Google Desktop for Apple?

[MacRumors]

Reuters reports that Google is planning on released a version of its desktop search tool for the Mac. This comes from Google's chief executive, Eric Schmidt, on Friday. Schmidt, however, could not provide a timeframe for the release.

Desktop Search tools have recently made headlines with Microsoft, AOL, Google and Apple entering this arena.

Google has already launched a Windows version of the desktop search tool.

 

[zakee00]

sorry google, its called spotlight

 

[stoid]

Will it be out before Tiger, and how will is stack up against Spotlight?

I think that this will not be as successful for Mac as it is/was for Windows. I've found searching, even under Panther to be a few magnitudes easier than searching in Windows XP.

 

[wileypen]

When they do it, it puts Macs in the news, makes people think that the Mac is mainstream... everyone who develops for the Mac is good. Especially those who will get huge press when they do.

 

[howard]

in the windows desktop search screenshots that i saw the results looked like google.com search results, which is absolutely insanely stupid in my opinion for a desktop search.

 

[Porchland]

sorry google, its called spotlight

My thoughts exactly. Will anyone who upgrades to Tiger even try this. With Google being the default search engine in Safari, though, I wonder what this development says about Google's relationship with Apple.

 

[mymemory]

Sorry but I am ignorant on the subject... what is a Google Desktop?

 

[virus1]

tiger won't be out for a while... but we don't know when this will... as for spotlight, i am sure that it will be much more advanced than this.

 

[swissmann]

Have any of you used this on Windows? Is it any good?

 

[zakee00]

in the windows desktop search screenshots that i saw the results looked like google.com search results, which is absolutely insanely stupid in my opinion for a desktop search.

i totally agree, i saw screenshots and was like wth...thats werid
the other guy did have a good point though, it makes the mac look more mainstream. so i guess i don't care if they make it for mac, but the question is:
what is google getting out of the deal that makes it WORTH it to make it for mac?

 

[abhishekit]

Its actually not even a complete search, the windows version just catalogs emails in outlook, M$ word and excel files, and chat logs, and wep pages you visited. Quicksilver works much better for me.

 

[Abstract]

tiger won't be out for a while... but we don't know when this will... as for spotlight, i am sure that it will be much more advanced than this.

Why so? I don't really care who makes this search thing work. As long as it works, and as long as there are alternatives available, then this can only be a good thing. I don't understand the negative ratings for this news/rumour.

And never doubt Google. There's no reason to right now. After all, they did give you the Geekmail.com accounts that we all love so much. And don't forget the fact that they're experts at "search"....

I hope Spotlight is as good as Google's only because it would be nice to have it built into the OS, although that isn't a big deal if Google's is actually better.

what is google getting out of the deal that makes it WORTH it to make it for mac?

World domination, my friend. World ****ing domination.

 

[maya]

Google needs to shows to its investors that its keeping busy and is a growing company in many fields. Thus the search on Mac, if they alienate the Mac platform they are insulting some investors since if might be a lost opportunity if they don't sink they claws in now when the time is still right till TIGER is released.

 

[kshkval]

the first real Mac spyware

and people will voluntarily install it. There's got to be something about Google indexing all of your files and reporting on it that makes a Mac user just a tad queasy. Or what's a Lil Snitch for?

 

[x86isslow]

to the people talking about how it will stack up against tiger, keep in mind that not everyone is willing to pay 130 to get widgets and system search.

 

[beefstu01]

A timefram eh?

Yeah, and spotlight will probably be 100x better, seeing that Apple knows all the inner workings of the operating system. But hey, I haven't tried it out yet, so I'm no authority on the subject.

 

[MrMacMan]

and people will voluntarily install it. There's got to be something about Google indexing all of your files and reporting on it that makes a Mac user just a tad queasy. Or what's a Lil Snitch for?

yay Paranoia! But yeah, you use Litle Snitch for that to block stuff like that happening.


If Google Does Make this software, make it compatible for *ATLEAST* 10.2 and up, not only 10.3+

Spotlight is only 10.4, you want to make sure you have the whole Mac os X audience 10.2 and up atleast.

 

[echeck]

sorry google, its called spotlight

Soo... I guess once Tiger comes out all Mac users will magically receive it? There will be a lot of people that don't upgrade and Google's desktop search is a great alternative.

in the windows desktop search screenshots that i saw the results looked like google.com search results, which is absolutely insanely stupid in my opinion for a desktop search.

I don't think it's stupid, it's definately odd, but not stupid. Google's search page is Google. It represents google. It's the foundation for the entire company, so I think it makes sense to make the search a web interface since that's what Google is. When I go to google.com on my PC I have all the usual categories to choose from (web, images, news...) as well as "desktop". It works for me.

Its actually not even a complete search, the windows version just catalogs emails in outlook, M$ word and excel files, and chat logs, and wep pages you visited.

That's not true, it indexes all the files on your computer as well, at least it did for me anyway. As of yet it doesn't search folders unfortunately, but it's still beta.

Have any of you used this on Windows? Is it any good?

I use it on my PC and it seems to work fairly well. There's definately room for improvement, like searching folders, but it's worked great for me so far. It's so much better than the native windows search.

I dunno, I doubt I'll download it for my iBook because I've never had a problem with Finder. But it's a wonderful thing for my PC.

 

[Jaz]

If Google Does Make this software, make it compatible for *ATLEAST* 10.2 and up, not only 10.3+

Excellent point, if you're not on 10.3.x or 10.4 when it's out then a lot of things are starting to become unavailable.

If Google fills the gap then they might have a success. Integrate a Gmail notifier and some other bits and it might a good tool.

 

[themadchemist]

Let me just say, "no thanks."

 

[kugino]

will they be putting ads in my dock?

 

[jusvistin]

in the windows desktop search screenshots that i saw the results looked like google.com search results, which is absolutely insanely stupid in my opinion for a desktop search.

I've used it for XP - it's stupid.

It may be faster than a standard windows search, but the presentation of the results is pretty pathetic. If you don't mind having to page through 20 different screens to find what you're looking for - you may like it.

That is, if you don't need to see minor details like file size and creation date.

 

[echeck]

I've used it for XP - it's stupid.

It may be faster than a standard windows search, but the presentation of the results is pretty pathetic. If you don't mind having to page through 20 different screens to find what you're looking for - you may like it.

That is, if you don't need to see minor details like file size and creation date.

Yeah, it's definately not for everyone. I like it a lot and made sure and had control over what it was searching. So far I've had a lot of positive results (get it?! results! ha!)...hmmm...

 

[Trowaman]

choice is good. The problem is that in Spring 2005, a program just like it will be built into OS X, it's called Spotlight. However, for those remaining in Panther or Jaguar, good for them. They will have a desktop search tool.

 

[altair7]

Quicksilver

Quicksilver already does this and has a better, quicker interface. However that doesn't mean I am against google making it. Competition is good.

Seriously though if people have not tried Quicksilver go out and do so. You can find it with a google search.