WebProNews

Even though Windows Vista hasn't been received with quite the fanfare Microsoft would have liked, the fact remains that the integrated desktop search functionality represents a potential snag in Google's master plan for continued dominance within the industry.

Not to be outdone, Google has updated its desktop application with a sleeker sidebar and redesigned gadgets. By improving the look and functionality of its sidebar and gadgets, Google is looking to present Vista users with their own alternative to desktop information management.

In addition to the cosmetic changes, the company has overhauled two key features of Google Desktop:

Desktop Search - Ever searched your computer and seen a row of results that looked almost identical - so you had to open file after file until you found the right one? Now there is a better way: preview search results from within Google Desktop. Don't wait for an entire application to load, just click "Preview" and find the information you want right away. Finding the right file has never been easier!

Security - We take your security extremely seriously and have added new features to help make your search experience safer. Whether you’re clicking on links from documents, IMs and email or browsing the web, if we have information that the site you're visiting might be trying to steal your personal information or install malicious software on your computer, we'll give you a warning first so you can decide if you want to use the site.

Convincing users to run Google Desktop and various other widgets will still take some work, given the fact that these items have developed quite the reputation for sucking the life out of a system’s resources. If Google can continue to streamline the sidebar and gadgets to look better and run smoother, it will give Vista a run for its money for a user’s attention on the desktop level.