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It’s been awhile since I checked what the Google labs were up to with their desktop search application. The latest Beta Google Desktop Search now includes a sidebar which doesn’t look too bad…

The sidebar includes a vast amount of useful information inluding: Email, News, Weather, Photos, Stocks, Web Clips, Scratch Pad, Quick View, and more.

I thought that having the ability to have Photos displayed from your ‘My Documents’ folder or a published RSS / Atom feed was pretty cool. Drop your favorite Flickr feed into the sidebar to keep yourself updated. This sidebar is looking a lot like an all-in-one desktop widget by Google.

In addition to the new sidebar features, Google Desktop Search includes a handy ‘Quick Find’ search bar. The QF allows quick access to files and applications similar to AppRocket’s quicklaunch utility.

I used to believe the rumors flying about that Google would one day involve itself in the OS wars. With applications like GDS, why would Google even have to bother? Most of the information that average computer users would ever need is provided by this simple Sidebar. Does it reminds anyone of the MS sidebar that was shown in early screenshots of Longhorn [Vista]?

Read More Hat tip to TM.