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Developers at Google have released the beta version of Google Desktop for Linux.

This was announced by a software engineer in his blog stating the commitment what Google has made for the Linux community. The first edition of this software was released in June this year.

The new tool allows users to search and launch applications on Linux platform and also enables to customize the hotkey used to launch the quick search box.

Apart from the regular search, the new tool also supports search of more image formats and will display better thumbnails in the search.

It also enables users to search files in Microsoft Office enabling easy access for both Linux and Windows users.

Continuig the series about some undispensible things that have crept into our world, this is the second part. In the first part we saw how Instant messaging is virtually ruling our lives. In this part lets have a look down at how webmail and Portable storage devices make sour life easy as well a "controbvversila" one at the same time.

2. Web mail
Of the respondents to the Yankee Group survey, 50% said they use consumer e-mail applications for business purposes. The problem with consumer e-mail services such as those from Google, Microsoft, AOL and Yahoo is that the users themselves don't realize how insecure their e-mail exchanges are because messages are transported over the Web and stored on the ISP's server as well as the e-mail provider's server. Without that awareness, many use no discretion about sending sensitive information such as Social Security numbers, passwords, confidential business data or trade secrets.

Microsoft Corp has launched a Web site that lets people store medical information online, moving into a consumer health care business targeted by Google Inc and other technology players.

Microsoft's HealthVault stores medical information for free in an encrypted database and provides the user with the option of what information goes into the record and who sees that information. It is being launched only in the United States.

The Web site also incorporates HealthVault Search, a specialized medical search engine to tap into the growing base of consumers who are increasingly turning to the Web to find health information.

Technology and health companies for years have promised to change the industry by cutting waste and linking providers, insurance companies and patients in technologically safe ways. But without widely agreed standards or even a broad move toward electronic records, most offices are still filled with paper, frequently frustrating patients.

Microsoft declared its health care intentions last year when it bought Azyxxi, a software system developed by a hospital to collect and display real-time patient data from a variety of sources. This year, it bought a start-up company that develops Web search technology for medical information.

Web search leader Google also has designs to be a player in health information products, but specific plans have been slow to materialize.

Speculation from Google watchers has centered on ideas ranging from a health information search service to a way for allowing Google users to create a personal medical record.

Microsoft said it plans to reach out to doctors, hospitals and health services companies to build Web applications to work with HealthVault. It's a strategy similar to how it encouraged other technology companies to build applications on top of its Windows operating system.