Blog - Google on your desktop
Google on your desktop
Google has finally released its rumored Google Desktop, which indexes your files and is supposed to make it easier to find what you're looking for by using Google's search algorithms on your own stuff.
The interface is pretty much like Google's, and it's a bit of a thrill to see your emails, files and recently visited Web sites (including a cache which lets you see old versions of pages you've seen!) show up when you type in keywords.
The thing also doesn't seem to be a privacy concern. The application runs as a local Web server on port 4664 (get it? "GOOG" in phone keypad alphabet), which can only be seen locally. Your data is all indexed locally and searched through using the local application.
There is an option to send "non-personal usage data and crash reports" to Google but it's off by default.
So far Google Desktop is only available to Windows XP and 2000 SP3 users.
Via tarosite.net
Update (10:53): ... and the searching is damn fast! This is no Windows file search joke.
Posted on October 18, 2004 at 10:09 | Tweet
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I hope they release it for Macs. I'd like to try it out. It's interesting how you can use the browser (basically the regular Google site) to access all of this.
Then again, Apple will be releasing something similar (Spotlight) in the next version of OX X, Tiger.
Posted by Jean on October 18, 2004 at 11:01
Yeah it is amazing. The power is all server-side and within your own computer, so Google Desktop doesn't rely on any DHTML tricks (as GMail does) and remains a plain and light Web interface like Google.
They'll probably make a Mac version sooner or later.
However, I'm sure Mac users don't have as many reasons to want Google Desktop than Windows users do. :) Even without Spotlight you must already have something more efficient and faster to search your stuff, compared to Windows' file search.
Posted by Patrick on October 18, 2004 at 11:17
At work I use Blinkx (http://www2.blinkx.com/overview.php),made by Autonomy. It does the same thing, works great.
And it's integrated in other programs, like Explorer and Word, so while you are typing a letter, Blinkx is searching for more documents about the same topic you're writing about! While you're browsing the web, Blinkx is searching.. etc.
Sadly, not for Macs (yet).
Posted by Erik on October 19, 2004 at 18:20
Sounds good! Seems like it supports a lot of applications too. I may give it a try. Thanks! :)
Posted by Patrick on October 19, 2004 at 21:48
like Eric, I use blinkx as well. It contextually analyzes your documents and searches for matches, but it will also index those documents into folders with parameters you set up. It’s real easy to install too, just takes a few minutes, and comes with a peer-to-peer file sharing system, so that you can download music and videos.
Posted by Manoj Ramachandran on November 16, 2004 at 09:03