Locate32 – Lightning Fast Desktop Search Tool for your PC

Varun Kashyap — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 16:26:02 +0000

If you want to search and locate files on your computer fast, and by fast I mean lightning fast, you must try Locate32.

Locate32 is a desktop seach tool that lets you search for files and folders on your hard drive and other locations with lightning speed. It uses databases to store information about directory structures and then utilizes them when you search for something. If this rings a bell and makes you think about Windows Desktop Search or Google Desktop, then you are not far wrong except that Locate32 is a lot faster and lighter.

Locate32 is portable – you just extract the package (zip or exe) and you are ready to go. Since it uses a database to search the files, make sure that you create the first time database before you search for files. This may take a few minutes depending on your storage capacity.

Once the database is ready you can type in your queries and get instant results. Locate32 also offers you a variety of options while searching to streamline your search:

You can specify the name, wildcards, extension or directory to look in :

You can also specify the minimum or the maximum filesize criteria that the file must satisfy or you can specify the age of the file.

If you really require the advanced stuff, head on over to the advanced tab and you can specify whether you want to search the file names, folder names or both. The type of file i.e. archives, sound files, image files, source files, text files, documents, executables or the plain old search by extension.

Last but not least you can also search the text within the files for a particular word or phrase (which is a little time consuming).

Personally the results are so quick that I seldom specify any options. Just put in a substring that you remember to be in the file name, hit enter and boom the results are already there. If however you need a finely grained search than of course Locate32 provides you with all the options.

There are almost endless options for Locate32. I am going to leave it to you to check them out for yourself because there are simply so many of them. They range from search options to Windows menu integration to keyboard shortcuts to database update schedules.

Locate32 is one of those software apps that you must have on your computer. I highly recommend that you check it out and see if it fits your needs.

What software or features do you use for your searching needs? Would you make the switch to the very lightweight Locate32? Or have you been using the default Windows search or Google Desktop? Let us know in the comments.

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Google Gadgets To Download For The Fun Of It!

Lee Mathews — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 22:19:19 +0000

Google Desktop has so many excellent – and highly useful – features. It’s easily my favorite tool for indexing the massive amount of data I keep scattered around the various folders on my computer, and it’s a lot less painful than actually taking the time to sort everything myself.

It really is a tremendous productivity booster and deserves a place on any serious professional’s desktop – if not for the usefulness, then why not for some less-serious, completely fun gadgets!

The Voodoo Doll

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a nice guy. There’s not a mean bone in my entire body. But I do love this gadget, as it served me well during the 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs. I mean, a guy can only tolerate so many bad calls against his team before he needs to slap the referee’s picture on this pixelated pin-cushion and commence with the imaginary pokings.

As far as I know, any results from using the voodoo doll are purely coincidental…

aren’t they…?

Stress Level Gadget

You’ve got to love any gadget that tells you expressly in its “about” page that it “is just for fun and can decrease the performance of your computer system.” I’m a huge fan of honesty, so I had to give this thing a try. What it does is monitor the level of activity on your computer and display your oh-so-scientifically calculated stress level. Since my own stress indicators are wildly out of whack from years in the IT business, it’s nice to have an applet that can help me out.

I do wish this one could be resized, as it’s a little bit on the small side.

Tetris

Come on now, what computer is complete without a way to play Tetris on it somewhere?

Purists will love the fact that there’s no block preview for the cheaters out there. It’s quite well done, includes catchy music, and is smart enough to pause your game when the Google sidebar loses focus.

That’s kind of ironic, when you think about it …

After all, when I lose focus, I pause what I’m doing and head over to my Tetris gadget. Isn’t it odd how things work out like that?

Desktop Yoga

A status bar at the bottom counts down 30 minutes and reminds you at the end to take a moment to stretch, breathe, and relax. It may sound like a (or be, to some of you) goofy idea, but I’m actually starting to really welcome it. It’s a great way to make sure that my stress level gadget won’t reach critical levels.

I was looking for something to complement this one, like a Mindfulness Bell or random sayings from the Tao Te Ching, but sadly found nothing. If you’ve seen one, please tell me in the comments!

The Quest for Truthiness

In the beginning, Colbert crept into the spotlight on The Daily Show. Gradually his popularity rose, until he ended up landing his own show with Comedy Central. Then he brought us Wikiality, and now he’s all over our desktop. I knew this would have to stay on my desktop when the first quote that came up was “Guests of the Colbert Report stay at the luxurious…crashing with a friend.”

The gadget automatically queries Wikipedia every four hours to integrate new bits of Truthiness to display in your sidebar – just to make sure you’re not missing out on any wildly funny Colbert quotes from the night before.

Cat Clock

If you use a sidebar at all, chances are good that you have a clock on it somewhere. Maybe you’re digital, maybe analog. Me, I’m a cat person. I can’t even remember how many of my grandparents’ friends’ homes I went into and noticed this guy lurking over a doorway. It brings back memories, and it makes me chuckle every now and then when I glance at my monitor. By far the most fun clock I’ve seen!

In case you’re wondering, yes, it is animated.

What would a cat clock gadget be without the wagging tail and eyes that peer back and forth hoping your mouse is the kind it can eat?

PuppetMuppet Noodle Timer

What computing session would be complete without a quick break for some hot, tasty ramen noodles? But how best to multi-task your cooking and computing? With the Noodle Timer, of course!

Simply click the left arrow to increase the number of minutes (or right arrow to decrease) and then press the start button to begin your countdown. The noodle cup on his head even rocks back and forth in time. Like the cat clock, it’s another thing that’s sure to bring a smile to your face when you see it sitting on your sidebar.

Answer Ball

There are times in the day where I’m confronted with a situation and I just don’t know how to handle it. Thank the heavens for my Magic 8-Ball!

This is another one that takes me back to my youth (read: makes me feel like an antique). How many of you had one of those crack and the goo leaks out all over the place? Well, you don’t have to worry about the mess any more – just quick answers to all of life’s greatest questions.

Hopefully you’ll get some enjoyment out of these – I know I do! I’m sure there are plenty of other great, not-so-practical gadgets available for Google Desktop, so I’m putting out an open call: what are your favorite just-for-fun gadgets? Comment and share the joy!

(By) Lee Mathews is a technician and blogger who writes to share his insights (however skewed) with other slightly frustrated computer users at Unsightful.Com.