Desktop search
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PANDIA SEARCH ENGINE NEWS

Yahoo! launches desktop search tool

Yahoo! has launched its free desktop search tool.

(January 11 2005) The desktop search tool bonanza continues. Last year saw the birth of desktop software from Copernic, Google, Lycos/HotBot, MSN and Ask Jeeves. Now Yahoo! presents a similar offering.

Like all its rivals the Yahoo! Desktop Search lets you search for files and emails on your own computer.

A large number of file types

Yahoo! Desktop Search covers an impressive number of file formats, including the usual suspects: ASCII text, HTML, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF and Outlook.

However, this tool is also able to index more obscure file types, including compressed files, a large number of database formats and MS DOS word processors.

Separate program

Unlike Google, Yahoo! Desktop Search does not display results in search engine results like manner in your web browser. This program has its own interface and its own windows.

Yahoo! Desktop Search will try to guess your intentions as you type. Hence the program will start displaying results even before you have typed the whole query. Moreover, this program will, like the Copernic desktop search program, give you a preview of most files in a separate window pane.

If you are using Outlook, Yahoo! will add a separate Yahoo! toolbar to that program. You can search for the contents of attachments, regardless of file type. You may also -- as Yahoo! says -- "view, reply, forward and print emails after you've found them."

Advanced features

Among other interesting options are the possibility to save searches, and set indexing options by file type, email client, and contacts. This means that you can exclude certain files based on size, name or content. You can also limit searches to certain filenames, file types, file size, dates or directories/paths

Even if Yahoo! Desktop Search is based on the X1 Desktop Search tool, it is not able to index network drives, meaning that you must limit your searches to your own computer (or web sites). But then again, Yahoo! cannot provide exactly the same features as X1, as it would make the more pricey X1 variant redundant.

This is a beta test version of the software. Yahoo! is already working on additional features, such as a closer integration with Yahoo's online services including data such as email and address book contacts.

System requirements: Microsoft Windows 2000 or XP, 256MB RAM recommended, 50MB free hard drive space. And no, there is no Mac support.

See also Pandia's survey of free desktop search tools.
Yahoo! Desktop Search FAQ
The Yahoo! Search Blog on the new software

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