SES Chicago - December 7-11, 2009

May 10, 2006

New Google Desktop Beta Features Google Gadgets

The Inside Google Desktop blog announced the release of a new version of Google Desktop. The new version's main feature are Google Gadgets, some of the many widgets include Weather Globe, Google Calendar and many more.

Developers can also build Google Gadgets themselves, more information on that at SDK Overview section. Let's not forget that Yahoo bought Konfabulator and renamed it to Yahoo Widgets, plus I never use Apple's widgets (i.e. Dashboard).

Postscript From Danny: A few more points not covered in the Google blog post which are covered as part of Google Press Day presentations:

  • It's supposed to automatically suggest gadgets to try based on your web history. Go to a lot of movie sites? Then it might suggest movie-related gadgets, for instance.  
  • The new Google Desktop will sync settings across computers, if you sign in through a Google Account. It will remember your to do lists, gadget preferences and other things regardless of where you are.  

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 2:47 PM | Permalink

March 15, 2006

Google Desktop 3 Leaves Beta, Gains Quick Search Feature

The Google blog announced last night that Google Desktop is out of beta, finally. In addition, Google has added a feature named quick search box that pops up a search box in the center of your screen when you hit your control button two times in a row. Quick Search "enables you to search the web and your local computer." If you do not want this feature, you can turn it off in your Google Desktop preferences area.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 9:45 AM | Permalink

March 6, 2006

Google Desktop Does Not Follow Moved Files

MercuryNews.com reports on a problem in Google Desktop software. When you move a file from a location on your computer to a different location, Google Desktop reportedly does not track that move. So if you search on a file that was moved, after installing Google Desktop, the file will not be correctly presented to you. The problem is, Google Desktop indexes all your files when it is first installed, then it indexes any new files added, but it does not update the index for files that are moved from location to location. The only solution I am aware of is to delete Google Desktop and then reinstall it from scratch - this way Google Desktop indexes your files all over again.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 9:52 AM | Permalink

February 20, 2006

Google Agrees Business Need To Consider Desktop Search Security Issues

ZDNet UK article titled Google admits Desktop security risk has Google recognized the risk. Google has downplayed the risk by comparing the risk-level as high as sending confidential information via email. Google agrees that businesses need to "make its own decision. If they are uncomfortable, they shouldn't enable the feature."

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 12:55 PM | Permalink

February 15, 2006

Boycott Google Desktop Search?

The Electronic Frontier Foundation has called for users to boycott Google's new Desktop Search 3 citing privacy concerns, including Google copying your personal data to its servers. Should you be concerned? I've taken a closer look at both the EFF's claims and what Google really does with your personal data in today's SearchDay article, Google Desktop Fears Overblown?.

Posted by Chris Sherman at 7:51 AM | Permalink

February 9, 2006

Google Desktop 3.0 Raises New Privacy Issues

Chris Sherman wrote about Google's new Desktop Search today. One of the new features Chris describes enables you to "use the Google Desktop to search across multiple computers." USA Today writes that this feature "raises privacy concerns." For this feature to work, Google has to copy your PC's files to Google's servers and then those files are sent back to the PCs. As noted in the USA Today article, "previous versions merely indexed files, without storing copies at Google."

The EFF is worried and warns not to use the feature. Should you be worried? If you are, you do not have to use that feature. But what about the unsuspecting user who doesn't fully understand that data is being stored of a period of time at Google? I can see a reason for concern there. Can we trust Google with our data?

The bottom-line is that we currently have a say, and we do not have to use Google Desktop or that feature in Google Desktop. Also be aware that this feature is NOT turned on by default. If enabled, data is kept only for 30 days if not accessed, Google says. Google provides more info here.

Posted by Barry Schwartz at 3:44 PM | Permalink

Google Enhances Desktop Features

Google has launched Google Desktop 3 (beta), offering a number of new features that should appeal to regular users and may tempt non-users to give it a try. More about the new service in today's SearchDay article, Google Desktop Gets New Features.

Posted by Chris Sherman at 12:01 AM | Permalink

February 8, 2006

Google Testing Software Distribution With Dell, Plus Details On IE7 Search Battle

We covered last month that Google was providing personal home pages for Dell. Dell testing preinstalled Google software package from Reuters now looks at how Google is working with Dell to put Google's desktop search and toolbar on Dell computers. It's said to be a test distribution, at the moment. Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal looks at that and more about the search battle shaping up within IE7.

John Battelle points to Pressuring Microsoft, PC Makers Team Up With Its Software Rivals (paid sub. required) from the Wall Street Journal, which sparked the Reuters story about Google and Dell. The WSJ article covers how Google might pay Dell fees approaching $1 billion over three years for distribution.

The story goes deeper into concerns by Yahoo and Google that the new search toolbar in Internet Explorer 7 might hurt them, since MSN would be the default. Sure, it might. Then again, MSN Search has been the default in IE since at least IE3, if I recall. Despite this, non-Microsoft search engines haven't just survived, they've thrived. Yes, IE7 sports an actual search box this time, but I still think we'll see users change this off the default setting in various ways.

There's lots of detail on Google wanting Microsoft to ask consumers to make a conscious choice about search providers, rather than IE7 automatically using their choice in IE6 (which is probably MSN Search, for most people). It's an odd argument, given that Google has not demanded that Firefox make consumers do similar choices in that browser. A partnership deal makes Google the default in Firefox, except for Asian-language versions where Yahoo cut its own deals.

Chris Sherman is planning our own look at some of these issues in the near future. I'd love to see some universal agreement about how ALL browsers should handle choices of search providers, in terms of how defaults are set and can be changed. What I fear is another round of stealth default changes, where each of the players constantly try to switch you around.

Google and Yahoo encourage you to choose them as a default search provider through their software apps. I don't mind, because I can see they are clearly asking me when this happens. Both also try to encourage you to change in other ways, as you can see here and here. Again, I don't mind, because you can understand what's going on. But a few years ago, other players would just make the changes, leaving users puzzled about why all their searches mysteriously started going through some new search engine. We don't need that again.

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 8:39 AM | Permalink

January 26, 2006

Google Repairs Glitch That Kept Some IE Users On The First Page Of Results

Yesterday, Andy Beal first reported on Marketing Pilgrim (btw, kudos on the title of your blog Andy) with more from RustyBrick on SER, that many Internet Explorer users were having difficulty accessing Google results pages (beyond the first page of results) due to a coding glitch in a promo for Google Desktop at the bottom of a web results page. Today, Elinor Mills reports that the problem has been solved.

From the article: Google said in an e-mail statement: "Earlier today we learned of a technical glitch in a Google Desktop product promotion that may have affected a small percentage of users' ability to click through to subsequent pages of search results. We worked quickly to fix the issue, which has now been resolved."

Btw, when I headed to IE yesterday to check out the problem for myself, I was fortunate not to run into the glitch. I wonder why?

Posted by Gary Price at 2:19 PM | Permalink

December 2, 2005

A Flaw Could Cause Problems for Google Desktop Users Who Use Internet Explorer

Google Spokesperson, Sonya Boralv, has told News.com that Google has just learned about and is looking into a possible flaw with Internet Explorer that lets unknowing users of both IE and Google Desktop to have information stolen from their database of content. The bug was first reported by Matan Gillon, a researcher in Israel.

A security expert quoted in the story said that the bug looks is an IE/MS issue and not one for Google.

From the article: "This design flaw in IE allows an attacker to retrieve private user data or execute operations on the user's behalf on remote domains," Gillon wrote in his description of the attack method. He crafted a Web page that--when viewed in IE on a computer with Google Desktop installed--uses the search tool and returns results for the query "password." To exploit the flaw, an attacker has to lure a victim to a malicious Web page. "Thousands of Web sites can be exploited, and there isn't a simple solution against this attack, at least until IE is fixed," Gillon wrote.

Microsoft is also investigating the issue.

Gillion also mentions in his report that the flaw was not found with Firefox or Opera. He suggests the use of one of those browsers or disabling javascript in IE.

More in the article: IE flaw lets intruders into Google Desktop.

Postscript from Google Spokesperson: "Google takes the security of its users very seriously. We just learned of this issue and are looking into it."

Posted by Gary Price at 9:48 PM | Permalink

December Begins With Plug-In-Palooza for Google Desktop and Sidebar

The first of December has given us a bunch of new plug-ins for the Google Desktop and Sidebar. Here's a quick list. Links to these and other plug-ins can be found here.

+ Blood Pressure Tracker Plugin (Free) "Plugin displays the most recent blood pressure recording from www.bloodpressuretracker.com."

+ GDS [Google Desktop Search] Uploader "GDS Uploader. Add any text to GDS."

+ Today's Deity "Displays "Today's Deity" from the Encyclopedia Mythica."

+ Movies Plugin for Google Desktop "See what's playing at a theater near you!"

+ Laundry Timer "Helps you remember when your laundry is done."

+ Google Earth Plugin "Find Google Earth files on your computer." This plug-in is a beta (of course) and comes direct from Google unlike the other plug-ins listed.

Posted by Gary Price at 3:09 PM | Permalink

November 3, 2005

Google Desktop 2 Leaves Beta

As Gary noted, Google Desktop 2 has left beta. In addition to several product enhancements, Desktop 2 also has new third-party panels and expanded plug-in development options.

Some of the new features include:

  • Personalized Maps Panel ? This new Sidebar panel rotates through maps you've pulled up using Google Maps and local.
  • Enhanced API ? New support for script based plug-ins makes developing panels for Sidebar much easier. Additional details on the updated Google Desktop API are available at desktop.google.com/developer.html.
  • New Third-Party Plug-ins ? Dozens of new Sidebar panels have been developed using the Google Desktop API, including panels for iTunes and Winamp and a dictionary.
  • Enterprise Features ? Google Desktop for Enterprise features new administration, integration and security features for business environments.

Google also launched a Google Desktop Blog. A new post today goes into more detail about the personalized maps and API features.

Posted by Chris Sherman at 6:26 PM | Permalink

November 2, 2005

Google Blogorama: Two New Official Blogs from Mountain View

Two new "official blogs" from Mountain View!

First, as Google Desktop 2 leaves beta (now with more sidebar panels), Google Blogoscoped reports that the Google Desktop now has its own official blog that's titled, "Inside Google Desktop" (not to be confused with Nathan Weinberg's "Inside Google.") Here's our original overview post about Google Desktop 2.

Second, GB also reports that Google now has an official Video Blog that "celebrates" material contributed to the Google Upload Program.

Posted by Gary Price at 8:52 PM | Permalink

October 31, 2005

Google Working on Open Office, After All

Despite recent articles claiming that a Sun-Google hosted desktop productivity suite and common operating system, "is way off base," word comes today that Google plans to hire programmers to improve OpenOffice.org, the Sun developed Microsoft Office counterpart.

It sounds like a typical tentative first-step for Google. From the News.com article:

"We want to hire a couple of folks to help make OpenOffice better," DiBona said.

Google has shown an affinity for open-source software, which are programs developed in the open and available for free. Many of the company's programmers came of age in the open-source era, so advancing the open-source agenda comes naturally, DiBona said. But the company also has business reasons to justify its open-source embrace.

"We use a fair amount of open-source software at Google. We want to make sure that's a healthy community. And we want to make sure open source preserves competitiveness within the industry," he said.

Posted by Chris Sherman at 2:35 PM | Permalink

August 22, 2005

Google Desktop Search 2 Offers New Sidebar Widgets, Outlook Integration & More

Google has released a new version of its desktop search tool. Now in beta, Google Desktop Search 2 offers features such as integration with Outlook, indexing of email at Gmail, a sidebar with nifty widgets to display photos, headlines, RSS feed and a virtual scratch pad. The changes will likely have folks at Microsoft and Yahoo nervous but Google users pleased. Some of the changes will also no doubt kick off another round of speculation that a Google OS may be coming.

Everything Google Desktop Search has offered -- the ability to find and locate things on your computer -- remains. Here's a closer look at what's new in the latest release.

Installation

If you're already a user of Google Desktop Search, you're going to have to download the application and reindex your hard drive. Your current version of GDS will not automatically update with this beta release. If you want an auto-update, it's likely you'll have to wait until the program leaves beta. Also, another question you might be asking, is if GDS 2 available for Mac users? The answer is no. Also, at this point its is only available in English.

The download is still very small and installation is point, check, and click. After beginning the installation process you'll see a page asking you to set your preferences (which can be changed at any time). By the way, note the option to change the default search engine in IE to Google. (-:

Options include being able to search your desktop and Google's Gmail with the Google Deskbar, a floating deskbar, or the new Google Sidebar that stays on desktop when minimized. It provides quick access to not only a search box but to other services from Google and on your hard drive.

Google Sidebar

The Google Sidebar is is the most important "new" part of this beta release and will not only get people talking but also get developers developing.

The Google Sidebar can be placed anywhere on your desktop and offers several new widget/tools within easy virtual reach. However, Google Desktop Search must be running for the sidebar to work. You can't just have only the sidebar part if you want, unfortunately. Google says the sidebar is too dependent on personalizing itself based on GDS activity for this.

The sidebar remains visible unless you minimize it in most Windows applications. Just like we've seen with the Google Deskbar, you can now Google from just about anywhere in Windows.

The Google Sidebar I used last week came pre-loaded with eight panes or panels, each customizable. All eight panels can also be minimized or removed. They also automatically update with new info. The 8 panels offer access to:  

  • E-Mail: This option allows you to see and read new Gmail without having to go to the Gmail site. Your Gmail is also indexed and made searchable via GDS2. The email "window" of the Google Sidebar will also works with Outlook. Take that Microsoft.  
  • News: News headlines from a variety of sources. If you allow Google to know what stories you're clicking on your news headlines headlines will be personalized over time based on what articles you've looked at in the past.  
  • Web Clips: Web Clips is the Google name for RSS feeds. In other words, the sidebar can also function as an RSS or ATOM aggregator. Web Clips also offers an autodiscover function. Say you visit a bunch of sites that have feeds but can't find the feed. Simply click and add them to your list of feeds. Note to Google: It would be nice to have an option to view full text feeds directly from the sidebar.  
  • Scratch Pad: Type and save quick notes.  
  • Photos: Images from whatever folder(s) you store images in are accessible. In fact, you can also view all/some of your photos as a slide show. You can also display photos from an online photo album.  
  • Quick View: Provides access to frequently used web pages and files. The sidebar also offers a new feature called QuickFind that allows you the chance to open any program by just typing a few keystrokes into the search box. For example, you can type the letters WOR to open MS Word. Also, all of the custom search shortcuts that you might have created with Google Desktop Search 1 will be available here.  
  • What's Hot: A combination of different sources to let you know what people are talking about. How something makes the "hot" box is unknown but Google did tell us that presently material comes from blog/RSS engines Technorati and DayPop. I'm wondering if some day certain advertisers or products might make it into the "hot" panel.  
  • Stocks: Current stock prices, customizable  
  • Weather: Current temperatures and a one day forecast for places you set.  
  • Search: At the very bottom of the default sidebar is a search box. By the way, sidebar boxes can be reordered by simply dragging and dropping.

Are sidebars and similar tools a new idea? No. IE has had an "Explorer" bar for years and Firefox offers numerous sidebar plugins like the PubSub sidebar I use regularly. Of course, don't forget the very popular Mac Dashboard. Nevertheless, since Google is now releasing one, the whole sidebar "concept" will likely gain a new audience.

No doubt the Google Sidebar will appeal to Google fans and tech geeks (see below) alike. However, I wonder if all of these bells and whistles, although potentially useful, are just too much for the typical user. Do they really want or need all of these cool services? Of course, one wonders if the typical user knows about or uses a desktop search app in the first place? Sorry for being just a bit cynical. I wish Google and others would spend 1/10 of the time they spend developing new services and use it to teach people how to become better searchers and better consumers of information.

What else does the Google Sidebar do? It gives Google some serious real estate on the desktop. Although there presently isn't a panel that shows keyword advertising, it's easy to envision panels with contextual and local advertising in them. What about sponsored panels for new movies, TV programs, new products, etc. For the record, Google says it has "no plans" on the advertising front.

Google Sidebar API

Google is also opening up the sidebar to developers with an API. I'm sure developers will have a field day developing new panels. The sidebar and the panels available today and those likely be available soon, remind me of what Yahoo now offers with their acquisition Konfabulator and Apple offers with their application. Not familiar with Yaho Konfabulator? Check out Chris Sherman's recent article that looks at all the widgets that Konfabulator brings to Yahoo: Why Yahoo Bought Konfabulator.

Will today's release start a war for who offers the most sidebar apps or Konfabulator widgets? My guess is yes, it will. I'm looking forward to seeing the plug-ins that combine the sidebar with Google Maps and satellite imagery. Kind of killing two birds with one stone for the Google developer.

New File Types

Along with the 14 file types indexed with GDS, GDS2 will now index:

  • Gmail
  • MSN Messenger Chats
  • Outlook Contacts
  • Outlook Appointments
  • Outlook Tasks
  • Outlook Notes
  • Outlook Journal

Outlook Integration

Here's another one for that I'm sure Microsofto will love -- not. Yes, it's the debut of the Google Toolbar for Outlook. If you're an MS Outlook user, look for this box that points you to where the Google's Toolbar for Outlook was placed. On my computer, the toolbar sits next to the MSN Toolbar! In addition to searching your Outlook email, you can also use it to search Outlook You can Outlook Contacts, Appointments, Tasks, Notes, and Journal.

Other Features

Along with what I've mentioned above, the GDS2 beta also offers:

  • Password Protection / Index Encryption (available on the GDS2 preferences page)  
  • Improved Filtering of Results (depending on document type)  
  • One new feature allows you to see a timeline of everything that Google Desktop Searched cached. In other words, at 8:23 PM cached MS Word Doc xxx, at 7:31 cached AIM Chat. Got to tell you, this is very useful.  
  • Options to Search Network Drives

Bottom Line?

For Google Desktop Search fans, it's Christmas (or choose other holiday) in August! This is some cool stuff and yes, Virginia, Google now has an RSS aggregator. I'm sure developers will also be busy building new ones. By the way, if you don't want to use Google Desktop Search to search your desktop, the sidebar is still completely usable. For developers? More Google toys to play with.

Finally, if you're a GDS fanatic and want to let others know about your fanaticism, the GoogleStore began selling a Google Desktop Search Baseball Jersey last week.

Posted by Gary Price at 7:04 AM | Permalink

June 10, 2005

Integrating Google Desktop Search into Firefox

If you're interested in running desktop searches with Google Desktop Search directly from your Firefox search bar, Google has just linked to a new tool from a person at UCLA that can help you painlessly create a MyCroft plug-in. Info and links here.

Posted by Gary Price at 11:14 AM | Permalink

May 25, 2005

Google Desktop Search Now Available in Many Langauges

A post on the Google Blog points out that Google Desktop Search is now available in several languages.

+ French + Italian + German + Spanish + Dutch + Chinese (simplified) + Chinese (traditional) + Japanese + Korean

Posted by Gary Price at 11:12 AM | Permalink

May 20, 2005

Google and X1 offer New Desktop Search Services for Business Customers

A couple of days ago Google announced that Google Desktop Search was now available for enterprise users.

Google Desktop Search, Enterprise Edition is available for free and offers additional security features along with tools that IT managers can use to configure the service across an enterprise. GDS Enterprise Edition also makes IBM Lotus Notes files searchable. Google is offering a premium support package ($10,000 a year for each 1,000 users) for the product that provides "guaranteed response times," access to a support site, and membership in their Premium Support user forum.

More in this NewsFactor article that also includes comments from Jim Slaby at Yankee Group who says that several privacy and security issues still exist.

Also this week, longtime desktop search provider, X1, released " X1 Team Edition" for small and medium-sized businesses. They also offer an enterprise edition of their product.

Posted by Gary Price at 11:14 AM | Permalink

May 19, 2005

Tweak Google Desktop Search

I just came across a new app (freeware) from Nathan Evans that allows you to make several changes to Google Desktop Search without having to go in and edit the registry. You can: + Move your GDS index + Change the drives that GDS indexes, including mapped network drives and attached (USB/Firewire) drives - even your iPod! + Force a manual re-indexing of your drives at any time

Posted by Gary Price at 3:54 PM | Permalink

May 17, 2005

Plug-Ins For Flash, RealMedia Indexing Via Google Desktop Search

Google Desktop Search users might be interested in a couple of new plug-ins that were recently released.

+ IndexSWF Plug-in This is a 1MB shareware file that indexes and makes Flash files searchable via GDS. If available, extracts text and creates thumbnails for flash movies. A free trial is available.

+ GDS Real Media Indexer A 152k freeware file that indexes metadata of Real media video and audio files.

Posted by Gary Price at 10:57 AM | Permalink

May 5, 2005

DVD Software Company Announces Bundling Deal with Google

Dow Jones has a brief article about InterVideo, the company that develops and sells WinDVD Creator, DVD Copy, and Media One announcing a bundling deal with Google. According to the story and this news release, Google Toolbar and Google Desktop Search will be "incorporated" into their products.

Two other bundling deals that quickly comes to mind are + Google's deal with Real Networks + Yahoo and Adobe

Posted by Gary Price at 1:11 PM | Permalink

April 8, 2005

More Plug-ins For Google Desktop Search Now Available

Google Desktop Search users will be happy to learn that the Googleplex has just posted a batch of new plug-ins for the GDS app. You'll find all of them listed here. Here are three new plug-ins that I plan to explore:

+ Google Desktop Extreme "...enhanced interface for GDS." Freeware.

+ CD/DVD Spindle Search Plug-in "...catalogs CDs, DVDs & other removable media and adds files to the Google Desktop index." Freeware.

+ Foldershare: Multiple computer search "search all of your computers running GDS in parallel from any web browser." Free trial.

Posted by Gary Price at 5:14 PM | Permalink

March 28, 2005

Desktop Search, Google Enterprise, and the U.S. Goverment

A couple of interesting reads from Federal Computer Week.

First, the article: The search is on, looks at the many obstacles desktop search tools have in getting a place on government workers desktops. That said, the next article reports that the USDA is testing Google Desktop Search.

Second, Google turns up fed business reports on how several government agencies including Health and Human Services, the Department of Transportation, and the USDA, are successfully using Google's Search Appliance. The article also mentions a few issues that one user from the USDA had with the product.

At the seminar, during which federal officials offered feedback to Google representatives, [Chris] Niedermayer [USDA’s associate chief information officer for electronic government] did note several kinks. He complained about the lack of phone support and documentation for the company’s GB-1001 model, which handles up to 1.5 million documents.

Posted by Gary Price at 4:51 PM | Permalink

March 7, 2005

Google Desktop Officially Launches

Google has formally launched its desktop search application, after a comparatively short beta test period of just five months. Version 1.0 of the desktop search application adds a number of new formats to the list of file types searched and addresses many of the privacy and security concerns raised after the release of the initial beta version last October.

Today's SearchDay article, Google Desktop Search Moves Out of Beta describes the new features and provides instructions for downloading the program.

Posted by Chris Sherman at 12:00 AM | Permalink

December 20, 2004

Google Desktop Search: Security Flaw Found and Fixed

John Markoff in the New York Times reports that a computer science professor and two of his students have discovered a "composition flaw" in Google's desktop search application. Google was notified about the problem in November and is bega distributing a version of GDS with the security flaw fixed on December 10th.

The glitch, which could permit an attacker to secretly search the contents of a personal computer via the Internet, is what computer scientists call a composition flaw - a security weakness that emerges when separate components interact...The researchers said that the Google security weakness lay in the way that Google Desktop was designed to intercept outgoing network connections from the user's computer.

The Rice researchers said that it was possible for users to tell if their version of the Google program had been patched by examining the "about" page from the Google Desktop icon in the browser task bar. Version numbers above 121,004 indicate a newer edition of the program.

Posted by Gary Price at 10:33 AM | Permalink

December 10, 2004

Yahoo Details Desktop Search Plans; Ask Jeeves & MSN Launch This Month

Yahoo has announced that it will release a desktop search product after the New Year, putting the search engine firmly in the desktop search race that Google kicked off earlier this year and that other major search engines have already declared that they'd be entering as well.

Ask Jeeves, Microsoft's MSN and AOL have all confirmed to date that they will launch desktop search applications, leaving Yahoo as the only major service remaining only in "rumor" status. That's now ended.

Yahoo's Plan

Yahoo plans to release a licensed version of X1, a powerful but relatively expensive tool that was recently rated well by CNET. Unlike X1, Yahoo's version will be offered free to consumers. Yahoo also promises integration with Yahoo's web search and other vertical search properties, an integration that will grow over the coming year, as the tool matures.

How exactly that integration will happen remains to be seen. The tool is only now going into non-public beta test, and I haven't yet gotten a copy to play with. We'll report more when that becomes available.

Yahoo did say that it plans for any integration to prevent leakage of desktop search queries from getting back to Yahoo itself. This has been an issue for some with Google's service.

For the most part, Google will have no idea of what someone's searching for on their own computer. However, in some instances where people go from web to desktop results or vice versa, Google could tell that a particular query term has what I call "desktop intent." Yahoo tells me that its tool will eliminate this entirely.

File Types & Interface Issues

Yahoo also touts that its tool will index many more file types than Google's. It's true that Google's tool is restricted compared to existing tools out there, such as X1 or Copernic, in terms of file coverage. But for many, what Google currently covers may be enough -- and it's an incredibly easy tool to download and install.

At only 450K, grabbing the Google application for use takes no more bandwidth than reading a few web pages. In contrast, the current X1 tool is a 6.3MB download. Yahoo's version may be lighter, which would help in reaching out to the broadband-challenged.

Personally, I've also found Google's application-less interface to be very compelling. Unlike other desktop search programs, Google Desktop doesn't require that you go into a particular program to do your search. Instead, you use a web page that looks just like the Google home page, and you get back results that look just like ordinary Google web results. The format is easy to understand and user-friendly.

The downside is Google doesn't provide some of the sorting and refinement options that rival tools offer. Yahoo hopes that will be another reason that consumers seek out its tool.

Yahoo's tool will also offer taskbar searching. This means that you can search using a box on the Windows taskbar. That would be helpful, given that I currently find it incredibly inconvenient that if I don't have a browser open, I've got to take an extra step to start searching with Google Desktop.

I've asked Google if there are plans to add a "Desktop" search option to its popular Google Toolbar or Google Deskbar. The response was the standard "no plans to announce but it's something we'd consider" line. Well, start considering soon! FYI, there is a workaround on this for Google Deskbar users.

Release Dates

Yahoo tells me its tool will go out to the public in early January. That's going to put it behind Ask Jeeves, which launches its own tool next week on December 15. MSN will also be out with its own tool by the end of the year. I'm working with a beta release of that right now but can't comment more beyond that. Instead, here's the latest statement the company is issuing on the subject:

"We have publicly stated that it is our intention to release a beta of our new desktop search technology by the end of the calendar year in the US and our timeline is driven by the quality of the service - we will launch MSN desktop search when we feel that the service has met the quality bar our consumers expect and deserve," said Justin Osmer, MSN product manager.

And AOL? The company plans its own desktop search application that is packaged as part of the new AOL browser that's in beta testing. Any AOL member can access this by signing into AOL, then using the keyword "beta" to reach the beta download area. I've just downloaded the beta but haven't had a chance to play with it. But the desktop search is powered by Copernic, another well regarded desktop search app. It was CNET's editor's choice in a recent review of desktop search apps. (Google Desktop was unrated in that review because it was too new but drew plenty of praise).

And so the timeline recap:

  • October 14: Google Desktop released
  • December 15: Ask Jeeves desktop search due for release
  • December 31: MSN desktop search due for release by this date or earlier
  • January 31: Yahoo desktop search due for release by this date or earlier
  • Sometime In 2005: AOL's combined browser and desktop search should be out at some point

Desktop Search Winner? Searchers!

Will Google having been first give it a key advantage over rivals? Honestly, who knows? We know that over half-a-million people downloaded it in the first two weeks according to Majestic Research. The downloads since almost certainly have exceeded a million if not more, though the actual installed user base is unknown.

As said, the tool is light to download, easy to use and useful enough for many people. In addition, I'd consider it a key search memory feature for Google, which otherwise lacks this type of personalization that most of its rivals offer. More on this in my review of the tool: Google Desktop Search Launched.

On the flipside, the more powerful features some of the rival tools offer, combined with the distribution through major search sites, will certainly grab other users. Those wanting to do MP3, photo or PDF searching, for example, need something other than Google Desktop -- at least unless Google begins to upgrade its beta product.

So who will win the hearts-and-minds of desktop searchers remains to be seen. Chances are, everyone's going to get a share. But the real winners are the desktop searchers themselves. We started 2004 with only a few fee-based desktop search tools. We're going to end with a great selection of free ones, finally -- and long-overdue -- making it easy for anyone to find material on their own computers as they can in searching the entire web.

For more on desktop search, see our Desktop Search category. It lists all stories previously we've previously blogged on the topic. It's available to Search Engine Watch members.

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 2:20 AM | Permalink

November 26, 2004

Google Desktop Download Stats

Searchblog has some early Google Desktop download numbers via Majestic Research.

According to their research, about 1.3 million unique users visited Google's Desktop Search page in the first two weeks of its release, with nearly half (640,000) downloading the application.

John also includes a graph that breaks the numbers into three categories (Worldwide, U.S., and International).

Posted by Gary Price at 11:00 AM | Permalink

November 23, 2004

Extend Google Desktop With gdSuite

Want to limit your Google Desktop searches in various ways, such as by date or within certain folders? gdSuite is a new donationware extension that lets you do this. It's definitely slower that just hitting Google Desktop -- but I'm glad to have the additional options for those times when Google Desktop doesn't find exactly what I needed quickly. That's been pretty rare, but it does happen. Thanks for the tip from ResearchBuzz.

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 10:38 AM | Permalink

October 31, 2004

Google Desktop for the Mac?

Here's a look at three Google stories making the rounds.

+ Google Will Offer Desktop Search for the Mac (via Reuters)

Schmidt did not set a timetable for a Mac version of Google Desktop, saying it had to be rebuilt from the ground up because of the fundamental differences between the Mac OS and Windows.

"We intend to do it," Schmidt said at a University of California-Los Angeles conference commemorating the 35th anniversary of the Internet. > Update: Greg points us to a post on BoingBoing that says Reuters got the story wrong.

+ Steve Rubel at Micro Persuasion reports that Google's Director of Corporate PR, David Krane, is blogging.

+ Google guru shares words of wisdom (via San Jose Mercury News) "Ram Shriram, one of Google's earliest gurus, held court Thursday evening before a crowd of a couple hundred people.

It's all in the grooming. Shriram set out to make sure Page & Brin hired only the very best, or "A" people. He cited the well-known Silicon Valley tenet: Hire only A people, and they'll hire other A people. If you hire the B person, they'll hire C or D people. Someone asked a good question: How did Shriram decide who are so-called A people? Grooming is a part of it. ``I try to find out who their mothers are,'' he said. If they are raised well, they're more likely to make good citizens, employees and entrepreneurs.

Posted by Gary Price at 11:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

October 20, 2004

Google Repairs Security Flaw

In the article: Google fixes security hole, Stefanie Olsen reports that Google has fixed a flaw that was first reported on a Bugtraq list yesterday.

Google's new Desktop Search tool did not prevent a hacker from inserting JavaScript, a programming language, into the Web address of its page image, or logo. "Google was recently alerted to a potential security vulnerability affecting users of our Web site," a company representative said. "We have since fixed this vulnerability, and all current and future Google.com users are protected."

Posted by Gary Price at 9:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

October 17, 2004

More Google Desktop Privacy Worries & A Microsofty's Fear

Another Google Desktop security issue to consider. I was forwarded a note of shock about someone who used Google Desktop and found it was caching his banking details (the same person, it should be said, failed to eliminate those details in the screenshot example illustrating this privacy concern).

Yep, GDS will do this, IF you allow it. Google obviously understood this concern, because it gives you an option to disable caching secure web pages.

Eric Baillargeon illustrates the option in his Google Desktop : Security Warning post. Details directly from Google are here: How can I keep private information out of my results?

Meanwhile, Google Desktop-rival Copernic is touting the privacy angle as a weakness. Google Desktop privacy branded 'unacceptable' from The Register has quotes from that Copernic's CEO David Burns.

David's "stick your hand up if you want Google to know what pictures you have, and what MP3 files you have," quote is a bit extreme. So far, there's no indication the tool is going to report back to Google about what data is stored on your desktop (and its image/MP3 search capabilities in particular are rudimentary, to say the least)

David sent me a similar comment in an email discussion we've had on the issue. He was more general in that, suggesting people would be freaked out if you told them their "private content search keywords" would be sent out over the public internet.

My response was that people kind of do this already. They search for lots of things that are very private via the public web. It's just that many of them don't realize this.

Should they be worried? Aware, yes -- but probably not too worried. My More On Google & Other Desktop Search Stuff expands on this more. See also my A Closer Look At Privacy & Desktop Search and my Search Privacy At Google & Other Search Engines articles.

Meanwhile, the headline of a new San Jose Mercury News article should make Gmail is too creepy author Daniel Brandt smile.

The mainstream Merc writes in Google's Desktop Search is valuable, yet creepy about how the tool keeps track of IM chats some might think are private, how things deleted on your computer are still retained in Google Desktop and how, as mentioned, secure pages can be indexed.

By the way, the version of our Google Desktop review for Search Engine Watch members goes into depth out the issue with deletions still being retained and how things like clearing your internet cache do NOT clear a record of your browsing in Google Desktop.

Finally, another interesting angle on the Google Desktop launch. Uh-oh, it's google spotted via Dirson has someone who apparently works for Microsoft worrying that he's getting so tied to Google that "Google is kicking our butt."

Want to discuss or comment on this post? Visit our Google Launches a Desktop Search Tool forum thread.

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 10:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

October 15, 2004

More On Google & Other Desktop Search Stuff

Below, some assorted reports and comments on Google's new desktop search tool and other similar tools. They cover: a workaround for getting Firefox data tracked by GDS (the acronym that I see in growing use for Google Desktop Search), one blogger's fear GDS has made his computer unstable, AOL confirming it has its own product coming, a recap of products from Google rivals and existing desktop tools, reports of more than a C drive being indexed and revisiting desktop search privacy issues.

Various Reports

  • Firefox history in Google Desktop Search from Jon Udell explains how you can add a hack that lets Google Desktop Search keep track of what you view in the Firefox browser.  
  • A coincidence? from Dave Winer has him uninstalling the tool after finding his system becoming unstable. So far, I've been OK.  
  • Google Launches Surprise Release of Desktop Search from Brad Hill finds that more than his C drive is getting indexed. That's great -- wish it was the case with me, as well. Officially, Google says that only a primary hard drive will be indexed.  
  • Google Desktop from Jason Kottke has a lot of great comments where others are sharing their experiences and tips, including how the cache lets you see document such as Word that may have been password protected.  
  • We had a roundup of coverage yesterday. If we missed something, Nathan Weinberg's probably got it in Who's Talking About Google Desktop? Everyone!  
  • The day after Google released desktop search engine from Robert Scoble has some kind words and also ponders speculation that Google pushed its tool faster than it may have wanted to. Could all those Microsoft search champs, having seen some neat things under NDA, helped light a fire?

Other Desktop Search Products

Robert Scoble hints at what the search champs may have seen without saying it, a Microsoft desktop search tool. I've seen it during my visit up Redmond-way last July. NDA also prevents me from providing specific details about it, but MSN is talking publicly that it will be a standalone application out before the end of the year: MSN Desktop Search Still To Come This Year, Despite Longhorn Delay.

What about AOL, rumored this week to be readying its own tool? The company now confirms that it will have its own desktop search integrated as part of a new AOL browser being tested. More from News.com: AOL launches new portal, tests desktop search.

FYI, Ask Jeeves also plans to release its own later this year. A tool from Yahoo remains a rumor, but one that's not hard to believe.

Via the comments over at John Battelle's summary of some GDS coverage, I came across Michael Wexler's great introduction to desktop searching, along with a list and review of various products: Desktop Search, or just where did I leave that knowledge?

We've mentioned some of these before. Copernic Desktop Search is probably Google's most serious contender at the moment given that it is free and powerful. Gary Price did a review of it here: A New Player in Desktop Search.

Blinkx is also free. Om Malik from Business 2.0 likes it. Gary's not been too impressed with it so far. I've never gotten it to work on my computer, so I'm even less impressed. The same's been true for me of the free HotBot Desktop -- never got it too work. Maybe you'll have more luck. Learn more the tool in this SearchDay article: HotBot's New Desktop Search Toolbar

Gary's testing out dtsearch, so watch for future comments from him about it. That's a paid tool, as is x1 and 80-20. Gary says he uses x1 and likes it. Again, expect more comments from him. ISYS:desktop is apparently another long-standing paid product I was just told about.

I actually bought a copy of 80-20 specifically for email searching about two years ago. It never worked well, so I gave up on it. Instead, I turned to NEO and have absolutely loved it. I've also loved Microsoft's newly acquired Lookout tool. It's free, it works -- if you have Outlook, it's a no brainer to use.

Want more? Chris Sherman's got it on his calendar for a desktop search round-up later to run in SearchDay. But this recap may have you wondering. With so many tools already out there -- and many of them more powerful than Google -- why all the hype about Google?

Revisiting Security & Privacy

The excitement is because Google's tool is free, fast to download and so easy to use that that many people who never had desktop search will get into it now. Google's isn't the best, but it's good enough. Down the line, it will have to improve. Competitors will also improve. The state of desktop search, woefully inadequate for so many now, is going to get much, much better.

It's also why people will have to think more about the security of their desktop. Your data is about to get much easier for people to locate through any of these tools, unless you keep your computer secure. For more on that, see my article: A Closer Look At Privacy & Desktop Search.

Google Desktop Search: Security Threat? from Tom Spring over at PC World also looks at how if multiple users are on the same computer, you can see things others have done.

One thing not covered in my article is the fact that in some very specific instances, Google might be able to tell that you (an anonymous you) performed a particular search with "desktop" intent. I discuss this more in our forum thread, Google Launches a Desktop Search Tool, where privacy has come up. Google itself covers it in its desktop help information: Does Google know what keywords I'm searching for?

Overall, it's not a major issue to me. That's because it's already been an issue that people have worried that Google (and other search engines) might track what they search for on the web. We already search for lots of personal things, so the idea that in the odd instance, desktop search might reveal a bit more isn't that shocking to me.

Of course, it might be a wake-up call for those who've never thought about the fact that the terms they enter into Google or other search engines potentially could be linked to them. POTENTIALLY. My Search Privacy At Google & Other Search Engines article looks at this in more depth and how so far, it's not been a major issue.

If you totally dislike the idea that in some circumstance, Google could tell you (again, an anonymous you) did a "desktop-specific" search, then disable "Google Integration" in your Desktop Preferences settings. After that, if you do a desktop search, never then click on the Web, Images, Groups, News or other links. They take you back to Google itself, with the terms of your last desktop search sent along (in order for those terms to be used to do a different type of search).

Perhaps Google might add a further option allowing people to disable this, as well. That will limit some nice things about the tool -- but it would be great for people concerned to be able to easily do so.

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 12:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

October 14, 2004

Google Desktop Search Becomes Reality

A rumored Google tool to search your computer's desktop became a reality today, a free download available from the new Google Desktop Search site.

I've written (with help from Gary) a long review of the tool for today's SearchDay article, looking at why it is so compelling for anyone who uses Google. In addition, I've done a companion piece on privacy issues people should be aware of when using the tool or rightly, other desktop search tools as well.

There will be plenty of coverage and discussion of the launch from elsewhere, as well. We'll keep a running account of key articles, forum threads and more here. Just keep checking back as the list grows:

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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