Google Plans Desktop Search Tool for Mac

Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) is at it again. The search company is attempting to extend its reach into the Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) market with a Desktop Search tool for the Mac that would offer similar capabilities that Window users are now testing in the application's beta version.

Google Desktop Search is a free, downloadable application that allows users to search through e-mail, instant messages, text files and the World Wide Web simultaneously.

Mac users shouldn't hold their breath, however. Google executives told Reuters that while the company plans to develop an OS X-compatible version of its new search tool, it has to be rebuilt from scratch for the Mac operating system.

Joe Wilcox, a senior analyst with Jupiter Research, told MacNewsWorld that he is somewhat surprised Google is pursuing a search utility for the Mac.

Existing Search Tool Good

"The search utility within a Mac OS X is already quite good," Wilcox said. "You have your little search dialogue that appears in most windows and it's pretty quick. It's quite dramatically different an experience than doing a search on a Windows PC."

That, combined with the fact that Apple plans to release its Tiger operating system sometime next year complete with more than 150 breakthrough new features including improved search capabilities, causes Wilcox to pause.

Tiger's systemwide Spotlight search is designed to help Mac users find anything on their hard drive, from e-mail messages to calendars and contacts to documents, movies and images.

The new utility will display results in clear-cut categories that intend to help users browse, pick and click. Features like Smart Folders in the Finder, Smart Mailboxes in Mail and Smart Groups for contacts are designed to allow users to categorize and organize important information logically.

So, then, does it make sense for Google to spend the time and money developing a Desktop Search for Mac users? It does and it doesn't, Wilcox said.

Better Tool?

"If you are Google and you are looking to hold your position, this makes sense," he said. "Who knows? Maybe Google can deliver a better search than Apple can. Of course, what Google is going to try to do is tie it back to the Web."

And that might be the broader strategy. Google has Google Blog and recently acquired Picasa, a service to help users manage and share digital photographs. Google even has a solid search tool for smart phones, Wilcox said.

"These are all technologies that leverage off of Google's core competency, but they are also technologies that you would use on an ongoing basis and you would be less likely to switch," he said.

"These are all ways that the company can not only advance its brand and utility, but also create some kind of dependence."