07 November 2003 | Author: Andrew Girdwood Head of Strategy

Web searches without web browsers

Google has launched a new desktop search utility. The desktop tool bar has some fairly strict limitations; it's supports only Windows XP, ME and 2000 and requires Internet Explorer 5.5 or higher. You're on your own if you've anything else.

The toolbar puts the Google logo on your desktop. Not on your desktop as an icon where you'll have to minimise all your windows to see it and where it really wouldn't be that helpful anyway but on your Taskbar at the bottom of the screen. The search box will take a decent chunk of your Taskbar too, especially if you have a small screen.

Using the toolbar is easy. Type your search into the input box and hit return or the familiar Google-goggles. The results appear in a slide open window which can be opened up as a full Internet Explorer window later. If you want you can select the little arrow beside the goggles and run your search against Google's news, groups, images, Froogle or Google's definitions. The toolbar also supports extra links, unlike the Googlebar there is no dictionary link but there is a thesaurus link instead. The two clear winners from the new desktop bar are the Rotten Tomatoes movie site and CNet's Downloads page since the software links to directly each as Movie Reviews and Software Downloads.

As an option you're invited to allow Google track your anonymous usage figures.