Slashdot Mirror
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.
If you go to toolbar.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/
And of course there was the slashdot article, the other day describing the new Weather feature and Gmail Improvements.
Great! Now if only IE and Windows were out of beta, we'd be set.
I actually use this - as a Server Search tool! Check some instructions ... Not sure if it is going to work with this new Google Desktop Search version - but will test soon.
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!)
Get a free iPod Nano 4GB!
I assume they're not risking their "don't do any bad "-policy for this ?
So what -is- the catch ?
I am fedup with using the regurlar search in Windows, so I am defenitely in for some improvement.
I've had Google Desktop Search installed on my main machine for a couple months now.
.c or .h as text to index them?
What, exactly does it do? Find files by name? I already have a tool to do that.
I mean, it's just another useless service to run.
I'm being serious. Tell me something neat and impressive that I can make it do, so I too can start preaching the genious of Google.
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. I guess it doesnt recognize
If found stuff in a word doc that i made just to test it, but the built in search already does that.
So, what's it do? Why do I need it? Why does this need to be integrated into every app on my desktop?
I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
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.
Beta versions so far have featured a prominent image of Janet Jackson's bared breast as an interface element
No thanks i'm keepin it off my machine!
The GoogleBar better be able to search for a few good mixed drink recipes, otherwise this is the worst bar yet!
I was already disappointed with the ToolBar that did not have any 18v cordless versions.
"The more pity, that fools may not speak wisely what wise men do foolishly" - Touchstone,Shakespeare's "As You Like It"
In other news, SUSE Pro 9.3 is said to be released this Wednesday the 9th, with Beagle (Desktop search) and iPod support, according to the following article which even Novell.com links to on their front page:
0 20 390,39190538,00.htm
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/software/linuxunix/0,39
Is Google Desktop Search > Beagle?
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.
- Jax
The rate Google is making strides to take over and redefine people's www interaction is quite alarming. From the original "just another search engine" beginnings, Google have made a lot of inroads. I see Google ads all over the place. I load the Google toolbar into IE to get an easier search and now I have intrusive "nannyware" that watches over my shoulder like Clippy does: "I see you've done xxxx a few times, do you want to create a shortcut?".
Tinfoil hat time folks.
Engineering is the art of compromise.
I guess I've been using a computer for too long because I have no use for desktop search tools. I learned to make folders and file my files appropriate a long time ago, and as a result, I never have to search for anything.
Don't get me wrong I installed the first Google Desktop Search, thought it was cool as hell, then never used it again. I just don't have a need.
It is controversial because of copyright stuff. Our wise editors forgot to provide a link.
The Google Toolbar now has a spell check built it. Now if it only had a feature that would electricute the user everytime he wrote something in 1337.
Some people object to the information that the toolbar uploads to Google in exchange for using the advanced features.
You can never go home again... but I guess you can shop there.
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.
You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life. --Winston Churchill
"Google Desktop Search can only be used when the account from which it was installed is logged in."
Yep, that lovely message is still there when I try to use it in my main work account.
Oh, well. Maybe next time.
Find every occurence of a name in 400MB worth of email in less than a second. Something that crashes Eudora and takes forever in Outlook.
There is a plugin 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.
It's controversial because some idiots can't tell the difference between an enabled-by-default feature on the default browser on a monopoly OS and a disabled-by-default feature on an optional additional program.
Does this matter in the face of Apple releasing search throughout Tiger in the next two months? Microsoft are behind, but still have search coming in Longhorn next year.
Search is great, but I don't see a value-add for anyone other than the OS company itself to develop it.
As long as Google Desktop encrypts the index to AT LEAST 256-bits, I'll be happy.
Debugging? Klingons do not debug. Bugs are good for building character in the user.
There's been an informal campaign for mozilla suite support in GDS ever since it was launched
Last week Copernic 1.5b was released with full support, now Google are producing the same feature. Coincidence? If so tough luck, I already switched from GDS!
I have been a user for about 10 years. This ends Feb 2014. The site's been ruined. I'm off. Dice, FU
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.
You can never go home again... but I guess you can shop there.
People seem to be overlooking the real news contained in this story: a Google product actually out of beta. Surely a first?
MSN's desktop search tool will search PDF files if you install Adobe's Acrobat IFilter plugin. I've found it valuable several times.
Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult;
whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse.
--Proverbs 9:7
Cool.
.pst file is 724,304KB at the moment.
.pst file at all when I tried it.
I don't delete emails. I happen to be using Outlook, too.
Google search doesnt (the version I tried) index the mailbox.pst file. Maybe it does now. My
So searching all my email for all references to a particular product takes... 29 seconds for a full text search. Less than two for a subject line only search.
Google does this better or faster? How please, because like I said, it didn't index the
If it works, then maybe that's something useful. Frankly though, 29 seconds isn't going to break me.
I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
Uh, read the feature list. If you don't like it, don't use it. Windows built in search won't help you find that website you saw the other day but can't remember now and can't find in your history. Windows built in search is shitty for finding content inside files, and Outlook is shitty at finding content inside emails.
It's just a little better. Enough that it's worth using, while Windows built in search is not.
There are no trails. There are no trees out here.
It tells you upfront when you install it that it will upload certain information (the sites you visit) to Google. You have to make the choice when installing it of what version to use -- there is no default for whether Advanced Settings are turned on or off -- and Google clearly spells it out.
Spyware does not clearly spell out what it's doing, or what it does with the information, or even that it is being installed. Big difference.
You can never go home again... but I guess you can shop there.
There are alot of problems this has with Antivirus and firewall programs. See here for a list.
I'm not sure why NOD32's Internet Monitor affects a DESKTOP search. But I can't use it as long as I'm using my AV program of choice. Does this make sense to anyone? Because I can't figure it out.
BTW: this has been a known issue for a few months now.
DarkMantle I been bored, so I started a blog.
No, they want to attract users.
I think it's awesome that Google has provided this tool to us, and I hope that they release a OS X and Linux versions soon. However, I worry that we may see spyware use this search plugin architecture for, say, rapidly locating credit card information or bank statements...
nope. Shareware means you pay for it eventually. Freeware means you don't pay for it, period.
Windows also needs a plugin.
I thought at the very least, the search tools would have an automatic list of files to EXCLUDE.
Get rid of avi files and iso images (by default) and large archives, and I might actually find whats in front of me.
I hate NOT knowing whats missing, and its worse knowing there is a file right in front of me, but the search tool refuses to index it.
I made my own in the end, and it handles everything I can throw at it.
liqbase
Yes, you can search network drives via a registry modification detailed here:
t ml
http://users.tns.net/~skingery/firefox/GDS_Tips.h
For example: I did a GDS search for the name of a server I was building last week.
Bam. I got every document I had about that server. The online change requests. The service requests to site engineering. The operational handbook I wrote. The inventory spreadsheet.
Wow. That was pretty cool.
I also found out that while GDS doesn't index networked drives/shares, it *will* include documents on the network that you have opened in its search results. That was pretty good too.
It's also useful on a couple of our intranet sites. Just this morning I had to find a change request for a server - using the search mechanism of our change system is difficult at best - but because I could search it in Google, it came up right away.
Photography, technology, and my dog Scout - http://mattstratton.com
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/
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/
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.
Great thanks. Yahoo's desktop thing is starting to get on my nerves.
Why doesn't it also search GMail? That would be a real benefit. Or does it already and i just don't see this listed anywhere?
Kyle
http://www.unlogikal.net/
a) The data on your hard disk isn't encrypted so having an index encrypted doesn't buy you any real security.
b) Even if it was encrypted, the decryption key would have to also be on your computer for Google Desktop to use it anyway so would be fairly easily snarfable by someone who had enough access to get at the index.
c) Google Desktop runs as an http server on localhost. Anyone with enough access to get to the index could more easily query the Google interface directly for whatever they are interested in.
Boffoonery - downloadable Comedy Benefit for Bletchley Park
You're fucking paranoid.
Who cares? Mac OS X Mail.app does this already. It's just like iTunes.
Why use the Google Desktop search when the new Copernic Desktop Search v1.5 beta has so much more?
.php, .c, .h, .) is simple with Copernic Desktop Search (even v1.2) while it is a downloadable add-on in Google.
Comparisons:
1) Searching text files (.java,
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 (for free of course).
This sig donated to Pater. Long live
I'm very familiar with google watch and I've actually quoted the very same exerpt that you have but what do you think this proves? I can link dozen's of pages that claim creationism has been scientifically proven and anything else that I'd like to prove. You said:
"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."
Someone asked you to show them where google's privacy policy makes these claims and then you post from googlewatch.org That's almost (well not really but you get the point) like quoting Microsoft on Linux's total cost of ownership
http://nyamenation.org/
I trust google-watch even less than google.
Here's why.
Google makes a network search appliance that may solve this little dilemma for you.
You can never go home again... but I guess you can shop there.
They've discovered our super-secret technique for extending Firefox!
--
the strongest word is still the word "free"
There is a plugin Here That allows you to search ANY text file, you just have to declare it in the config.
face the world with eyes of fire.
> 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!