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Google Desktop Now on Linux

Posted by samzenpus on from the yes-it-does-run-linux dept.

mytrip writes "Google was set to launch late on Wednesday a beta version of Google Desktop search for Linux in a sign of encouragement by the search giant for Linux on the desktop. Google Desktop allows people to search the Web while also searching the full text of all the information on their computer, including Gmail and their Web search history. Because the index is stored locally on the computer, users can access Gmail and Web history while offline."

9 of 293 comments (clear)

  1. Privacy by PaisteUser · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Does anybody have concern for Google knowing what's on their local disks?

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    root@allevil:~#
    1. Re:Privacy by nickallen · · Score: 5, Insightful

      It's a good point but then shouldn't you extend that thought to all proprietary software? Without the source code any software could be doing a search of your files without you knowing. It seems strange to say you will boycott google search but not other proprietary products just because google's product is software that performs searches. It really depends on how much you trust the vendor when it comes to proprietary software.

  2. Here's the link. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    http://desktop.google.com/linux/index.html

    1. Re:Here's the link. by suv4x4 · · Score: 5, Funny

      And notice the subtle and elegant interface the search is implemented with. That aged, oversized and messy look, a look that says "Linux desktop".

      Disclaimer: yea, I totally mean what I said.

  3. Beagle by prock307 · · Score: 5, Informative

    They have Beagle http://beagle-project.org/Main_Page to compete with, not sure how useful it will be on Linux. But on Windows at work I can finally find my emails and other documents!

  4. I think I'll wait by niceone · · Score: 5, Funny

    I think I'll wait until it's out of beta, won't be long, right?

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    ccalam - acoustic versions of new songs.
  5. Re:Spousal Abuse by EveryNickIsTaken · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Google is a publicly held company, not a soup kitchen.

  6. No 64 bit by JackieBrown · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I wish they would start making 64 bit versions of their stuff so we could quit trying to force install their products.

  7. Re:slocate? by LiquidFire_HK · · Score: 5, Informative

    Because slocate only searches in the file names of files and has to update its database periodically (the latter can be remedied with rlocate), while things like Google Desktop search, Beagle, etc. search inside the files' contents and metadata as well as the names, update themselves in real time, and can show you matches from multiple sources in one place (search results from files, emails, address book, etc.)