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Google Desktop Search Gets Sidebar

By Nate Mook, BetaNews

August 22, 2005, 11:14 AM

Google Desktop SidebarWhile Microsoft may be undecided about a sidebar in Windows Vista, Google has scooped up the idea for its latest Desktop Search release. Google Desktop 2.0 introduces a new vertical window that sits on the side of a user's desktop and features personalized information and search functionality.

Google's new addition, aptly called the Sidebar, can be custom tailored with news, weather, stocks and more. Users can add their own content via RSS feeds and create a photo slideshow using local images or those from a Web site. An e-mail panel even checks for new messages based on a user-defined filter.

But such features are only an example of the possible uses of Google's Sidebar. Each content block is actually its own individual plug-in, and developers can easily create their own panels. Currently available Sidebar plug-ins include a to-do list and system monitor.

The resizable Sidebar can be docked to either side of the screen, and an auto-hide feature keeps the window out of the way when not in use. Panels can contain alerts to keep users informed of new content.

Beyond the Sidebar, Google Desktop 2.0 introduces a QuickFind for launching applications and searching for files. The tool performs much like Apple's Spotlight search that was introduced in Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger, offering results by typing just a few letters.

Google has additionally improved Outlook integration in the new release. A Google toolbar appears within Microsoft's e-mail application to enable quick searching of messages based on a number of different parameters. Other data stored in Outlook such as contacts, journals and calendar items can also be searched.

Other features in Google Desktop 2.0 include support for MSN Messenger chats and the ability for a user to encrypt their search index for added security.

Google Desktop 2.0 is available for download via FileForum.

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By buddhafinder

posted Aug 31, 2005 - 12:27 PM

So far, I like the sidebar, and better than desktop sidebar, which I tried recently. [ducking flames].

However, there is that memory leak, which I hope is fixed soon. I'm at 1.8G virtual memory on the crawler, 1.7G peak private bytes this session. With only 1G memory on a laptop, that is enough to slow everything.

Score: 0

By chriscromp

edited Aug 26, 2005 - 6:55 AM

I love the new sidebar! There's a site which is developing more plugins: http://www.desktop-plugins.com

Score: 0

By The MAZZTer

posted Aug 23, 2005 - 10:53 AM

This software is excellent except for the following:
- Gmail integration is broken
- HUGE memory leak in the crawler component that crashes my computer (and I have .5GB RAM, 1.5GB virtual memory) if it stays on screensaver long enough.

Unfortunately I am forced to not use this software because of especially the last problem.

Score: 0

By ServerMechanic

posted Aug 23, 2005 - 9:24 AM

OK....I actually installed it and I like it.

It's not so bad.

So.....I retract my previous "retard" statements. :)

Score: 0

By ogman

posted Aug 23, 2005 - 9:36 AM

Nice to see someone actually tried the software before commenting. Thanks for doing that...now if we could just get a few others to do the same.

Score: 0

By d3bruts1d

posted Aug 23, 2005 - 9:12 AM

I wish there was some way to increase the front size on it though. I'm running 1600x1200 and can hardly see the text in the widgets. It's easier once they are opened up, but still not great.

The more ability we get to customize it, the better it'll be IMO. It's only BETA, so they've got room to tweak.

Still no Picasa integration or support for multiple GMail accounts. :(

Score: 0

By Vasto

posted Aug 23, 2005 - 10:53 PM

I love you d3, lol

Picasa would be a nice feature.

Score: 0

By Espique

posted Aug 23, 2005 - 5:46 AM

this piece of crap doesn't install if you have some of the most common virus scanners installed (including nod32, norton...).

Score: 0

By wincement

edited Aug 23, 2005 - 9:24 AM

Umm.... blame your scanners; not the program. Norton is the piece of crap in this case IMO.

Try disabling them during installation? I have Avast, AVG, Bitdefender, and Clamwin installed on my PC. On top of that, I have MS Anti-Spyware and Spybot S&D's resident shields running. I had no problem installing this program whatsoever.

Score: 0

By johnk119

posted Aug 23, 2005 - 1:55 AM

isn't it sad how so many speak from an emotional standpoint... it's freak'in software and were here to review it.... so please do so

Score: 0

By wincement

edited Aug 22, 2005 - 5:14 PM

Very, very useful features.

I've already found the Weather, System Monitor, Scratch Pad, and Email panels extremely useful. And of course, the desktop search works great as always.

I would like a few more configuration options for the System Monitor (like Desktop Sidebar has), but this is a great start. It is also fairly light on the system resources.

Again, I can't wait to see the new plugins that will start coming out now. Hopefully someone will make a Winamp plugin fast.

There are already a lot of plugins available. The Gaim log plugin works great (I now have all my chat logs indexed for fast searching!).

Score: 0

By tekka

edited Aug 23, 2005 - 8:47 AM

www.desktopsidebar.com

enough said :)

Score: 0

By DanF

posted Aug 23, 2005 - 4:23 PM

Amen! Desktop Sidebar is a fantastic program that has far more feautres and looks great!

As far as bugs go, I've already seen more bugs using the Google sidebar for 2 days than I have in over 3 months with Desktop Sidebar.

Still, a great product, but there are better :)

Score: 0

By wincement

posted Aug 23, 2005 - 9:26 AM

Thanks...

I sorta already knew about that one...

I used it a long time ago and uninstalled it because it was so buggy.

Score: 0

By brinkeguthrie

posted Aug 22, 2005 - 11:37 PM

The weather doesn't work. it says it's 90 out. it's 76.

Score: 0

By The MAZZTer

posted Aug 23, 2005 - 10:55 AM

The bar probably pulls it's numbers from weather.com or something. Can't blame the bar, it's the fault of whatever incompetant weather station is in your area. :p

Score: 0

By GeorgeSantayana

edited Aug 22, 2005 - 5:10 PM

The desktop search has improved much. I love the RSS, Quick View and App launch features.

The best feature, though? Monitoring stocks. Now I can monitor my huge investment in Alcoa aluminum. With all the paranoid goofballs out there making aluminum hats, I expect a windfall.

Cheers.

Score: 1

By PhoenixPath

posted Aug 22, 2005 - 5:11 PM

rofl.

That was awesome.

Score: 0

By Pegusis2

posted Aug 22, 2005 - 1:35 PM

99% agree with ServerMechanic on this one (the 1 % I don't agree on is the linux thing)...

I use GMail... but that's it. I have other email accounts that have nothing to do with Google. Google is great for searching the net, but that's it. I don't need everyone in the world knowing what's on my boxes... even if the people would be board looking at it. Anytime I see any of these tool bars installed on any one of my clients machines I always recommend that they remove them.

Score: 0

By PhoenixPath

posted Aug 22, 2005 - 4:52 PM

:lol:

Because there's all this proof out there that Google is stockpiling all this info they're supposedly gathering to use in some big evil way, right?

Or is that just the tinfoil bunch spreading FUD to the masses.

Personal information is just that, and Google respects that. When you can show me one instance where that is *not* the case, let me know.

Score: 0

By Pegusis2

posted Aug 22, 2005 - 11:24 PM

It's not the fact that they can or can't... it's the fact that there are idiot hackers and people like the guy who stole all the email addresses from... I believe AOL which was one of their own employees something like 15000000 addresses or something. What about those guys? Do you think Google is impervious to this? Wake up and smell the coffee, better yet pick up a couple at Tims - for me Large one cream two sugar... boys I can almost smell it.

Anyway the point being is that some yahoo could get their hands on this data and for god only knows what reason or reasons and maybe even sell it to.... Microsoft or someone who cares, I don't know... but it certainly could happen. I'm behind a Router and a Firewall... so it really won't effect this particular box.

Score: 0

By PhoenixPath

posted Aug 23, 2005 - 10:56 AM

Oh God... Don't drive, you could get hit. Don't go to sleep, you could die in your sleep. Don't use google, *someone* might get your data...

idiot.

Score: 0

By Pegusis2

posted Aug 23, 2005 - 11:23 PM

That's nice. Although, death is not a problem... $4!t Happens. I've still got 2 or 3 lives left yet any way.

:o) Jesus Loves you man.

Score: 0

By DamienMcKenna

posted Aug 22, 2005 - 9:48 PM

> Personal information is just that,
> and Google respects that. When you
> can show me one instance where that
> is *not* the case, let me know.

Google Web Accelerator.

Score: 0

By wincement

edited Aug 22, 2005 - 10:49 PM

So they collect information about you through the web accelerator?

Wrong.

Of course they keep track of activity on their servers, but it is never personally identifiable.

**EDIT**
I can't spell...

Score: 0

By pjlasl

posted Aug 22, 2005 - 1:17 PM

I have no problem with the stuff google is putting out, I use most of it. When is the Google OS coming out?

Score: 0

By brinkeguthrie

posted Aug 22, 2005 - 3:12 PM

Repeat after me.

GBrowser.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

Score: 0

By PhoenixPath

posted Aug 22, 2005 - 4:36 PM

Nah. Web-based Office Suite. That's what I heard.

Score: 0

By wincement

posted Aug 22, 2005 - 5:04 PM

You're serious? I thought you were just joking before.

Score: 0

By PhoenixPath

edited Aug 22, 2005 - 5:14 PM

Yup. They've got the E-Mail. They're already 1/4 of the way done. Snappy little Calander, document editor, spreadsheet and presentation manager and they're done. Groupware for the masses.

All of the documents will be multi-versioned, online, etc... no chance of losing it to a server crash, or not being able to access it from the local starbucks.

These guys are all about information management, right?

NOTE: This is all BS. Or is it?

Gooser will be out shortly, GoOS will be out sometime in late '08. (The Office suite will hit the net mid '07.) Really. I guarantee it.

Score: 0

By ServerMechanic

posted Aug 22, 2005 - 12:47 PM

Kinda getting tired of all this Google Hype.

So what...

If you want them to collect info about you, your surf habits, your email, and other stuff then you feel free to use it.

I'm tired of Google being the 800lb gorilla.

I don't need Google to do everything for me nor do I need Micrsoft to do it either.

I guess if you want a tiny amount of privacy then you have to use Linux and also run your own email server at home.

Score: 0

By PhoenixPath

posted Aug 22, 2005 - 4:39 PM

> If you want them to collect info about you, your surf habits, your email, and other stuff then you feel free to use it.

What. Ever.

I'd say get a clue, I'd even point out how horribly clueless you are, but it'd be a waste of time.

Score: 0

By wincement

posted Aug 22, 2005 - 12:58 PM

Probably.

Being paranoid must be lonely =/

Score: 0

By jbaltz69

edited Aug 22, 2005 - 12:31 PM

Notice that by using this product, Google collects information about you and your computer files and stores it on their servers for their research benefit. Just FYI.

Score: 0

By PhoenixPath

posted Aug 22, 2005 - 4:42 PM

Your claim is misleading and ignorant.

Just FYI.

Score: 0

By wincement

edited Aug 22, 2005 - 12:57 PM

You forgot to mention that that's only if you choose to use the advanced features.

And Google doesn't store information about your personal files on their servers. The information is stored in an index on the PC, which you can choose to have encrypted as well.

...FYI

Score: 0

By imafurby

posted Aug 22, 2005 - 12:10 PM

sidebar schmidebar, google worked because it was mimimalist. i don't know why i'm bothering to even comment, this is so boring.

Score: 0

By The MAZZTer

posted Aug 23, 2005 - 10:57 AM

You know you can turn the sidebar OFF, right?

Score: 0

By ogman

posted Aug 22, 2005 - 12:29 PM

hmmmmm.....maybe just wanted to hear yourself whine???

Score: 0

By PhoenixPath

posted Aug 22, 2005 - 5:10 PM

Wow, man...back off a bit, okay? You've done nothing but attack folks today.

Take a lesson from my kid and when things get to stressful, sit down, cross your legs, eyes, arms and fingers. Take deep breaths and wait until you cannot hear the blood rushing past your ears anymore.

Better?

Score: 0

By ogman

posted Aug 23, 2005 - 9:30 AM

LOL! Trust me, no stress was caused by your post or my response. I found your post utterly ridiculous and responded appropriately. Had you taken those deep breaths you mention BEFORE you posted, you might not have drawn my response.

Have a great day! :o)

Score: 0

By PhoenixPath

posted Aug 23, 2005 - 11:01 AM

:lol:

MmmmKay...

Score: 0

By ArabianNight

posted Aug 22, 2005 - 12:07 PM

Google does it again!

Score: 0

By PhoenixPath

posted Aug 22, 2005 - 11:54 AM

Mmm...more desktop clutter. Can't really see the point to this unless they come out with some really wicked plugins.

Score: 0

By ogman

posted Aug 22, 2005 - 12:26 PM

You tried it right??? Uh-huh. It has a very nice autohide feature to eliminate the "clutter." And, there are some very nice plugins. So, the point of your post was......?

Score: 0

By PhoenixPath

posted Aug 22, 2005 - 4:47 PM

Wow. Didn't realize I had posted flamebait.

Read this:

"Opinion"

Now this:

"May not be yours."

Okay... got it?

Now...in reference to my trying the software:

I haven't, as a matter of fact. And yes, I assumed it had an auto-hide feature, any decent semi-permanent desktop object would. Do I need it? Would I find it useful? Is it still clutter even if it only comes out when my mouse pointer gets too close?

No. Probably Not. Yes (IMHO).

Relax, man.

Score: 0

By ogman

posted Aug 23, 2005 - 9:33 AM

Dude, my point is this....try the software BEFORE posting. This adds value to your opinion. Not trying it first makes your opinion utterly worthless and a waste of keyboard strokes.

Score: 0

By PhoenixPath

posted Aug 23, 2005 - 11:02 AM

According to you? Well, that'll surely change my posting habits.

Score: 0

By ogman

posted Aug 23, 2005 - 11:43 PM

Nah....but it might encourage a passing thought. Watch for it.

Score: 0

By Pegusis2

posted Aug 22, 2005 - 4:32 PM

I think the man said... Wicked Plugins.... is what the point was. A plugin that gives you more of something might be considered a Wicked Plugin.

Score: 0

By mjm01010101

posted Aug 22, 2005 - 11:47 AM

Did google buy out desktop sidebar people? this looks VERY similar to it.

Score: 0

By wincement

edited Aug 22, 2005 - 12:55 PM

I think it looks similar because they took the idea from the same place DesktopSidebar did: Windows Vista. There really aren't that many different ways to make a sidebar like this.

Score: 0

By fizz

posted Aug 22, 2005 - 11:34 AM

I USED to be a user of DesktopSidebar, but google has done it again for me. Although google desktop search isnt exactly light on resources, it has 3-5 process's that run, with a total of about 50 megs memory..

GoogleDesktop.exe 1,296K
GoogleDesktopCrawl.exe 13,516K
GoogleDesktopDisplay 13,524K
GoogleDesktopIndex.exe 15,412K
GoogleDesktopMail.exe 4,268K

Score: 0

By fizz

edited Aug 22, 2005 - 4:09 PM

Now that its finished indexing, its low on resource usage, this is just a follow up for you complainers :)

GoogleDesktop.exe 3,648K
GoogleDesktopCrawl.exe 2,640K
GoogleDesktopDisplay 12,392K
GoogleDesktopIndex.exe 10,328K
GoogleDesktopMail.exe 3,796K

Score: 0

By wincement

posted Aug 22, 2005 - 5:09 PM

Yeah, so far I've found it to be a lot lighter on system resources than DesktopSidebar was. However, it has been a long time since I used it, so maybe they've improved DesktopSidebar. I don't know.

Score: 0

By ogman

posted Aug 22, 2005 - 12:28 PM

So, your machine is how old and has how much memory? I get tired of the geezer posts about memory. Pop open the wallet and buy a gig or two already!!!

Score: 0

By Pegusis2

posted Aug 22, 2005 - 4:35 PM

Ogman... just wanted to hear himself, he was bored. So am I that's why I am reading about Google - Again. But it's funny to see what Ogman has to knock at today. hehe If anything he's always a good laff.

Score: 0

By PhoenixPath

posted Aug 22, 2005 - 4:48 PM

Seems a tad jumpy today.

ogman... perhaps a bit less caffiene in the mornings, eh?

Score: 0

By ogman

posted Aug 23, 2005 - 9:34 AM

I don't know about the caffeine, but a few less uninformed comments by you would make my day. ;o)

Score: 0

By PhoenixPath

posted Aug 23, 2005 - 11:03 AM

That's funny. I'll be sure to post more since it seems to have such a massive effect on your well-being.

Score: 0

By ogman

posted Aug 23, 2005 - 11:42 PM

Thanks, now I can totally give up the caffiene. ;o)

Score: 0

By Pegusis2

posted Aug 23, 2005 - 11:25 PM

Eh... How's she goin eh? Really, I just don't believe in sharing everything. McDonald's doesn't tell A&W what they put in their secret sauce...

Score: 0

By fizz

posted Aug 22, 2005 - 3:38 PM

Im not complaining, dont get me wrong. One guy posted that DSB was a hog, and i was just posting this to show him. Im not an old geexer, and i dont have a crap machine, unless AMD 64 4700+, 2 G ddr3500, geforce 6800 is crap. I love the new side bar, and if you look at my post, youll notice i said i ditched DSB for this one :)

Score: 0

By wincement

posted Aug 22, 2005 - 5:08 PM

OMG!! I want your computer! Mine isn't bad, but holy crap!

*drools*

Score: 0

By PhoenixPath

posted Aug 22, 2005 - 5:11 PM

I need a mop.

Score: 0

By wincement

posted Aug 22, 2005 - 11:27 AM

Sweet! Can't wait to see the plugins people will make. I never could get used to desktop sidebar. It was heavy on system resources and kept crashing on me*. Hopefully, this one will work better. Downloading now.

*for those of you who love Desktop Sidebar and will say "your system must suck", I have a P4 3.4Ghz CPU and 2Gb of DDR400 RAM.

Score: 0

By Seinfeld

posted Aug 22, 2005 - 6:40 PM

There are some cool plugins I like..:
- Todo (very handy and simple todo list)
- System Monitor
- A cool clock

Score: 0

By TanNg

posted Aug 23, 2005 - 12:28 AM

Try Yahoo's Widget, and you will quickly forget those Google sidebar plugins

Score: 0

By brinkeguthrie

posted Aug 22, 2005 - 11:38 PM

yeah, the clock designs they have are waay weak.

Score: 0

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