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Filed under: Internet, Google, Web

Google Reader gadget for Google Desktop

Google Reader desktop gadget
Google had launched an official Google Reader gadget for Google Desktop. Basically this utility lets you read RSS feeds from Google Reader without opening a web browser. The interface is similar the web version, with all of your feeds and categories presented in a list.

When you click on an individual feed (or "all items" or a label", you'll see a list of headlines and a first sentence or two. Clicking on the headline will bring up a new window with the more text. Full HTML feeds don't render properly, so if you want to read a complete blog post, news item, or view images or pictures you'll want to click through to open the page in a web browser. But if you just want to quickly scan the latest news, the Google Reader gadget should work.

The gadget works with Google Desktop 5 for Windows and Linux.

[via Official Google Reader Blog]

Filed under: Linux, Google, Beta

Google Desktop for Linux gets gadgets

Google Gadgets for Linux
Google Desktop is a desktop search application that runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux. But the Linux version has always been a bit behind the curve. While all three clients let you search the web or files on your computer, the Mac and Windows versions have long supported Google Gadgets, which are desktop widgets that let you do everything from checking the weather to controlling your media player software.

Now Google has released an update that brings gadgets to Google Desktop for Linux. Installation is kind of a pain at the moment, since there's no .deb or .rpm package. You need to download the source code and compile the application yourself, which often means finding out that you don't have all of the necessary prerequisites installed on your system.

Fortunately Google offers a "how to build" page which lists all of the prerequisites. But if you read the comments on that page, you'll notice that dozens of people have complained about their inability to install the application properly. So you might want to wait until Google simplifies the install process.

[via Google Blogoscoped]

Filed under: Weekend Review

Download Squad Week in Review

Download Squad logoBeen so busy trying to decide whether or not to drop out of the presidential race that you haven't had time to keep up on the week's technology news? Worry not dear reader, we've got you covered. Here are some of our favorite articles from the past week.

Download Squad does April Fools

In case you didn't notice, we had a few articles on April 1st that were a bit... factually challenged. We had a great time writing these stories and we hope you enjoyed them. For the record, here's a roundup of the stories that weren't entirely true. But we're holding out hope that some of them could still happen one day:
Working through out SXSW interview backlog

SXSW may have been last month, but we managed to catch up with so many awesome folks that we're still working through our backlog of interview videos. Here are some of the latest:

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Filed under: Features, Windows, Google, Microsoft, Freeware, Search

Windows Search 4.0 vs. Google Desktop 5.5

Windows Search v. Google Desktop
Microsoft released an updated version of Windows Search, its free desktop search client the other day. And while there are dozens of excellent desktop search clients, including a few good free ones, it seems inevitable that people are going to compare Windows Search to Google Desktop. Because you know, any time either company releases something kind of cool someones assumes that it's just a ripoff of a product offered by the other. Or Apple.

Anyway, we've been using Windows Search for the past few days and we thought we'd let you know how it stacks up against Google Desktop. Read on for the results.

Read more →

Filed under: Internet, Google, web 2.0

Install Google Desktop gadgets in iGoogle

iGoogle Desktop gadgets
Google has been offering two different types of gadgets (or what the rest of the world calls widgets) for a while now. You could install tiny applications on your desktop using Google Desktop. Or you could install them in a personalized Google Startpage using iGoogle. Now Google has gone and removed the line dividing these two gadget types: You can now install Google Desktop gadgets on your iGoogle page.

In other words, you can add applications that will let you interact with your computer directly from an iGoogle page. For example, you can play music, or check your PC's power consumption or WiFi signal. You can find the gadgets using the iGoogle Content Directory.

Google is also releasing a new beta of Google Desktop 5.5 with improved Outlook search features and the ability to open multiple instances of the same gadget on your desktop.

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