Google’s New Desktop App Adds Spotlight-Style Search to Windows
▼ Summary
– Google is testing a new search app for Windows that allows users to search files, Drive, and the web via an Alt + Space shortcut.
– The app includes Google Lens for visual searches, such as identifying images or translating text on screen.
– It offers multiple search modes including AI Mode, Images, Shopping, and Videos, with dark and light mode options.
– Upon installation, a resizable desktop search bar appears, which can be minimized and customized in settings.
– The app is currently available only in English for US users with Windows 10 or higher, accessible through Google’s Search Labs.
Google is currently testing a new desktop application for Windows that introduces a Spotlight-style search experience, allowing users to quickly find information across their local files, Google Drive, and the web. Accessible through an Alt + Space keyboard shortcut, the app aims to streamline how Windows users search for and interact with digital content.
Available through Google’s Search Labs for personal accounts, the application features a Chrome-like installation process and requires users to sign in. Once installed, it places a movable and resizable search bar directly on the desktop. The tool integrates Google Lens, enabling visual search capabilities such as translating text or identifying objects in images. For example, a student could highlight a math problem on their screen and use the AI Mode to find a solution.
Similar to macOS Spotlight, the application organizes results into categories including web results, AI-generated answers, images, shopping links, and videos. Users can toggle between dark and light mode for comfort. While Windows has long offered built-in search functionality, this new offering from Google provides a familiar, web-search oriented alternative, especially as Microsoft enhances its own ecosystem with features like Copilot for newer PC models.
Customization options allow individuals to enable or disable AI Mode and reassign the keyboard shortcut used to trigger the search bar. To modify these settings, users can click their profile picture and select Configurations.
The experimental app is presently available only in English and limited to users in the United States. It requires a device running Windows 10 or a more recent version. Interested users can join the trial by enabling the experiment within Google Search Labs.
(Source: The Verge)
