Google Expands File Type Search. “In addition to PDF documents, Google now searches
Microsoft Office, PostScript, Corel WordPerfect, Lotus 1-2-3, and
others. … Google also offers the user the ability to “View as HTML”, allowing
users to examine the contents of these file formats even if the
corresponding application is not installed. The “View as HTML” option
also allows users to avoid viruses which are sometimes carried in
certain file formats.” I have mixed feeling about this. One of the tenets of web usability is that information should be accessible to everyone. This used to mean that we could vehemently complain about stupid companies that “locked away” valuable information in Word documents. Now those companies have even less incentive to mend their ways. The upside, of course, is that the information really is accessible now. Maybe I'm just being old-fashioned. [diveintomark]