about something then I'll search in Outlook. I don't want to switch to a browser to find emails. I don't know how applicable it would be for me to want to search through both email and other documents for the same thing. Anybody have some counter examples to share?

  2. open source? by weighn · · Score: 5, Interesting
    this isn't meant to be a troll, but has work begun on an open source desktop search tool?

    A quick peek at sourceforge makes me think no.

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    Mongrel News all the news that fits and froths
    1. Re:open source? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      Now that I'm out of college and I have a job, I'm beginning to realize this more and more... Do open source projects just copy the features that closed source applications provide? ...after the company producing such closed source code finishes spending X millions to research?

      Do open source projects start only as copy-cats? Then the innovation comes from big companies (ahem, IBM, RH) after the project shows a hint of market play?

      I'm still not getting it. People are paid to work on closed source software. People are paid to work on open source software. OSS and CSS are in the same moral camp. It's a capitalistic endeavor.

      Then again, I guess there is no open source spyware. Maybe someone should get to work on that. Then you can trust it, because the source is open.

  3. Clean interface by g_braad · · Score: 2, Interesting

    YDS has a very clean interface with a nice large preview pane, something i disliked in Copernic (small and cluttered at the bottom). Although, I don't think it is the best... it has no specification of which files to index and where from?! i can't specify the directories and probably it also always index Outlook and Outlook Express??? I don't use it.

    On un*x/linux (mono) I like Beagle very much... it can become VERY promising.

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    F/OSS & IT Consultant