Google Deskbar

[viggen]

A fantastic new feature introduced by Google Labs!

Googling without a browser. I really like this one...

[toolbar.google.com...]

The Google Deskbar is a free software download that appears as a search box in the Windows taskbar at the bottom right of most Windows-based PCs. Users enter queries into the search box and results are automatically displayed in a small pane that rises above the Deskbar and overlays a corner of the application they’re using.

[killroy]

So do I, but Ifind the mini view faster and less intrusive. Not if they could get their own engine, standards compliant and faster and thinner then IE..

But PLEASE give me those prefixes (AB search word) because usign hte mouse to select form the menu completely negates the speed gain!

SN

[Slud]

Nice one werty.

Edit:
Never mind I mis-read your post to be a shortcut for [searchengineworld.com...] (which no one should use).

[edited by: Slud at 6:58 pm (utc) on Nov. 7, 2003]

[sun818]

Overture Search Term Suggestion Tool
inventory.overture.com/d/searchinventory/suggestion/?term={1}

WordTracker Keywords
www.wordtracker.com/trial/lateralsearchframes.php3?frames=on&lateralkeyword={1}&thesauruscheckbox=on&lateralcheckbox=on

Overture Max Bid Tool
uv.bidtool.overture.com/d/search/tools/bidtool/index.jhtml?Keywords={1}&mkt=us&lang=en_US&Partner=userbidtool

2CheckOut Order Details
[sellers.2checkout.com...]

[killroy]

Damn, I just tried to see if it also uses {2} and {3}. Apperantly not, or at least I don't know how to seperate the terms. Would be really great if I could use more vars, then I could type something like
27.45 USD UKP
and have full currency conversion.

SN

[lasko]

Googleguy

If I click on a link with _blank in the html nothing happens.

Only when you click _self does the window work properly by opening a new browser.

Has anyone else noticed this?

The program is great and will speed things up :)

[GoogleGuy]

killroy, nice tips--glad you're jumping onto the customized search features. :) I know at least one Deskbar person will check this thread, so I'm sure they'll see the suggestions.

Offhand I don't know about the FindWhat url--does it work with single words? It might be that some sites escape spaces strangely or something.

Glad people like this tool!

[sun818]

Yeah {1} {2} {3} would also be awesome for shipping quotes which require destination country and weight in one URL.

[GoogleGuy]

Hey, one cute thing that people might not have noticed is that it can do multi-line url fix up. If you select a url that's been broken into multiple lines by an email program, then hit ctrl-alt-g, you can just hit return. The url is fixed up (whitespace is removed) and navigated in a new browser window.

I'll look forward to seeing what wild searches people have been able to make it do. :)

[killroy]

Heck, GoogleGuy, while we're at it, give us full regex suport in the searchbar AND on the result page! Throw out the IE based engine, let me regex the result page and just pop up a window with the result of my calculation, or the currency conversion, or better even, replace it into the search box! Uh boy!

So I can type
cv (for convert) USD MTL 13.45[ENTER]

and get 4.97650 MTL as the result, after regexign the target page...

Yummy, just IMAGINE the gadzillions of jobs you could do with that! Then give us a history list of the resutls we got like this (you can't really do that with whole web pages, but very well with result text extracts)

tell your programmers... heck, let ME write the code for you for free, I WANT this!

SN *drool*

[bcolflesh]

bcolflesh, where did you see a mention of a Puffin? You're confusing me. :)

Go to wherever you installed the software - default:

C:\Program Files\Google

Right-click on ggviewer64-0.exe

Notice the Description on the General tab and the Internal Name on the Version tab:

Puffin

[Chndru]

Yep, bcolflesh, it says Puffin Deskbar

kuddos, you cracked the secret code name! :)

[vitaplease]

Seems like puffin on a long horn..

[sun818]

Puffin
Is someone trying to quit at Google? ;)

[arts4all.com...]

[Tropical Island]

Definitions of puffin on the Web:

Diving northern seabird with black and white plumage and a large triangular orange and yellow bill. Very cute! Although awkward on land and in the air, they are expert swimmers.

Goes well with the pigeons.

[Chndru]

Look at these cuties. [images.google.com]

[Archon]

I wouldn't exactly say this one-ups MS significantly. MS isn't going to allow this to ship with new PCs pre-installed (without a fight), but their search offering is.. so.. much like the prev. Netscape/IE tussle.. MS *will* have the advantage. People will have to "seek out" and install the new tool(desk)bar. It's not going to appeal to the bottom 40% of the audience who don't go beyond turning on their PCs and praying the Word shortcut is still on the desktop when it comes up.

[killroy]

True, and sad.

SN

[Chndru]

True, and sad.

Yep. But it shows, G is proactive and are aware of their perceived limitations and are willing to work around it. That definitely needs kuddos.

[tygerwoodz]

Yep, Dave's Quick bar was the first, which HotBot used as the basis for their own. That one launched a few months ago and includes the ability to search Google along with Inktomi, Jeeves and ATW. This must be where Google got the idea to develop their own. Actually a few things Google's been experimenting with have been done first elsewhere. Google...the new Microsoft in more ways than one? Either way, who cares, it's a great addition for the avid Google user. I agree the Browser should be next. What are the odds for '04, GG?

[perfecttommy]

Don't know if anyone found this yet...
Pressing shift-enter opens the search in the browser. Same for the other searches (e.g. Shift+Ctrl+N opens news in the browser).

[perfecttommy]

BTW, what version does everyone have? I just installed and have 0.5.67

[lasko]

Don't know if anyone found this yet...
Pressing shift-enter opens the search in the browser. Same for the other searches (e.g. Shift+Ctrl+N opens news in the browser).

Yes, but does anyone know how to make the mini viewer into a browser without clicking your mouse?

I do a search in desktop, the mini viewer opens with the results, I then want to expand the window, but currently you can only do it by clicking your mouse in the top left corner.

Sometimes I want to just see a quick results and if its good want to put it on full screen would be nice to do it without the mouse otherwise I will just go back to the usual browser :(

[troels nybo nielsen]

> version

0.5.64

Some suggestions have been made by members since I installed. Perhaps some of them are implemented now? Seems to be a fast development.

[HughMungus]

I don't get it. What's the big deal other than Google's marketing department figuring out a way of putting Google on the desktop?

[HughMungus]

#1 and #2 will become the critical placements to have.

Or google advertising.

[Goober]

If you reboot, how do you activite the deskbar? Re-install?

Goober

[Chndru]

>What's the big deal other than Google's marketing department figuring out a way of putting Google on the desktop?

That is a potential big-deal. Rumours are rampant on the new longhorn that it might incorporate search on the desktop and possibly blurring the distinction between files on one's harddisk & on the internet for SERPS.

as usual, it is pure guess-work and not a stated fact

[sun818]

I would like a Google Appliance to crawl my desktop. AltaVista had desktop crawler I recall 10 years ago. It sort of worked, kinda buggy - but it was a very cool idea.

[yankee]

If I have Netscape or Internet Explorer open, I'd like the search results to be sent to the open browser. That would be sweet!

[SlyOldDog]

Well, what advantage does this give Google over Microsoft?

Once Google launch their own browser they can auto update all the Google plug-ins on IE with a warning that the software will stop working on IE soon and that they need to go get their copy of Google browser. I'm sure this is on the agenda. They just need enough features to make the swap irresistable.