Google search becomes personal

*Akasha* · October 17, 2004, 11:23 PM

Google is expanding the borders of its search empire into people's computers.

The net giant has released a preliminary version of a desktop program that will search computer hard drives, as well as the web.

"We think of this as the photographic memory of your computer," said Marissa Mayer, Google's director of consumer web products.

Others like Microsoft and Apple are planning similar search tools to find information buried in a hard drive.

Privacy issues

Search is becoming an increasingly competitive and lucrative arena.

Google is the leader in this area and the launch of a PC search tool is its latest attempt to become even more indispensable to its millions of users.

The desktop tool can be downloaded for free and lets people search e-mails in Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express, as well as files in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and in plain text.

It also searches web pages viewed in Internet Explorer and instant messages in AOL Instant Messenger.

Google said the software was based on its internet search engine. It takes a while to index a PC hard drive, but after that the company says search results will appear in fractions of a second.

"It's pretty comprehensive," said Ms Mayer. "If there's anything you once saw on your computer screen, we think you should be able to find it again quickly."

Aware of the privacy concerns raised over its e-mail service, Google has sought to stress that the company will not be able to peer into people's hard drives.

"It's totally private," said the Google spokeswoman. "Google does not know what happens when the hard drive is searched."

Other desktop search programs are already available, from companies such as Enfish, X1, dtSearch and Blinkx.

But Google is the first well-known hi-tech brand to come out with a product.

Microsoft is aiming to release a PC search tool by the middle of next year, and others like Apple, AOL and Ask Jeeves are looking to come up with similar products.

Source : BBC News

boscolio · October 18, 2004, 03:25 PM

hmm...i'm not totally clear on the details, obviously, but it seems like there is room for abuse of people figure out a way to break into that program. just my paranoia i hope. :roll:

Worlokk · October 19, 2004, 03:39 PM

I'm not too clear either :?, is it a search engine that simply looks over your HD and the internet? Or does it look over other peoples HDs (:badgrin

, like sharing on a P2P program?

That certainly is interesting news ;)

*Akasha* · October 19, 2004, 04:00 PM

Quote:

The desktop tool can be downloaded for free and lets people search e-mails in Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express, as well as files in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and in plain text.

Searches your hard drive just like the built in feature.... but this one is by google. It says in the article it's completely private.

Jubal · October 20, 2004, 06:19 AM

Hmmm...I think I wont be allowing this to run on my system.

Worlokk · October 20, 2004, 01:33 PM

Thanks for clarifying; I just thought that they wouldnt make anything more pointless... anyway, mac already has sherlock (HAHA! :p), so IMO I cant think of a more useless application. Naturally I assumed it would have file sharing as an option to at least justify its existence.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jubal

Hmmm...I think I wont be allowing this to run on my system.

Same...

boscolio · October 20, 2004, 03:10 PM

i see no point in showing people what's on my hardrive. so this is not going on my computer.

*Akasha* · October 20, 2004, 04:48 PM

Er... you all know that it doesn't show anyone but you what's on your hard drive? It doesn't go over the internet or even show google... it says in that article that even google won't know what goes on.

I'm sure all of you can go Start Menu > Search... well this is just a program that does the same thing.. sure because it's by "Goggle" that most will assume it's an internet thing, but it's a download... not related to the internet at all. The only thing that is related to the internet is if you viewed a page once ( on explorer only currently ) and can't remember where it was, so long as you haven't cleared your chache then this program will be able to find the temporary internet file on your computer simply by words that might have been on that page.

boscolio · October 20, 2004, 05:02 PM

ah...doh! :oops:

i still don't think i'll use it because the Windows Search program works fine for me. but i guess we'll see when it's finished. i might change my tune.

PeePeeBritches · October 21, 2004, 08:57 AM

I'm with Boscy on this one, I'll scope the final product, but I don't have high hopes for it...

October 18, 2004, 03:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
boscolio Member Character Info boscolio 60 Gnome Warlock Azgalor US PvP Guild: Dark Echo Talent Spec: 43/7/11	Google search becomes personal hmm...i'm not totally clear on the details, obviously, but it seems like there is room for abuse of people figure out a way to break into that program. just my paranoia i hope. :roll:

October 19, 2004, 03:39 PM	#3 (permalink)
Worlokk Member	Google search becomes personal I'm not too clear either :?, is it a search engine that simply looks over your HD and the internet? Or does it look over other peoples HDs (:badgrin, like sharing on a P2P program? That certainly is interesting news ;)

October 20, 2004, 06:19 AM	#5 (permalink)
Jubal Member	Google search becomes personal Hmmm...I think I wont be allowing this to run on my system.

October 20, 2004, 03:10 PM	#7 (permalink)
boscolio Member Character Info boscolio 60 Gnome Warlock Azgalor US PvP Guild: Dark Echo Talent Spec: 43/7/11	Google search becomes personal i see no point in showing people what's on my hardrive. so this is not going on my computer.

October 20, 2004, 05:02 PM	#9 (permalink)
boscolio Member Character Info boscolio 60 Gnome Warlock Azgalor US PvP Guild: Dark Echo Talent Spec: 43/7/11	Google search becomes personal ah...doh! :oops: i still don't think i'll use it because the Windows Search program works fine for me. but i guess we'll see when it's finished. i might change my tune.

October 17, 2004, 11:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
Akasha	Google search becomes personal Google is expanding the borders of its search empire into people's computers. The net giant has released a preliminary version of a desktop program that will search computer hard drives, as well as the web. "We think of this as the photographic memory of your computer," said Marissa Mayer, Google's director of consumer web products. Others like Microsoft and Apple are planning similar search tools to find information buried in a hard drive. Privacy issues Search is becoming an increasingly competitive and lucrative arena. Google is the leader in this area and the launch of a PC search tool is its latest attempt to become even more indispensable to its millions of users. The desktop tool can be downloaded for free and lets people search e-mails in Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express, as well as files in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and in plain text. It also searches web pages viewed in Internet Explorer and instant messages in AOL Instant Messenger. Google said the software was based on its internet search engine. It takes a while to index a PC hard drive, but after that the company says search results will appear in fractions of a second. "It's pretty comprehensive," said Ms Mayer. "If there's anything you once saw on your computer screen, we think you should be able to find it again quickly." Aware of the privacy concerns raised over its e-mail service, Google has sought to stress that the company will not be able to peer into people's hard drives. "It's totally private," said the Google spokeswoman. "Google does not know what happens when the hard drive is searched." Other desktop search programs are already available, from companies such as Enfish, X1, dtSearch and Blinkx. But Google is the first well-known hi-tech brand to come out with a product. Microsoft is aiming to release a PC search tool by the middle of next year, and others like Apple, AOL and Ask Jeeves are looking to come up with similar products. Source : BBC News

October 20, 2004, 04:48 PM	#8 (permalink)
Akasha	Google search becomes personal Er... you all know that it doesn't show anyone but you what's on your hard drive? It doesn't go over the internet or even show google... it says in that article that even google won't know what goes on. I'm sure all of you can go Start Menu > Search... well this is just a program that does the same thing.. sure because it's by "Goggle" that most will assume it's an internet thing, but it's a download... not related to the internet at all. The only thing that is related to the internet is if you viewed a page once ( on explorer only currently ) and can't remember where it was, so long as you haven't cleared your chache then this program will be able to find the temporary internet file on your computer simply by words that might have been on that page.

October 21, 2004, 08:57 AM	#10 (permalink)
PeePeeBritches Member	Google search becomes personal I'm with Boscy on this one, I'll scope the final product, but I don't have high hopes for it...