Google is the number one search engine on the Internet. However, the Google Desktop 1.0 search tool for PCs didn’t achieve significant success. For this reason, Google quickly released the updated version, Google Desktop 2.0. So, is this new version truly compelling?
In 2004, Google surprised everyone with the launch of Google Desktop. This is a pure desktop application that allows users to search for information on their PCs as easily as they search the web. Google has now released Google Desktop 2.0, which includes significant changes compared to the previous version.
Simple and Quick Installation
Installing Google Desktop 2.0 is quick and straightforward. However, indexing all files will take longer, so it’s recommended to set the indexing process when the system is idle. Once the installation is complete, the computer will need about 1 to 2 hours to create an “index” for the entire system before search functionality becomes available. After indexing is complete, all the websites you’ve visited, emails you’ve received, and files will be ready for searching. Testing Google Desktop on a computer with an Athlon 64 3500+ processor, 1 GB of RAM, and a 7200 RPM SATA hard drive showed that Google Desktop did not degrade system performance during indexing. CPU usage remained only at 2% – 8% while the system was idle.
Version 2.0 can search through old messages from AOL or MSN messaging programs. Additionally, Google Desktop can search and index files encrypted with EFS (Encrypted File System) used in Windows XP. Similar to the first version, Google Desktop works well with both Internet Explorer and Firefox, while MSN Desktop Search does not support Firefox.
A Fresh Look for Google Desktop
The default Sidebar provides many useful tools such as News, Web Clips, Scratch Pad, Photos, QuickView, and Maps. The email feature can work with Gmail, Microsoft Outlook, Thunderbird, or other email programs. The news section can pull hot content from selected countries. The Scratch Pad allows you to cycle through images available in the “My Pictures” folder. The weather forecast is limited to states and cities in the United States, which may not be very practical for you… Lastly, the search box at the bottom of this Sidebar can be somewhat confusing. However, if you don’t like the Sidebar interface due to its space consumption, you can switch to the Deskbar interface (which can be docked to the Windows Taskbar) or the Floating Deskbar interface that can be placed anywhere you like.
When you type a keyword into the search box, results will appear in a pop-up window. Google Desktop can filter results by clicking on “Web pages” or “email,” providing relevant results swiftly. Similar to the Google web search tool, the Google Desktop interface is quite simple. Clicking on the email option will show search results in the browser. Google Desktop does not require the email application to be open, allowing you to read email content directly in the browser. If desired, you can still set options to read emails and search for information within email applications.
If you’re a news junkie, you can expand Web clips and choose to read RSS news directly in the Sidebar, eliminating less useful options like stock prices and weather. It’s great that Google Desktop selects information tailored to your interests based on your web browsing habits, so you don’t have to set it up manually. Furthermore, new emails will appear in the sidebar. During testing, Google Desktop was able to search for newly received emails across email programs in just a few seconds.
Exciting Features
With the new Quick Find feature, you can launch any application by typing a few characters in the search box, which is a fantastic feature, much more appealing than navigating through a long list of menus via Start -> All Programs to find the program you need. This feature is also being developed by Microsoft for its Vista operating system. Google Desktop cannot index zipped files (*.ZIP) like Yahoo! Desktop Search. However, Google offers a module that allows Google Desktop to search for compressed files. You can download it at: http://desktop.google.com/plugins/archives.html
Similar to version 1.0, the Google Desktop API allows developers to create new tools for Google Desktop. For example, the release of Google Desktop 2.0 allows developers to program components on the Sidebar using programming languages like VBScript and JavaScript. Moreover, Google provides a free installer that allows developers to quickly and conveniently create installers for their modules. You can use Google’s Sidebar to control music programs like iTunes and Winamp. If you are a developer and want to join the Google Desktop developer community, sign up and participate at:
http://desktop.google.com/developer
The advantages that have made Google famous are not only its fast search capabilities but also its other attractive features, such as when the computer is idle, the Maps frame will automatically showcase beautiful scenes from around the world like Bratislava, Slovakia, and Athens, Greece. When you click on the image, a window will pop up, allowing you real-time interaction… Sometimes work can be tiring and frustrating; this tool can help. Maps will take you on a journey to explore Cairo and its mysterious pyramids, helping you relieve your exhaustion. Google Desktop 2 can also scan the web pages you are reading and integrate them into the map as appropriately as possible.
Another upgrade is the Google Desktop for Enterprise version, designed for administrative purposes and expanding application scope. With this new tool, large companies can set up a data center from the entire enterprise’s information system into the Sidebar. Employees can search for business information using their accounts via the Internet or their company’s Intranet. This is also very beneficial for small businesses. However, Google Desktop does not support Macs.
Search Capabilities
As a search utility, Google Desktop has surpassed other search tools, standing shoulder to shoulder with Yahoo! Desktop. Both of these search utilities automatically index new or modified files, emails, address books, notes, and items in email reading programs. However, Yahoo! Desktop Search still has advantages due to its use of X1, which supports over 300 different file formats. Google Desktop supports fewer formats than Yahoo! Desktop, but it still supports searching for more file types than MSN Search.
Although Yahoo! Search remains the number one PC search tool, Google Desktop 2.0 introduces an “eye-catching” interface that not only provides good search capabilities on your computer but also on the Internet. Google Desktop 2.0 is a significant advancement that allows you to load your desired programs with just a few simple keywords. However, Google Desktop 2.0 may not provide everything you want, but it is still the fastest and simplest search tool available. Google Desktop 2.0 is completely free; you can download it at: http://desktop.google.com
Minh Phúc
