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New Version of Google Desktop Gets Gadget SmartWeb Worker Daily Google is out with a new beta version 5.5 of its Google Desktop application, and after using it I encourage you to do the free download. I downloaded and installed the application in under two minutes (shut down your other apps first), and was immediately impressed with the sleeker look of my sidebar and Quick [...]
Author: Samuel Dean
Google is out with a new beta version 5.5 of its Google Desktop application, and after using it I encourage you to do the free download. I downloaded and installed the application in under two minutes (shut down your other apps first), and was immediately impressed with the sleeker look of my sidebar and Quick Search box. But the real payoff with the new version will come for people who already have iGoogle homepages.
By far the most useful addition in the new version of Google desktop is that you can now embed gadgets from your desktop directly into your iGoogle homepage or start page, and free them from your sidebar. You just drag them to do so, and you can also add multiple versions of your favorite gadgets (to do this bring up the Add Gadgets menu and just choose to add a gadget again). You might choose to add a weather gadget or perhaps a To-Do List gadget. You'll find tons of gadgets at the iGoogle Content Directory with the majority of them contributed by the user community. To add gadgets you can just drag them to your desktop and press Shift to show and hide them. From there, drag them right into your iGoogle homepage.
If you haven't gotten into the world of widgets and gadgets (mini applications that typically reside on your desktop or a web page), or if you are a Windows user who thinks widgets are just for Mac users, spend some time with these truly useful tiny apps. The big benefit of the new ability in Google Desktop to embed gadgets on your iGoogle homepage is that your iGoogle page can be accessed from any computer, Mac, Windows, or Linux, anywhere, and when you bring it up, your embedded gadgets will be right there.
There are numerous other useful enhancements in the new version of Google Desktop, including several under-the-hood security improvements and bug fixes. The Quick Search box looks much sleeker and you can instantly bring it up by hitting your Ctrl key twice. As always, Quick Search is a very fast way to search for files, search the web or search e-mail.
The new version of Google Desktop also has some useful enhancements for searching Outlook e-mail. If you, as I am, are forced by a two-fisted IT department to use Microsoft Outlook all day these new fetures alone will make it worth your while to get Google's new version. There is lots more information on the new version at the Google Desktop blog.
As much as I like the new Google Desktop, I am going to use it in conjuction with my other favorite Desktop application, which is Copernic Desktop Search. I love Copernic's easy interface for searching e-mails, or searching for just photos or just music files, and it's unbelievably fast. Nevertheless, the utility of gadgets and widgets is growing so rapidly that it's worthwhile for everyone to use the new Google Desktop and retain an always accessible page where you house your growing library of gadgets.
Have you used the new beta version of Google Desktop? Do you use any useful similar desktop applications?