Google App Sync breaks search in Outlook

Remember the Google App Sync tool that was meant to open a way for organizations looking to move away from Microsoft Exchange? While I did mention that it would not work in my instance, I do think that the tool was a brilliant and well-executed move--especially if Google's claim of its data efficiency was true.

Unfortunately, it has now emerged that Google App Sync happens to break Microsoft's Windows Desktop Search, along with a number of other plug-ins in Microsoft Outlook. Affected applications range from Adobe's Acrobat PDF Maker toolbar, Microsoft's Office Outlook Connector and also the Outlook change notifier.

While Google says it is working on an update to its Google App Sync software to address some of the above issues, the more pertinent issue here is related to how the software was actually designed to disable Windows Desktop Search and other third-party search tools in Outlook. According to Google, this had to be done so that these applications will not attempt to endlessly index the sync files created by Google App Sync.

So when can Google cease interfering with these other search applications? Well, when these rival software makers work with Google to ensure their applications don't touch the files created by Google App Sync. And what do you think are the chances of that happening?

For more on this story:
- check out this article at CNET News

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