Google unveils Web-searching software
( 2003-11-14 10:38) (Agencies)
Internet search engine Google
has unveiled free software that lets people search the Web quickly ¡ª without
launching a Web browser.
 Google Deskbar, released recently, appears as a search box
in the Windows toolbar. After the search words are entered, a resizable
mini-viewer pops up with the results. Users can jump to the site within the
mini-viewer or launch their browser.
Unless a program is filling the screen or the user has set the taskbar to
automatically hide, the search box is always visible. With a keyboard shortcut,
the cursor can be moved to it without moving the mouse.
Though the software is free, Google does get some exposure on the desktop:
The company's logo appears faintly in the search box when words aren't being
typed into it.
Beyond Google's main search, the box can be set to search Google non-U.S.
sites, Google News, Google Images and others. There are options to find stock
quotes, movie reviews, word definitions and synonyms. Users can add custom sites
to search, too.
The software, which is about 400 kilobytes, requires a PC with Windows XP or
Windows 2000, at least Internet Explorer 5.5 and an Internet connection. Windows
95, 98 and ME are not supported. Google Deskbar also does not run on Macintosh
or Linux computers.
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