August 23, 2005

Google Desktop search evolves

by brian_turner

Google is updating its desktop search software with the facility to suggest web links, personal documents, blog entries and images relevant to the userâ€™s current activity on their computer. These can be instantly displayed in an on-screen panel.

The updated software includes applications that expand the abilities of the panel. It can automatically subscribe to RSS feeds on weblogs and news sites so a user receives regular updates and can monitor different e-mail accounts and display incoming messages as they appear. Users can create a list of most-used documents and files so they can open them as soon as they are needed.

Some of the functions, including the ability to present information about local documents as a user types, are already available in programs such as Blinkx. Yahoo’s desktop search system and Apple’s Spotlight also display real time results.

Other functions, such as the ability to access frequently used files and newly arrived e-mail messages, places Google into more direct competition with Microsoft, as the search engine directly replaces some of the features of the Windows operating system.

Google and other companies including Microsoft, Yahoo, AOL and Ask Jeeves, have been promoting desktop and toolbar search software for the past year, as they compete for market share. According to audience monitoring company, ComScore Media Metrix, Yahooâ€™s toolbar was used to carry out the most US searches in July 2005, while the most browser searches were carried out via Google.

The new test version of Google desktop is available to download and works with Windows XP and 2000.

Questions? Discuss this in our Internet Business forums for help and advice

Story link: Google Desktop search evolves

Add to Bookmarks: