Google Desktop in Firefox
While Google says that Internet Explorer is required to use the new Google Desktop Search, intrepid developers have
released the Firefox Toolbar that extends the Desktop Search to the
Firefox browser on Windows and the Google Toolbar to Firefox on the Mac. This new toolbar allows one-click access to
Gmail and the ability to search your Gmail account.
Adding Google Desktop Search to the toolbar in Windows requires an easy
“hack” but it is one Google
themselves provide to add Google Desktop Search to their own Deskbar. I’ve hacked my Google Deskbar and it works
fine.
The Firefox Toolbar works with Firefox 0.9 and the PR1 release.
NOTE: This post has been updated. I originally indicated (incorrectly) that this toolbar enabled
Google Desktop Search on the Mac. As a reader pointed out in the comments to this post, Google Desktop Search requires
an .exe file that is currently only available for Windows 2000 and XP. Sorry for the error.
Get a WordPress.com Blog
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Joshua Dickens said 4:15PM on 6-16-2005
I tired this, but I don't see how it's going to work on a mac since there's a windows executable that must run in the background for desktop search to be active. How did you manage this?
Reply
Stefan Seiz said 4:15PM on 6-16-2005
You may have hacked your Deskbar, but what is it, that actualy indexes the documents on the Mac? AFAIK, Google Desktop comes with a client which indexes your disk when the machine is idle. Now you say this works on a Mac? I am confused.
Stefan
Reply
Marc Orchant said 4:15PM on 6-16-2005
Stefan: Sorry for the confusion. I incorrectly stated that this toolbar allowed Firefox on the Mac to use the new Desktop Search. The post has been corrected.
Reply
Oz said 4:15PM on 6-16-2005
If your default browser is firefox, Google Desktop Search works from Firefox anyways.
Reply
Jansen said 4:15PM on 6-16-2005
i am using firefox 1.0 rc on windows xp. when installation, it simply say compatible only with 0.9 and 1.0 pr.
Reply
Brad Hill said 4:15PM on 6-16-2005
On my machine, Firefax and Netscape have no trouble with Desktop Search, without additions.
Reply
Marc Orchant said 4:15PM on 6-16-2005
I think the value in this toolbar is that It puts the ability to search allof your Google stores (Desktop, Web, Gmail) in one place. While you can do some or most of what this toolbar accomplishes without adding anything (as Brad points out above - even in Netscape), it's a welcome aggregation of functionality in a single bar
Reply
Mike said 5:45AM on 9-02-2005
Both Oz and Brad say above that Google Desktop search works. However, neither say whether it works on a Mac or not. I'm running the toolbar on a Mac and it does _not_ work. So, which is it, fellows?
Reply
Pat McDonald said 4:15PM on 6-16-2005
First of all, thank you Marc for telling people about the bar. Secondly the feedback here has been very helpful..please keep it coming.
Lastly, we just created an AdSense toolbar, and incorporated the Google Desktop search.
The left menu gives you links to your adsense account (reports, settings,...)
The engines include all of the Google engines.
http://www.firefoxtoolbar.com/adsense
Any feedback would be appreciated.
Thanks,
-Pat
Reply