Tech Shout!

On Tuesday, Google released the final version of Google Desktop 4, the popular search engine’s desktop search utility and sidebar application. The latest version brings in tighter incorporation with Google services, and new “Google Gadgets,” which expand the capabilities of previous sidebar plug-ins.

“We’re post-beta!”, Google writes.

Google Gadgets are mini-applications that range from games to system utilities; very much on the lines of the gadgets supported by the Windows Sidebar in Vista and those offered in Apple’s Mac OS X dashboard. Google has provided a new SDK and Gadget Designer application to aide improvement.

Software engineer Satish Sampath said, “You can now easily manage your projects and files, visually design your gadget UI (no need to handcode the xml), edit your script code and preview changes instantly (no more restarts), view debug messages with the built-in debug console, automatically generate the gadget package and manifest and much more in an integrated development environment.”

The company has introduced a number of gadgets to go in sync with the launch of Google Desktop 4, and has announced a contest for developers. A panel of judges will select three winners based on popularity, visual appeal, use of new features and creativity, awarding $8,000 in cash. Submissions will be accepted until July 31.

Google Desktop 4 also closely connects to the company’s personalized homepage service. Google Gadgets from the homepage can be added to the sidebar, or anywhere on the desktop. Microsoft offers similar capabilities in Windows Vista and its new Live.com portal.

Other new features of the release include enhanced indexing of content on a PC for searches, with support for manual re-indexing. Google has additionally incorporated a way for users to remove deleted content from their search cache with an option in Desktop preferences.