I was beginning to wonder what was up with Google since the MSN desktop search was really doing a better job indexing my Outlook mail at work, but then Google Desktop releases a new version and life is back to normal.
I really like what’s been done with the Outlook plugin — you can search from within Outlook now ala MSN — and the results are easier to deal with from within Outlook as well. The Sidebar is also a cool addition and something I am enjoying since installing it today. You can get a quick scan at the basic Portal-type info which is nice. It’s not dependent on the browser so before you tell me this has existed in browser sidebars… there.
Last, Google Labs has released a really nice personalized home page, which is actually a portal.