Google is testing software that lets users search the Google search engine directly from their Desktop, bypassing browsers.

The downloadable software for users of Microsoft’s Windows operating system puts a Google search box in the desktop taskbar.

Using the free tool, people can search for information on the Web while in a Word document or e-mail application. But instead of launching a browser, the Deskbar will display results in a small window in the lower right of the screen.

Lycos Inc. filed suit against paid search publisher Overture, now owned by Yahoo, and has stopped using Overture’s text advertisements on its Web-search pages. Lycos is now using paid listings from Google AdWords.

In a complaint filed in Massachusetts federal court on Oct. 17, Lycos, the Web portal unit of Spain’s Terra Lycos, said Overture breached a services agreement requiring Overture to gain Lycos’ consent if control of their relationship were to be turned over to a Lycos competitor.

Ask Jeeves Adds Smart Shopping Search Ask Jeeves, Inc. today announced the addition of Smart Search(SM) for Products to Ask.com, the latest in a series of “smart” searching tools designed to make it easier and more intuitive to find information online. Just in time for the holiday shopping season, Smart Search for Products supports a [...]

Ensight’s Jeremy Wright takes the diabolical angle on Google’s IPO Rumors in his piece, Google IPO is Evil. Here’s a clip.

Microsft’s failed attempt to buy Google is another sign of the growing popularity of the privately-owned king of search engines.