Talk:Google Desktop

To Be Added?: Similar to Other Programs

I use Launchy, Desktop Gadgets, and Everything to replicate a Google Desktop like experience should this be added? (elaboration: the search is like launchy and everything, and the widgets are like Windows Gadgets 82.25.130.155 (talk) 17:15, 27 October 2009 (UTC)

Substring and boolean search support

I've claimed that google desktop search supports neither substring nor boolean searches in the article. This is based on some google searches resulting in [1] and [2]. Please correct me if I'm wrong :) --Fredrik Orderud 14:19, 8 August 2005 (UTC)

Metadata indexing?

Does GDS index metadata, like that found in MP3s, PNGs, and the like? There's a section in Apple's Spotlight ominously titled "Flaws" which highlights this missing feature in Spotlight. Seems for fairness it should be mentioned re: GDS, too. Joshf 11:31, 6 December 2005 (UTC)

I believe so, using plug-ins, in some cases. For instance video and audio files, and Bit Torrent files. Andrew 12:22, 21 September 2006 (UTC)

Immediate reflection

I may be wrong, but I think that because Windows doesn't have something like FAM, Google Desktop doesn't know if the file is changed immediately, and the changes made are commited into Google Desktop's database only after it does a re-indexing of the file, which can occur several hours or even days after the file is changed. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Zlogic (talk • contribs) 18:22, January 18, 2006

Privacy

I was shocked to see that the word "privacy" wasn't mentioned once in this article. That's one of the most notable things about this application - the privacy concerns that many have about it! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 172.151.75.216 (talk • contribs) 03:44, February 10, 2006

It is incredible that files on an indexed computer are copied to Google's servers. Do users who enable this feature have no fear? Shawnc 17:43, 9 August 2006 (UTC)

Reply: Please note that only the 'recent files' will be indexed and uploaded, i.e. for eg. files in 'My Documents' OR 'Desktop' etc. Google Desktop is not going to upload the whole of your index. If it allows all the users to do this, Google will lose a lot of resources (in terms of network & storage) So feel free to upload. It is anyway protected by your Google Account —Preceding unsigned comment added by 59.162.80.131 (talk) 12:21, 25 October 2007 (UTC)

Clarification

I don't use this, but I've heard various contradictory articles that claim; a It's storing your files b It's storing the search index

which one? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.85.151.94 (talk • contribs) 23:29, February 12, 2006

Within the search index, Google Desktop stores your individual files. In this way, it caches previous versions of Word documents, webpages as they were when you viewed them, etc., encrypts them, compresses them, and puts them away in an index. --M@thwiz2020 23:55, 12 February 2006 (UTC)

The claim that EFF advises against using GDS is horribly wrong. If you follow the source they advise against using the "Search across computer" feature. The sentece "The EFF advises against using the Google Desktop application. [1]" really needs to be changed. -FormerSelf —Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.185.153.195 (talk • contribs) 08:36, June 12, 2006

I made the change. Next time, be bold and feel free to make it yourself. --mtz206 (talk) 12:01, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

Version number

According to their blog, it's only at 4.5. SyP 20:23, 21 December 2006 (UTC)

"Unlike competing desktop search applications, such as Yahoo Desktop, Google Desktop will not index the contents of unsupported file types, such as .del files."

That is false, I just tested. Mabye this was true a few versions before, but not in v.5 —Preceding unsigned comment added by 85.3.43.75 (talk • contribs) 10:36, April 8, 2007

Another comment about Desktop version: The Quick Search Box used to have an option in the preferences to be transparent when not active (the box in the middle of the display). That feature was present in version "5.1.0707.23222-en-pb". I have just updated to "5.7.0802.22438-en-pb" and the transparency feature is no longer available. Too bad, I liked it. Russella (talk) 14:09, 17 April 2008 (UTC)

windows xp indexing

the part about windows xp not indexing files for searching is not true at all. this feature can be turned on or off by an administrator, by configuring the relevant service —Preceding unsigned comment added by Inzy (talk • contribs) 00:10, August 1, 2007

Fair use rationale for Image:Google Desktop Logo.svg

Image:Google Desktop Logo.svg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Wikipedia:Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images lacking such an explanation can be deleted one week after being tagged, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.

BetacommandBot (talk) 23:36, 22 December 2007 (UTC)

Adaware/Spybot

Verified: Both of these pick up the Google desktop/toolbar as malware and ask you to remove them.

Unverifiable: The various PC repair shops I have worked with or for remove it as 'Junkware' while Corporate-wise the IT department I am in has banned it's use on work PC's (and installing it can lead to termination...though it hasn't yet). --Brian_{(view my history)}/^{(How am I doing?)} 21:05, 7 April 2008 (UTC)

McAfee recommends that you uninstall Spybot S&D as it is not compatible with McAfee. It does not mean Spybot is malware. Anyways, where is the citation? --Kushal (talk) 00:52, 14 May 2008 (UTC)

Search by file size

This is a useful function available in Windows search. Is it available in Google Desktop? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Newschapmj1 (talk • contribs) 12:56, 27 July 2008 (UTC)

Sarbanes Oxley?

In the article, there is a statement made: "There are privacy laws and company policies that could be violated through the installation of this feature, specifically, SB 1386, HIPAA, FERPA, GLBA and Sarbanes-Oxley.[14]". I believe this is erroneous. Nothing in SOX relates to privacy or information disclosure. The logical security provisions relating to IT in SOX are entirely related to financial disclosures for public companies. If information cannout be CHANGED (and therefore affect any upstream financial reporting systems), then the system that manages that information is not within the scope of SOX. WHile there might be some very bad thing that happen if you were able to access compnay information that you should not, it is very unlikely that there would be any SOX implications. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 208.65.192.1 (talk) 18:35, 19 August 2008 (UTC)

Indexing filenames

In the article: "the indexing includes the content of the file, but does not include file names." This sentence needs more explaining, mostly it is wrong. Google Desktop do index file name and content. Is there any sources on it? If not, I'll remove it in few days.--OsamaK 11:13, 30 August 2008 (UTC)

Separate page for Google Gadgets?

Since Google Gadgets are a big part of iGoogle, which is separate from Google Desktop, I think there should be a separate page about that. Thoughts? --Risacher (talk) 16:11, 5 June 2009 (UTC)

Google Quick Search Box

Google Quick Search Box is a separate application on Mac OS X now. Dread Lord CyberSkull ✎☠ 22:46, 10 June 2009 (UTC)

Indexing 100,000 Files: Relevance?

One unfortunate aspect for users with large hard drives: Google Desktop only indexes 100,000 files per drive during the initial indexing period. If you have more than 100,000 files in a particular drive, Google Desktop won't index all of them during this initial period. However, Google Desktop adds files to your index during real-time indexing when you move or open them.

I don't see how this is relevant to the article. It would be useful if the user is having an issue, but that is not what Wikipedia is for. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 131.151.90.210 (talk) 14:58, 2 July 2009 (UTC)

100,000 "files" (I don't use Google Desktop, so I do not know what they consider to be a "file") is not a very big number. For someone who's expecting magic/instant gratification & has 500,000+ files (I think I have 100,000+ folders & 500,000+ files on one small drive), completely indexing that content could take a while.

my personal "inventory":... machine#1 has 95,900 folders, 523,600 files & consumes 34.4GB. Machine#2 has 105,900 folders, 613,100 files & consumes 51.2GB.

son's week old machine... 155,800 folders & 625,250 files.

People are going to be in for a very rude surprise when they try to take their expectations of GoogleWeb to GoogleMyDisk. DEddy (talk) 15:42, 2 July 2009 (UTC)

License

Not "closed source" as the article says, an anarchic collection of open source licenses, some BSD-like extremely free lic for curl 7.16.1, GPL for libstdc++, "dual" MPL 1.1/GPL 2.0/LGPL 2.1 for javascript, some restricted BSD-like lic for jpeg-6b, some special OpenSource lic for openssl 0.9.8d, and many many more most GPL and LGPL so that if Google Desktop is built on them, it must be GPL or some such by "contagiousness" of GPL license, see at download page. ... said: Rursus (^mbork³) 13:49, 8 September 2009 (UTC)

However, the Google Terms of Service seems to refer to the connection to Google servers, and that is some kind of provider service that gives Google all rights, and anything can happen, they may without notice cease the services, delete all your files, but on the other hand you must provide perfectly correct and complete personal information to them. Most rules, such as you mustn't robot the Google services, make sense, but the relation gives google non-responsibility role, while you do the tests for them. I think this licence cannot be compared to the OpenSource vs. "closed source" scale, it is a provider license. ... said: Rursus (^mbork³) 14:00, 8 September 2009 (UTC)

Did I install Google Desktop? No, of course not, I'm in a hurry and I don't install risky things without scrutinizing eyes and a long consideration. ... said: Rursus (^mbork³) 14:02, 8 September 2009 (UTC)

10 Reasons Why Google Desktop Will Be Discontinued

http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2010/09/10-reasons-why-google-desktop-will-be.html

You might want to add a link to that list in the article. I didn't know how to phrase it. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Splintor (talk • contribs) 16:00, 23 January 2011 (UTC)

Done. And allow me to say that for me, this was by far Google's most disappointing failure. Desktop Search is a great idea that it still useful today, but was poorly implemented. Mcavic (talk) 12:19, 17 October 2012 (UTC)

I removed the link again, because per the external link guidelines we do not link to blogs. - MrOllie (talk) 14:43, 17 October 2012 (UTC)

Yeah, we wouldn't want to link to a highly relevant article containing information that doesn't exist outside of blogspace. Mcavic (talk) 06:44, 18 October 2012 (UTC)

Confusing text

This text:

A centrally administered version,[3] which integrates the user experience with the vendor's appliance, exists as well. Google Desktop was officially discontinued on September 14, 2011.[4]

is confusing. NotYourFathersOldsmobile (talk) 00:12, 18 September 2015 (UTC)

Similarly,

The problem has been resolved as of Google Desktop Search version 5.9.[23] Currently, Google Desktop does not index email or contacts in Outlook 2010.[24]

Currently it is not even available, right? NotYourFathersOldsmobile (talk) 00:14, 18 September 2015 (UTC)

Still downloadable

There are archived versions of the siteEshaan011 (talk) 19:15, 24 February 2021 (UTC)