Google Plans Desktop Search Tool for Apple PCs

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Google Inc. plans to release a version of its desktop search tool for computers running on the Mac operating system from Apple Computer Inc. , Google chief executive Eric Schmidt said on Friday. Schmidt did not set a timetable for a Mac version of Google Desktop, saying it had to be rebuilt from the ground up because of the fundamental differences between the Mac OS and Windows.

"We intend to do it," Schmidt said at a University of California-Los Angeles conference commemorating the 35th anniversary of the Internet. Google released the desktop tool earlier this month, staking out early ground in a battle for personal information retrieval that is expected to eventually include players like Microsoft Corp. and even Apple. But some people raised concerns about the threat to privacy from software that could scour e-mails, instant messenger chats and other personal threads.

News source: Reuters

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(3 replies) #1 oik on 30 Oct 2004 - 00:11

uh... why bother? apple will have searchlight in a few months with tiger... unless i don't understand the concept of google's desktop search, spotlight will be much nicer.

#1.1 Mav Phoenix on 30 Oct 2004 - 00:15

Spotlight indexes files with text right?

#1.2 oik on 30 Oct 2004 - 02:33

text (word, powerpoint, txt, etc), pdf's, metadata, probably more...

#1.3 mat on 30 Oct 2004 - 09:04

http://www.apple.com/macosx/tiger/spotlighttech.html

QUOTE

Supported File Formats

* Plain text
* RTF
* PDF
* Mail
* Address Book contacts
* Microsoft Office Word documents
* Microsoft Office Excel spreadsheets
* Keynote presentations
* Photoshop images
* Applications
* Folders/directories

* Video and audio files:
o MP3
o AAC
o MOV
* Images:
o JPEG
o GIF
o TIFF
o PNG
o EXIF

#2 mswarts on 30 Oct 2004 - 01:53

Yea, Google desktop search is much more important for Windows, but knowing Google, they just want to make every product accessible to everyone. I can't wait for Spotlight

#3 WinMacLin on 30 Oct 2004 - 02:06

I don't see the point either.. they should release it for Linux more then Macintosh.

Mac's search is already built into every application from Mail - Finder - iPhoto - even garage band has it built in... I don't think google can beat whats already happened for the Mac. And of course Spotlight is coming soon which is even better then what we currently have.

#4 Quick Reply on 30 Oct 2004 - 03:28

Search tool for Linux.... please

#5 ThunderRiver on 30 Oct 2004 - 03:29

How is spotlight different from what the built-in search feature in Mac? The current search function seems to be exactly what Jobs described in his keynote.. I automatically assumed it was Spotlight already.

(1 reply) #6 WinMacLin on 30 Oct 2004 - 03:40

Its different because.

We already have search and it is instant and the search will look in adobe files text files video comments all sorts of stuff to give you results.

With Spotlight it will find them files in a folder and group them all together as icons under a "spot light" so you can quickly see the files most relevant to your search. understand now

#6.1 jagedEdge on 30 Oct 2004 - 03:52

That and it is quite a bit faster. Spotlight really is a cool thing.

#7 Phillip on 30 Oct 2004 - 04:27

I don't see the point as I think most Mac Users will use Spotlight which will be built right into the OS.

(3 replies) #8 Gergith on 30 Oct 2004 - 06:00

all i have to say is everyone is google crazy!!! its great

i love when people get excited for things, and google is no exception. i think that it is a smart idea on there part to dev this app for mac. it is showing that there are alternatives to what is included (same goes for windows) and there are OBVIOSLY SOME differences between the native and google search in one way shape form or another. google doesnt seem to me like a company that would rewrite something without improvement

#8.1 pre on 30 Oct 2004 - 07:12

The only reason why my friends and I went with gMail was because of there storage, now that Hotmail have increased their FREE inbox limit most of us have changed back.

#8.2 jagedEdge on 30 Oct 2004 - 12:22

I don't know how you can improve something that's an API built into the system and has been in development for quite a while. An actual core service is bound to be faster and definitely used more because applications can tap into the API. Spotlight is really well thought out.

I really do think Linux would benefit more from this.

#8.3 Gergith on 30 Oct 2004 - 17:11

i dont deny that linux is more in need of this, but i really dont think that company would spend money to do something if they had intentions of making the exact same thing as whats already there, you know?

#9 greg098 on 30 Oct 2004 - 13:34

strange

#10 welshkid on 30 Oct 2004 - 14:35

google will take over the world

(9 replies) #11 Skyfrog on 30 Oct 2004 - 16:37

Apple PCs?

#11.1 jagedEdge on 30 Oct 2004 - 17:23

They are technically Personal Computers, you know.

#11.2 Skyfrog on 30 Oct 2004 - 18:02

The term PC refers to an IBM compatible computer and always has.

#11.3 oik on 30 Oct 2004 - 18:13

*sigh*

no, it does not mean "IBM compatible computer". people give pc that tag because they are ignorant. it does not make it fact just because you are ignorant.

http://www.google.com/search?q=define:pc&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

#11.4 Skyfrog on 30 Oct 2004 - 18:41

Personal Computer. Strictly speaking, this refers to the IBM PC, which is any IBM-manufactured personal computer made prior to the PS/2 Series. Usually PC refers to any personal computer compatible with IBMs.

(Personal Computer) -- Computer in the IBM or IBM-clone family.

the term PC by convention generally refers to an IBM or IBM-compatible personal computer.

Short for personal computer or IBM PC. The first personal computer produced by IBM was called the PC, and increasingly the term PC came to mean IBM or IBM-compatible personal computers, to the exclusion of other types of personal computers, such as Macintoshes.

I'll stop there but those are all from the very link you gave me. Thanks for backing me up. People who call Macs a PC are the same people who call a box of Puffs Kleenex.

#11.5 jagedEdge on 30 Oct 2004 - 19:28

Literal definition:

A computer built around a microprocessor for use by an individual, as in an office or at home or school.

#11.6 Skyfrog on 30 Oct 2004 - 19:33

When someone says PC they are not talking about a Macintosh. Get over it.

#11.7 jagedEdge on 30 Oct 2004 - 19:52

Most of the time, yes, but in the case of "Apple PC", that is acceptable and correct.

#11.8 xxpor on 31 Oct 2004 - 13:31

What does PPC stand for again... I cant seem to remember...

#11.9 nookadum on 31 Oct 2004 - 15:24

Then WTF are PowerPCs then? Geez, some people need to stop trying to become dictionaries, it makes you guys look more retarded than the people you're trying to correct.

#12 McG on 30 Oct 2004 - 18:06

i'm starting to get tired of all this Google stuff

(1 reply) #13 jmc777 on 30 Oct 2004 - 18:39

Die Google.

#13.1 Skyfrog on 30 Oct 2004 - 18:53

What is with the Google hatred all of a sudden?

(3 replies) #14 nanackle on 30 Oct 2004 - 19:58

What is an "APPLE PC"?

the term is a misnomer and does not exist.

#14.1 neufuse on 30 Oct 2004 - 20:32

an apple is a personal computer

#14.2 Skyfrog on 30 Oct 2004 - 23:00

What is an "APPLE PC"?

I think it's the opposite of an "IBM Macintosh". Oh wait, those don't exist either. Oh well...

#14.3 giantsnyy on 01 Nov 2004 - 03:29

oh wait... who makes apples PowerPC chips?
thats right... IBM

#15 SimplyPotatoes on 30 Oct 2004 - 20:16

this makes me want to buy an apple personal computer

#16 chrisnelis on 30 Oct 2004 - 20:44

SkyNet is comming

#17 aboi on 31 Oct 2004 - 01:45

errr i think tiger has this feature already

#18 Wickedkitten on 31 Oct 2004 - 14:46

It's all about choice people. At least Google is making the effort to make something available for mac users which is more than I can say for a lot of companies.

There is no point in comparing it to Spotlight considering that Tiger is not going to be out for at least another 4 months.

#19 pixlnet on 31 Oct 2004 - 22:57

Google search isn't spotlight at all. Has anyone here even downloaded it for PC? I see most people using Google DS for tracking old IM converstations and articles they read somewhere online. That's basically it. I see Spotlight as an all around desktop search tool that actually works well.

#20 AveDeoInferio on 01 Nov 2004 - 01:57

I think it's good for the general computer industry when companies make their programs cross-platform even if a particular platform has its own implementation of the same feature. I don't like the idea of depending on Apple for everything, just like I don't like the idea of having to depend on Microsoft for all Windows programs. It's all about choice and having a "Plan B". That point of view seems to be overlooked often.

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