Google Desktop 2.0: screenshot gallery

Google Desktop 2.0 (beta) lacks finishing touches, but is available for the public to test. This program builds upon Google Desktop Search. It stacks tiny portals on your desktop to display the latest news, stocks and weather; recent email; and photos you've viewed. It includes a Scratch Pad for note-taking, alongside a Quick Find search window to look for files and launch programs. Should you give it a try? Check out our preview of Google Desktop 2.0.

Google Desktop Sidebar organises news and notes
Google Desktop's new Sidebar feature brings the latest news, weather and stock prices to your desktop, along with a view of your Gmail in-box, a scratch pad for notes, and more.

Search in a snap
Google's new Quick Find feature (shown here with the Sidebar minimised) gives you instant, as-you-type search results, much like the new Spotlight search in Apple's Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger.

Search Outlook
The new beta of Google Desktop adds a search box to the Microsoft Outlook interface, allowing you to sort search results by sender, subject or date.

Thumb through photos
Google Desktop's Photo module grabs photos from your local drive or the Web; just click the arrow to see upcoming images.

In-box on your desktop
Google Desktop's new Email module occasionally jumbled the order of our in-box messages, typically when it was loading for the first time on a given day.

Move or hide the Sidebar
Don't like the Google Desktop Sidebar on the right side of the screen? You can also dock it to the left side, hide it until you mouse to the side or minimise it altogether. Read our preview of Google Desktop 2.0 for more information.

Google plans to add more features when it finalises this desktop search tool and content portal. Here's what it looks like so far.