By
Elinor Mills
Friday, November 04 2005 11:15 AM
URL:
http://www.zdnetasia.com/news/internet/0,39044908,39288028,00.htm
Google announced the finalized version of its Google Desktop 2 application
on Thursday and outlined its new features.
Google Desktop 2, a free downloadable application, combines
desktop search and the Google Sidebar, a floating tool palette that offers
personalized news and other information based on a user's habits.
Dozens of new third-party Sidebar panels are
now available, Google said, like iTunes, dictionary Winamp and an American
Express panel to track and view credit card transactions in real time. The new
software can also display maps related to the sites one visits while surfing the
Net.
In addition, developers can use simple JavaScript to write plug-ins for
Google Desktop 2, the company said.
Google Desktop for Enterprise, also free, now provides enhanced
administration, integration and security features for corporations that want to
let employees search for data on their desktop, intranet and the Web, Google
said.
Google also launched a new Google Desktop Blog on Thursday.
Google faces competition in the burgeoning market for desktop search from
Yahoo, Microsoft and other companies.