Google Releases Beta Version of Its Desktop 2 Search Program
On Monday, August 22, Google released a beta version of its Desktop 2 search program as a free download. Like the predecessor Desktop program, this program allows users to search their desktop as well as network folders and drives. Additionally, the beta version includes a Sidebar panel that displays information based on users’ browsing habits. Sidebar not only aggregates e-mail messages from a variety of e-mail accounts, including Google’s own Gmail, but it also pulls Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds from websites that a user has visited (assuming that website offers RSS feeds).
For Sidebar to pull RSS feeds, it has to track the user’s web browsing habits and send that information back to Google. However, Google spokesperson Nikhil Bhatia said that Sidebar does not send back any personally identifying data to Google and users can opt out of this feature of Sidebar.
Google recommends against using the Desktop 2 search program on computers that multiple users share. Desktop 2 offers the option of encrypting its search index using Windows Encrypted File System (EFS) feature. This option, however, reduces the performance of Desktop 2. Further, users can opt to have certain files not be indexed for the automatic search feature Desktop 2 provides. However, if a user re-reads an e-mail in Outlook that the user had removed from the index list, Desktop 2 will automatically add that e-mail back to the index list. In addition, deleting original files or e-mails that have been cached by Google Desktop does not delete the cached version, which has to be separately deleted.
Google says it is very protective of its user’s private information. Desktop 2 beta, however, sends back the unique application number associated with the user's copy of Desktop 2 to Google upon installation and whenever it checks to see whether a new version is available. The unique application number is required for Desktop 2 to function and cannot be disabled.
Posted by K.M. Das