Disclaimer

The content of this blog is my personal opinion only. Although I am an employee - currently of Nvidia, in the past of other companies such as Iagination Technologies, MIPS, Intellectual Ventures, Intel, AMD, Motorola, and Gould - I reveal this only so that the reader may account for any possible bias I may have towards my employer's products. The statements I make here in no way represent my employer's position, nor am I authorized to speak on behalf of my employer. In fact, this posting may not even represent my personal opinion, since occasionally I play devil's advocate.

See http://docs.google.com/View?id=dcxddbtr_23cg5thdfj for photo credits.

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Google Desktop (Search) Dying

Google is end-of-life-ing several products, including Google Desktop, in particular Google Desktop Search, which I use constantly, and Google Notebook and Sidewiki, which I would like to use, but which, fortunately, I decided not to become dependent on.

Google says

    Desktop: In the last few years, there’s been a huge shift from local to cloud-based storage and computing, as well as the integration of search and gadget functionality into most modern operating systems. People now have instant access to their data, whether online or offline. As this was the goal of Google Desktop, the product will be discontinued on September 14, including all the associated APIs, services, plugins, gadgets and support.

Fair enough. I *am* trying to keep most of my information in the cloud. But unfortunately I do not have full connectivity - large areas of rural Oregon still do not have cell phone connectivity, voice, let alone data, and, for that matter, I am too cheap to pay for data connectivity at all times. Plus, some things I am not allowed to keep in the cloud, and

So it looks like I will have to use Microsoft Desktop Search, as built in to Windows 7, for stuff on my laptop. I prefer the Google user interface - but since Google Desktop Search will be discontinued, I don't have much choice. And because I am using Microsoft Desktop Search, I have started using Bing for my web search. Here, I still prefer the Google user interface, which I am familiar with - but Bing's user interface is more similar to MS Desktop Search, and I value consistency between Desktop and Web more than I value the more familiar Google Search interface.

I suspect that Microsoft Desktop Search cannot search my Google Chrome browser history. Just like Google Desktop Search could not search my Microsoft OneNote.

Unfortunately, this begins to look like dominoes falling. So long as I have substantial local data on my Microsoft PC, I am attracted, despite my personal preferences, to Microsoft tools like Microsoft Desktop Search, Bing, and Internet Explorer.

Not everyone will be in this situation. Some people will be purely cloud based. But, unfortunately, I am not. Yet?

I wonder if this will affect my next choice of cell phone? I was leaning towards Android, but perhaps this is enough to tilt me towards Windows 8.
Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)