Google enhanced its desktop PC and Web search application by adding to it a panel that provides information from a variety of sources. Google Desktop 2.0, in beta, includes a feature called Sidebar that gives users access to e-mail, news, weather, photos, stocks and syndicated Web site feeds, IDG News Service reported.“With Google Desktop 2.0, we want to help users sit back and watch the Web come to them,” said Nikhil Bhatla, Google Desktop product manager, in an interview.Until now, Google Desktop has been a browser-based application, but Sidebar doesn’t need a browser to run, he said. Whenever necessary, browser windows will be launched from Sidebar to, for example, go to a Web site, or to access Google Desktop features not included in Sidebar, he said. Sidebar runs on top of Google Desktop, so through Sidebar users can access any files and information that Google Desktop can index and retrieve, he said. Gary Price, in searchenginewatch.com, rated the new features highly. “For Google Desktop Search fans, it’s Christmas (or choose other holiday) in August! This is some cool stuff, especially now that Google now has quietly released its own RSS aggregator,” he wrote. “And if you’re a GDS fanatic and want to let others know about your fanaticism, the GoogleStore began selling a Google Desktop Search Baseball Jersey last week.” Technology Industry