Google Desktop has been released back in 2004, when Windows didn't include a powerful desktop search engine. Since then, Google added support for gadgets and launched versions for Mac and Linux. Now that Windows Vista and Windows 7 include many of the features available in Google Desktop, Google's software is no longer important.
Here are some signs which show that the software will soon be discontinued:
1. One of the built-in gadgets is a small Twitter app that has been last updated in September 2009. Unfortunately for Google, Twitter changed the authentication API and the gadget can no longer be used.
2. Google Desktop's last significant update was in July 2009.
3. The most recent post from Google Desktop's blog is from July 2009.
4. Google Desktop removed two important features in January: search across computers and shared gadgets. "As of January 20th, 2010, the Search Across Computers and Shared Gadget settings feature will no longer be available. These specific requests to Google Desktop servers will no longer establish a connection."
5. The integration with Google search doesn't work if you enable Google Instant.
6. Google Desktop for Mac is no longer available and it's been replaced by Quick Search Box.
7. Google Desktop gadgets no longer work in iGoogle.
8. Google Desktop doesn't index web history in Google Chrome and Firefox 3.6.
9. Google focuses on migrating your data online, so a desktop search tool won't be very useful.
10. The software is slow, buggy and difficult to maintain.
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