RSSGoogle Launches Final Desktop Search
By Nate Mook | Published March 7, 2005, 11:31 AM
Google Desktop Search has formally left its beta confines with a 1.0 release that adds support for Mozilla's Firefox Web browser and Thunderbird e-mail client. The software can also now run as a free-standing search box anywhere on the desktop and utilize plug-ins to extend searches to additional content types.
Google has opened up its search APIs and is encouraging software developers to "create new and innovative applications using the desktop search product." Plug-ins for indexing Trillian instant messaging logs and scanned PDFs and faxes are currently available for download.
Unlike its other search offerings, Google's Desktop Search has been quick to drop its beta moniker. The software was first unveiled last October and has been updated a handful of times since.
However, Google has found itself with fierce competition in the race to monetize the desktop, which may have pushed the company toward 1.0.
Microsoft released its own desktop search in December as part of the MSN Toolbar Suite beta. Yahoo followed suit in January with a desktop search product developed by Idea Labs' X1.
Not to be left behind, AOL launched its Copernic-based desktop search within the AOL Browser beta in early February. Ask Jeeves also made available its beta desktop search client before the end of 2004.
Despite bestowing 1.0 status on its desktop search, Google promises to keep updates coming. "We're proud to take Google Desktop Search out of beta, and we will continue to extend the utility of desktop search for users worldwide," said Jonathan Rosenberg, vice president of Product Management at Google.
— No keyboard shortcut for a deskbar?
— Always opens in IE, no matter which browser you have?
— Can't program it myself, except for Larry's plugins?
— Consumes THREE times as much memory as MSN Desktop Search and Copernic?
— Lacks decent restrictive indexing (I neither want nor need all 50Gb of my music indexed, thank you)
— Does not search the web unless you manually tell it to with the mouse
— Finally, a file I labeled "Remodeling Plan.txt" and searched for as "Remodeling Plan" (in quotes) was listed below 111 other files, most of them htm files with remodeling nowhere in their contents, only the word "plan."
Both MSN Desktop Search and Copernic does all of these. I especially like being able to program MSN Desktop Search to behave how I want, install toolbars in other apps if I want, and I can still list Google as my primary search engine inside it, searching the web with just a one-letter prefix for any search engine. GDS is messed up, and like all Google software, puts far too many restrictions on its use.
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|I really liked Copernic 1.5, but the lack of support for Mozilla (NOT firefox/thunderbird) left me wanting more.
I found more in GDS 1.0. It's using less resources than Copernic 1.5 did. Has built in support for mozilla, and also.. mozilla 1.8a is my default browser... and guess what? GSD opens in Mozilla, not IE. Sounds like it's a configuration problem on your desktop for that problem.
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|Still doesn't work with NOD32. In fact it won't even install with NOD32. As NOD32 is quite a popular AV solution due to its low resource use, I find this situation disgusting.
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|Support for .chm files and third party plug-ins was long awaited in my wishlist http://labnol.blogspot.c...-in-desktop-search.html
Thank you Google.
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|Things I hate:
1. Uses a browser
2. Doesn't allow index of filenames only
3. Doesn't allow indexing manually, I want it done fast how long do I have to wait for this stupid app to finish. My computer hardly ever idles long enough.
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|Yes - Copernic still rules.
The version 1.5 beta is even better and more stylish.
Cheers,
http://labnol.blogspot.com
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|Well, it's faster and searches more stuff now. I like it better than the earlier version of GDS.
I even like it better than the Microsoft Toolbar Suite now. Hopefully in the future they will give us the ability to search MSN messenger conversations too.
Or better yet, give us Google Instant Messenger :)
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|Hey, who knows - Maybe Google will but Trillian and re-brand it. Wouldn't that be something? :)
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|That would be freaking awesome!
Hey, you related to Nate Mook, the dude writing the articles here?
Just curious. :)
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|nah, no relation, but I've been around just as long :)
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