Google Hacks, 2nd Edition

Google Your Desktop

Google your desktop and the rest of your filesystem, mailbox, and instant messenger conversations—even your browser cache.

Not content just to help you find things on the Internet, Google takes on that teetering pile on your desktop—your computer’s desktop, that is.

The Google Desktop (http://desktop.google.com) is your own private little Google server. It sits in the background, slogging through your files and folders, indexing your incoming and outgoing email messages, listening in on your instant messenger chats, and browsing the Web right along with you. Just about anything you see and summarily forget, the Google Desktop sees and memorizes: it’s like a photographic memory for your computer.

And it operates in real time.

Beyond the initial sweep, that is. When you first install Google Desktop, it makes use of any idle time to meander your filesystem, email application, instant messages, and browser cache. Imbued with a sense of politeness, the indexer shouldn’t interfere at all with your use of your computer; it only springs into action when you step away, take a phone call, or doze off for 30 seconds or more. Pick up the mouse or touch the keyboard and the Google Desktop scuttles off into the corner, waiting patiently for its next opportunity to look around.

Its initial inventory taken, the Google Desktop server sits back and waits for something of interest to come along. Send or receive an email message, strike up an AIM conversation with a friend, or get a ...