Google Desktop for Apple?

[iMeowbot]

No way! I spoke with the guy who oversaw the whole Google Desktop project at Google and I asked him about a Mac version and he gave me so many reasons why there wouldn't be one, the thing he said the most is that the Mac already does it great and, I quote, " with Tiger coming out, it's just going to redefine Mac search to a whole new level." This was about a week ago...So HOW could this happen?

Well. In the article Schmidt says that the thing would be written from the ground up for the Mac, so this isn't simply a port of the thing that was just released for Windows. Perhaps this will be a Tiger add-on, that incorporates Teh Google (that is, external search) into the system?

 

[SiliconAddict]

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.

You need to understand the thought process to understand why its formatted like this. With the Google search tool installed lets say I do a search on google.com for iPods. Not only will it search the web but my desktop as well for the word iPod. It may come back with the user manual that I have sitting on my desktop along with the web based results.
Google and others are trying to blur the line between the net and the local computer. Windows Longshot was suppose to do this with WinFS in that when you do a search not only would it search your local computer, but those on your network, along with net results. Then organizing it in a easy to view manner. Obviously since WinFS went bye bye in Longshot it leaves MS open to competitors. (Even though they are working on something from MSN in regards to search tools.) Personally while I think Spotlight is going to be cool its not going far enough. Apple and Google should be partnering up to take searching beyond the desktop. Sherlock by Google anyone?
Just look at Google’s options and you will see a clear path to what they are going to try to accomplish over the next few years: http://www.google.com/options/index.html

This desktop tool is only the start. I wouldn’t be surprised if in the next few years they have something like http://www.copernic.com/en/products/agent/ in the next few years that fully integrates into Windows taking the search experience to the next level without needing to purchase Longshot. AS for Google Desktop on OS X. Do you guys actually think this is bad thing? For those who aren’t planning on upgrading past Panther anytime soon this is going to be a solid alternative. Also keep in mind that Google may just surprise us. There are open API’s for spotlight right? Google could do some integration thing with Spotlight. I can’t wait to see what they come up with next.

 

[wdlove]

I don't really see the need for the Google search to be on my desktop. IMHO the best place would be for Google to remain within the Safari window itself. Why change a good thing.

 

[asphalt-proof]

I have used it on my PC and have to say that it is very fast and thorough. It will be interesting to see how it will stack up to Spotlight. I didn't have any problem with the interface because I am so use to using Google for my internet search.

 

[johnnyjibbs]

Personally, I wouldn't want Spotlight to search the web as well as my desktop. Why would I want to do that? Searching your computer hard drive is generally to find a file. Searching the internet is generally for information.

If you blur the two together, you end up with a confusing mess. For example, I might want to find all the iPod files on my HD, not web pages about the bloody iPod mixed in with it. Plus, what's so hard with opening Safari and typing iPod into the Google field if you want that anyway?

Likewise, when I'm looking for something on the net, I don't want a hard drive search slowing me down in the process, when I know I have nothing on my hard drive about the problem.

 

[wrldwzrd89]

Personally, I don't see the point of making a Mac version of Google Desktop (in its current form). Apple has Spotlight coming for us in Tiger, and the built-in search is already pretty good - it just doesn't cross application boundaries yet. Google Desktop fits squarely in the middle between the built-in search and Spotlight, so I suppose it fills a niche right now, but that niche won't exist much longer. Windows, on the other hand, desperately needs an improved search tool. Google Desktop is better than the built-in search, but it'll never fly like Spotlight does unless it becomes expandable.

 

[iMeowbot]

Okay, now this is just getting silly. I've come to expect that the MacRumors response to any new non-Apple product will be to bash it unseen, but isn't just a wee bit far-fetched to be finding fault in software that hasn't even been written yet?

Google are pretty good at inventing things that people didn't realize they needed, and making them seem obvious and necessary. It wouldn't be the worst idea to reserve judgment until after they have something to show.

 

[AlanAudio]

Told you so

I warned you earlier that this was a story originating from Reuters and therefore may not be accurate as they have a history of mis-reporting Apple on many occasions

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20041029-4360.html

If I might quote from that link ...
"This is Tim O'Reilly. I'm the one who asked Eric the question at his talk about whether we'd expect a Mac version of Google desktop, and I have to say I didn't read his response at all the way the Reuters reporter did!...."

More details by going to that link.

When it comes to stuff relating to Apple, I'd trust Tim O'Reilly rather than a hack from Reuters.

 

[gorkonapple]

Sort of not relavent....

We don't want it on Mac unless it is fixed. See here.

The problem comes from Google just indexing the whole hard drive instead of just the areas you have rights to. I tried it, and it is fast, but it's really stupid. In a web browser? It also happens to open up a weird port. It's stupid. Why open up a port? This is so stupid. Google: Make it a real app first.

Also, Windows will let users write anywhere if you use FAT32 for your C drive and I seem to remember several "STUPID" manufacturers and companies that use FAT32 by default because it's what they know. Thye get scared of NTFS.

 

[gorkonapple]

Okay, now this is just getting silly. I've come to expect that the MacRumors response to any new non-Apple product will be to bash it unseen, but isn't just a wee bit far-fetched to be finding fault in software that hasn't even been written yet?

Google are pretty good at inventing things that people didn't realize they needed, and making them seem obvious and necessary. It wouldn't be the worst idea to reserve judgment until after they have something to show.

If it's a port, then it will do alot of the smae things the Windows version does. The Windows version is just plain stupid. It's very poorly implemented.

 

[dubbz]

I don't really see the need for the Google search to be on my desktop. IMHO the best place would be for Google to remain within the Safari window itself. Why change a good thing.

If it's anything like the Windows version, it will remain in Safari (or whatever browser you use/it will support). It's just like a normal Google search, except that it can search your local files too.

 

[Nermal]

No way! I spoke with the guy who oversaw the whole Google Desktop project at Google and I asked him about a Mac version and he gave me so many reasons why there wouldn't be one, the thing he said the most is that the Mac already does it great and, I quote, " with Tiger coming out, it's just going to redefine Mac search to a whole new level." This was about a week ago...So HOW could this happen?

Misinterpretations.

 

[Wonder Boy]

with an ipo close to or over $100, let them waste their money. anyone with tiger wont use it and anyone whos tried it on windows (like me) wouldnt either.

 

[SiliconAddict]

Personally, I wouldn't want Spotlight to search the web as well as my desktop. Why would I want to do that? Searching your computer hard drive is generally to find a file. Searching the internet is generally for information.

No in both cases you are searching for information. Be it on the net, on your local hard drive, your e-mail, your AIM client logs, your pictures, your well you get the point. If you are looking for information on something it doesn't necessarily mean that it’s always on your desktop or it’s always on the web. As the speed of the web increases, and hard drive sizes explode in size expect that the differentiation between local information and information out "there" will become fuzzier and fuzzier. This is why Google is in a mad dash to get there first. These kind of technologies do have the power to topple Microsoft. It’s the browser wars all over again but this time around it’s through search engines. Google has a major leg-up over MS, yahoo, and even Apple for now. The desktop engine they threw out is beta and a crappy beta at that. It’s incomplete at the moment. But its intention was clear. It was a direct shot off the bow of Microsoft that we are there now.
Don’t get me wrong. Apple’s implementation looks solid but it’s limited in the scope of what it can and will do. (Unless then make changes between now and Tiger’s release.) Apple’s spotlight feature is like fishing on the shore. Googles is still in the bay trawling with one huge *** net that isn’t fully deployed. Once they get out to sea well. One fishing rod vs one big old trawler.

 

[Xtremehkr]

I'm glad that Google is taking Apple into consideration, but wow, did this story got a negative reception or what.

 

[SiliconAddict]

The problem comes from Google just indexing the whole hard drive instead of just the areas you have rights to. I tried it, and it is fast, but it's really stupid. In a web browser? It also happens to open up a weird port. It's stupid. Why open up a port? This is so stupid. Google: Make it a real app first.

*sighs* The ignorant speak. Joy. Look the port it opens up is a LOCAL port for the internal web server. (Port 4664) It is NOT reachable from another computer. How do I know? I did some tests. Secondly its BETA. B...E....T....A. Its not release. Its not close to being finished. Its there for people to try out and see what needs fixing (Almost everything.) what needs to be added (A lot.), and what works. (A couple of things.)

But again this is BETA. God people. If Apple was handing out free copies of OS X: Tiger beta and it was crash-tastic you would be giving them a break. But no its not Apple so they suck.

 

[SiliconAddict]

I'm glad that Google is taking Apple into consideration, but wow, did this story got a negative reception or what.

It’s a tech that Apple has something comparable so it sucks. Right guy? Right? Anyone? Anyone at all?

 

[Dan8302]

It's not that it's bad, but...

It's not that it's bad, but... I don't see the point. Safari opens so fast and i usually have it running anyways. It's so easy to just open another tab and seach i guess i don't see the point of being able to search from the desktop, but hey if somone else finds it usefull more power to them

 

[cyberhill]

This is false, simply a conversation blown out of proportion

http://insidegoogle.blogspot.com/2004/10/google-not-working-on-google-desktop.html

 

[rtdgoldfish]

Windows Version of Google Desktop

Downloaded the Windows version of the Google desktop so here is my 2 cents. It works much faster than the search built into Windows but still isn't very helpful. It didn't seem to be able to find any of my e-mail from Outlook 2003. I guess this is due to the fact that it is still in beta. If you need to search for music files, stick with searching in iTunes. In its current version, I can't get it to search for anything other than the filename of a MP3 (typing in an artist or album just seems to confuse it) Overall, its not bad for a free utility. Hopefully the Mac version will be a little more fine-tuned before it is released. Or we can just wait for Spotlight...

 

[GulGnu]

Couple of points:

1) Google Desktop search does *not* search the web and the local computer at the same time. It can be accessed in the same manner as say, image search, from the main Google page, however.

2) It's Beta, as pointed out by numerous posters here. It's bound to be quirky at times.

3) It's very fast, and provides good results. But yes, file size and creation date should be there, and they are not currently.

 

[thatwendigo]

Why Google should never be trusted.

If they're up to these kinds of antics without direct access to your system, what possible reason could you have to believe they wouldn't do things when they do have it?

 

[wrldwzrd89]

No in both cases you are searching for information. Be it on the net, on your local hard drive, your e-mail, your AIM client logs, your pictures, your well you get the point. If you are looking for information on something it doesn't necessarily mean that it’s always on your desktop or it’s always on the web. As the speed of the web increases, and hard drive sizes explode in size expect that the differentiation between local information and information out "there" will become fuzzier and fuzzier. This is why Google is in a mad dash to get there first. These kind of technologies do have the power to topple Microsoft. It’s the browser wars all over again but this time around it’s through search engines. Google has a major leg-up over MS, yahoo, and even Apple for now. The desktop engine they threw out is beta and a crappy beta at that. It’s incomplete at the moment. But its intention was clear. It was a direct shot off the bow of Microsoft that we are there now.
Don’t get me wrong. Apple’s implementation looks solid but it’s limited in the scope of what it can and will do. (Unless then make changes between now and Tiger’s release.) Apple’s spotlight feature is like fishing on the shore. Googles is still in the bay trawling with one huge *** net that isn’t fully deployed. Once they get out to sea well. One fishing rod vs one big old trawler.

You're absolutely right here - Google's search technology does have potential, once Google Desktop gets out of beta. As long as it's in beta, though - everyone cries foul, including me. It's a market that Apple simply cannot compete in directly, since they have no ties to any particular search engine. However, keep in mind that Spotlight is extensible, and could probably have internet search capabilities added to it (for ANY search engine, just like the old Sherlock). If Apple did this, Google Desktop wouldn't stand a chance on the Mac (for Tiger users, at least).

 

[billyboy]

Google is the internet for most people. The company has even become a verb - to google - so if they are associated with Apple, fair does. Even if the proposed software sucks in the eyes of Mac users and doesnt change the way we search, maybe it will be on a par with the Google software Windows users have access to, so when potential switchers are compiling their list of (ten perceived) apps available on the Mac, they will be able to take solace in one more direct port on their list - no harm done.

Like some people have said, from the point of view of clarity of info, there seems no advantage to mixing a total hard drive search with internet search, but maybe if it stuck to local internet-oriented files lurking in Mail and Safari (bookmarks) that would make more sense and get over the blurry all-encompassing, one size fits nobody mentality which seems to prevail outside the Mac domain.

 

[ASP272]

Why bother if Spotlight is supposed to be so good?