Google Desktop search revamp

Paul K · 22-08-2005, 19:27

BBC

Quote:

Google's desktop search software is being overhauled to become a digital helper that reacts to what users do.
The move is likely to intensify competition between Google and rivals Microsoft, Yahoo and AOL.
The revamped software will suggest web links, personal documents and images that might be relevant to whatever someone is doing with their computer.
The tool also automatically subscribes to feeds from weblogs and news sites that a user visits.

Looks interesting
http://desktop.google.com/

Paul K · 22-08-2005, 21:24

Well so far so good, not crashed yet anyway lol. The RSS feed system is useful to have, the weather display is USA only unfortunately but you can get quite a few plugins from the deskbar site to do different things (system resource monitoring etc). Could prove useful if they continue to improve and develop it.

fisheddie · 23-08-2005, 01:17

in a way it;s helping us but it also monitor our activities... are we comfortable at this? just like the RFID chip thing ? ?

Paul K · 23-08-2005, 06:51

Monitoring activities like the RFID chip?

Don't think it's quite like a RFID chip but since you asked about monitoring:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Google

7. Does Google collect information about me?

Google Desktop will not send any personally identifying information, such as your name or address, to Google without your explicit permission. So that we can continuously improve Google Desktop, the application sends non-personal information about things like the application's performance and reliability. Google Desktop may also send information about the websites you visit to Google in order to enable certain features, such as Personalized News, in Sidebar.

Note: This website information is not personally identifiable; however, you can choose to prevent Desktop from sending this information to Google by disabling Advanced Features in your Desktop Preferences.

8. Will my use of other Google services be associated with my use of Google Desktop?

If you send us non-personal information about your Google Desktop use, we may be able to make Google services work better by associating this information with other Google services you use and vice versa. This association is based on your Google cookie. You can opt out of sending such non-personal information to Google during the installation process or from the application preferences at any time.

9. Is Google Desktop spyware?

No. Spyware is software that reports on your activities or gathers personal information about you and sends it via the Internet to third parties without your knowledge or consent. Google Desktop is installed only with your explicit consent. And unlike spyware, Google Desktop does not send personal information to Google or any other third party. Please see our software principles for a discussion of spyware and other malicious software.

23-08-2005, 07:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul

The weather display is USA only unfortunately.

Try putting in a UK post-code - works for me, seems to get feed from BBC weather.

Paul K · 23-08-2005, 07:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnHorb

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul

The weather display is USA only unfortunately.

Try putting in a UK post-code - works for me, seems to get feed from BBC weather.

That will teach me to believe options

Cheers lol

bopdude · 23-08-2005, 08:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnHorb

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul

The weather display is USA only unfortunately.

Try putting in a UK post-code - works for me, seems to get feed from BBC weather.

That will teach me to believe options

Cheers lol

I can't get it to work

keeps telling me that its an invalid zip, anyone have any ideas ??

TIA

Paul K · 23-08-2005, 09:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by bopdude

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnHorb

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul

The weather display is USA only unfortunately.

Try putting in a UK post-code - works for me, seems to get feed from BBC weather.

That will teach me to believe options

Cheers lol

I can't get it to work

keeps telling me that its an invalid zip, anyone have any ideas ??

TIA

Invalid Zip? What are you putting in?
__________________

There's an article of El Reg here about the new version of sidebar and Googles own blurb here. Looks like the desktop search and sidebar wars are warming up nicely lol.

Stuart · 23-08-2005, 09:18

*wonders if it'll be as massive a security hole as the last version.,,

Paul K · 23-08-2005, 09:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart C

*wonders if it'll be as massive a security hole as the last version.,,

Hopefully not or Google would lose a lot of face, trust and custom

(Plus I would expect that would have been the first thing that people would have tried when it was released lol)

Paul K · 23-08-2005, 11:12

Erm because the sidebar will look for relevant information it thinks you may want to look at (on the fly) and displays it for you. The browser would need you inputting the search parameters and doing the work yourself.
Would it not be better to look at the product before slating it without any knowledge of it's abilities or uses? If you still hate it after using it then at least you will be able to post back saying what it failed to do for you.

Paul K · 23-08-2005, 11:57

So if you have never and are never going to run it why bother posting in the thread about it?

You state that you have several programs/ applications etc that do the same thing but that's your decision, others may prefer one tool doing the same job as your multiple app setup.
It's a matter of personal choice whether people stick with what they have or try new things, posting in a negative way about an application you have never tried or used is a little pointless in my opinion.

Each to their own though I suppose.

Stuart · 23-08-2005, 12:52

Could we keep the thread calm please?