Google Data

In 2004, Google launched Google Desktop, a program designed to make it easy for users to search their own PCs for emails, files, music, photos, Web pages and more.

Desktop has been used by tens of millions of people and we’ve been humbled by its usage and great user feedback. However, over the past seven years we’ve also witnessed some big changes in how users store and access their own data, with many moving to web-based applications. There has been a significant shift from local to cloud-based storage and computing, as well as integration of Google Desktop functionality (like local search) into most modern operating systems. This is a positive development for users and we’re excited that most people now have instant access to their personal information. As such, we’ll be discontinuing support for Google Desktop, including all of the associated APIs, services, plugins and gadgets.

As of September 14, Google Desktop will no longer be available for download, and existing installations will not be updated to include new features or fixes.

Thanks again to all of our users. It’s been a fun journey.

Posted by the Google Desktop Team

What makes a quality gadget? Platform specification: If you create a gadget only for Windows, make sure that the gadget is not installable on Mac or Linux:

What makes a quality gadget?

• Platform specification: If you create a gadget only for Windows, make sure that the gadget is not installable on Mac or Linux:

  For more information, check the gadget.gmanifest documentation.

• Good performance: The gadget should make optimum use of the hardware and operating system services. The efficiency of software can usually be greatly improved by an intelligent choice of high-level algorithms, rather than using local “tricks” or optimizations that can lead to maintenance problems. Factors that may be of interest are response time and memory requirements.

• Robustness: The gadget should continue to function in non-standard conditions such as incorrect user input. For example, when the user types something wrong, you can warn the user with a basic message box.
• Appropriate interface: The gadget should be friendly and inviting to users. The design and choice of the interface should take into account the needs and capabilities of the users. Many times, gadget features are not utilized because the interface is difficult.
• Documentation: The gadget must link to a website that provides support and information about the gadget. On the website, you can write detailed descriptions about what the gadget can do. And don’t forget to display your email address so the users can easily provide feedback about your gadget, offer to translate it, or report a bug. Try to always include a page with frequently asked questions. One good idea is to add a YouTube video about your gadget on the website to show what it can do.

Posted by Stefan Van Damme, Gadget Developer

A new gadget by Adam Hotz is featured on the Inside Google Desktop blog. See the post Featured gadget: Task List and Timer.Posted by Kathy Walrath, Technical Writer (Google Desktop Team)

A new gadget by Adam Hotz is featured on the Inside Google Desktop blog. See the post Featured gadget: Task List and Timer.Posted by Kathy Walrath, Technical Writer (Google Desktop Team)

Yet another gadget by Rosie Ojo is featured on the Inside Google Desktop blog. See the post Featured gadget: Periodic Table Interactive.Posted by Kathy Walrath, Technical Writer (Google Desktop Team)

Yet another gadget by Rosie Ojo is featured on the Inside Google Desktop blog. See the post Featured gadget: Periodic Table Interactive.Posted by Kathy Walrath, Technical Writer (Google Desktop Team)

A gadget by Teodor Filimon is featured on the Inside Google Desktop blog. See the post Featured gadget: Tabbed Todo List.Posted by Kathy Walrath, Technical Writer (Google Desktop Team)

A gadget by Teodor Filimon is featured on the Inside Google Desktop blog. See the post Featured gadget: Tabbed Todo List.Posted by Kathy Walrath, Technical Writer (Google Desktop Team)

A new gadget by Prithvi Prabhu is featured on the Inside Google Desktop blog. See the post Featured gadget: Resource Hog Tracker.Posted by Kathy Walrath, Technical Writer (Google Desktop Team)

A new gadget by Prithvi Prabhu is featured on the Inside Google Desktop blog. See the post Featured gadget: Resource Hog Tracker.Posted by Kathy Walrath, Technical Writer (Google Desktop Team)

What information must be in a gadget’s About dialog? The About dialog certainly needs to display the gadget name. It should also contain:The gadget creator’s name (your name or your company’s name)A short description of what the gadget can doThe gadget…

What information must be in a gadget’s About dialog? The About dialog certainly needs to display the gadget name. It should also contain:The gadget creator’s name (your name or your company’s name)A short description of what the gadget can doThe gadget…

When writing code in the Google Desktop Gadget Designer, you most likely have used the Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V keyboard shortcuts to copy and paste text.Here are some other shortcuts to work faster in the Gadget Designer. They work only while editing text su…

When writing code in the Google Desktop Gadget Designer, you most likely have used the Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V keyboard shortcuts to copy and paste text.Here are some other shortcuts to work faster in the Gadget Designer. They work only while editing text su…