Google Pack Launches

// January 6th, 2006 // Stuff

Google today announced Google Pack beta, a free collection of safe, useful software from Google and other companies that improves the user experience online and on the desktop. In just a few clicks, users can easily discover, install and maintain software to surf the web faster and safer, communicate better, and effectively manage information.

From the Google Press Release:
“We’ve heard from countless new computer owners that it can take days or weeks to install all the software they need to make their computer useful,” said Marissa Mayer, VP of search products and user experience at Google. “We developed Google Pack to give users a way to painlessly install all the essential software they need – pre-configured in a sensible way – in a matter of minutes. Better yet, users don’t have to keep track of software updates or new programs – we maintain and update all the software for them.”

Google Pack offers programs that meets Google’s high software standards and are considered best in their class, including:

  • Adobe Reader 7
  • Ad-Aware SE Personal
  • GalleryPlayer HD Images
  • Google Desktop
  • Google Earth
  • Google Pack Screensaver
  • Google Talk
  • Google Toolbar for Internet Explorer
  • Mozilla Firefox with Google Toolbar
  • Norton AntiVirus 2005 Special Edition
  • Picasa
  • RealPlayer
  • Trillian

Google Pack also includes Google Updater, a new tool that intelligently downloads, installs and maintains all the software in the Google Pack. Google Updater alerts users when updates and new programs become available and ensures each program is always up-to-date. Google Updater can also be used to monitor the status of installation, run software that’s been installed, or easily uninstall software.

That last bit is really the most interesting part. Is Google positioning itself as competition for Microsoft’s Live Update suite that recently entered beta? Having Google handle the responsibility of system updates definitely seems like a step towards dominating the desktop management arena. With integration of all of Google’s main applications users will find everything they need to truly handle every internet need while at the same time placing more faith and trust in Google.

Download Google Pack

6 Responses to “Google Pack Launches”

  1. Chris says:
    January 7, 2006 at 12:34 am

    Ironically I downloaded the pack to my system and while it did manage to find the old installs of a variety of the applications it doesn’t have all new versions in the installer. Google Earth needed updated immediately. Sort of odd for a brand new resource unveiled today. Oh well, still pretty handy.

  2. Chris says:
    January 7, 2006 at 12:34 am

    Ironically I downloaded the pack to my system and while it did manage to find the old installs of a variety of the applications it doesn’t have all new versions in the installer. Google Earth needed updated immediately. Sort of odd for a brand new resource unveiled today. Oh well, still pretty handy.

  3. Lex says:
    January 12, 2006 at 4:27 pm

    Realplayer meets their “high software standards”? Must not be all that high then…

  4. Chris says:
    January 12, 2006 at 5:16 pm

    The newer version isn’t nearly as bloatwareish as it used to be nor does it have that annoying habit of sucking system resources on startup (ooh alliteration).

    I really do like the fact that you can install things separately in google pack as opposed to the “take it all or shut up” philosophy some companies have.

  5. Lex says:
    January 12, 2006 at 4:27 pm

    Realplayer meets their “high software standards”? Must not be all that high then…

  6. Chris says:
    January 12, 2006 at 5:16 pm

    The newer version isn’t nearly as bloatwareish as it used to be nor does it have that annoying habit of sucking system resources on startup (ooh alliteration).

    I really do like the fact that you can install things separately in google pack as opposed to the “take it all or shut up” philosophy some companies have.