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A personalised ‘infomuter’
Have you ever wondered how amazing it would be if you could immediately locate your MP3 file after it had been hidden under tons of folders? And how about having the power to go back to the web-page you found six months ago but which you now need immediately.
Let’s look at an application that may resolve all these problems and give you more power than ever before. Let us discuss Google Desktop.
A lot of us use
Google Desktop runs on your system and gives you the same powerful search that Google uses itself. Imagine the power of Google at your command. That is precisely what Google Desktop represents.
You can quickly search through your PC for emails, web history, and files, view news items, photos and more from around the world. Just type a word, say MP3, in the search and presto, a window will open to give you instant access to all the MP3s on your system.
Not only that, but since Google Desktop also saves your web history, every website you’ve been to that has the word MP3 in it will be displayed. Click, and the required file or website will open up. Information where you need, when you need it — now, that’s what we call power.
Google Desktop is available as a ‘task bar’ or you can expand it as a sidebar. So you can choose whichever interface suits your system best.
The real power of Google Desktop doesn’t come from its search capabilities, however. Yes, there’s more to it.
Its real power comes from Google Gadgets — the visually appealing, mini-applications, ranging from cute clocks, weather globes and media players to extremely helpful financial gadgets which can let you process credit cards online. These look like desktop stickies, but don’t underestimate their power.
The best part is that anyone can create his/her own gadgets, and almost as easily, a web-page. Of course, do go through the 300-odd gadgets first. And, have I mentioned that this is totally free.
I can see that I’ll get lynched if I didn’t tell you how to get this amazing software. Well, to download Google Desktop, visit
However, for those with the right OS, just click on the “Agree & Download” button and the almost 2MB file will download to your system. Double-click to install and that’s it.
Of course, you’ll also need a Google Account to really take full advantage of the application. The same account that you may only get through an invitation from an existing user.
Here’s another secret that the Sci-tech World is revealing to you exclusively. Google accounts — which can give you access to Gmail and Orkut, besides other services — can be made through
Click on the link in the email you receive and a Google account will be created. The best part is, once you’ve personalised your Google Desktop after entering your account information, it will give you personalised options. For instance, if you choose the news gadget, it will give news items relevant to Pakistan, rather than news about cattle farming in Australia, etc.
Also, would you like setting up all your applications again if you get a new computer? Well, I wouldn’t either. So even if you get a new computer or a new hard disk, setting up your computer will be a lot easier because your Google Desktop Sidebar will remember all its original settings as soon as you’ll install it. Your Pac Man game, weather locations, to do list and online pictures, etc can now be sent across multiple machines — or even just one machine.
The 300-plus Google Gadgets can be categorised under News, Tools, Communications, Finance, Fun & Games, Google, Sports, Lifestyle and Technology. Some of these require an internet access to function properly. However, there are others which can be run without them.
The writer works for an IT company
