NEW HOT BOT DESKTOP SEARCH TOOLBAR

HotBot is now offering a new browser plug-in that not only searches the web, but also indexes the files and email on your computer, making them searchable as well. Such files include Microsoft office documents, Outlook or Outlook Express email (including attachments), and Internet Explorer favorites and history.

The look and feel of HotBot's Desktop Search is similar to Lycos Sidesearch. To run a search, simply enter your search term(s) and click the "search the web" button. The results will display in a pane that opens to the left of your browser, with no changes to the page you're viewing.

"Users love the ability to keep the results with them as they navigate," said Lincoln Jackson, senior director of search products for Terra Lycos. "Increasingly as screen resolutions go up, this is going to be the way that users want to navigate results."

Users have control over the indexing process, such as the time indexing should occur and the types of files to be indexed, via a tab on the settings panel. The drop-down menu, which defaults to a web search, gives users the option to select email, files, the web, the current site or page that you're viewing, browser history or selected RSS feeds.

In addition, Hotbot Desktop also features a popup blocker and the ability to set up custom sites that become searchable from the toolbar.

"Making people learn a new piece of software is a flawed strategy," said Tom Wilde, general manager of search services for Lycos. "The browser is where people want to live, and this new tool is designed to take advantage of the form factor of the browser with the split screen."