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	What are coming in the Google Pack?

Article Google Pack is "a one-stop software package that helps you discover, install, and maintain a wide range of essential PC programs," intended for buyers of new PCs. It was announced at the 2006 Consumer Electronics Show, on January 6. Google Pack is currently only available for Windows XP and Vista. The release puzzled some industry observers as it wasn't clear what Google had hoped to achieve, with Google Pack appearing as a collection of unrelated software.

Available software

Users can choose which of the following programs to install. If the program is already installed, Google Updater checks to see if the user has the latest version and upgrades it, if necessary.

Language/locale differences

Programs available vary based on which language/locale selected and operating system (OS). The USA Windows XP version of Google Pack offers all of the current programs listed below.

Google-brand programs

Google Desktop
Picasa
Google Toolbar for Internet Explorer
Google Pack Screensaver - a screensaver that displays pictures from the user's computers.
Google Earth
Google Talk
Google Video Player (USA only)

Third-party programs

Mozilla Firefox with Google Toolbar
Spyware Doctor Special Edition
Norton Security Scan
Adobe Reader 7
RealPlayer
GalleryPlayer
Skype

On March 27, 2007, Google added two new programs to the Google Pack: Spyware Doctor Special Edition and Norton Security Scan. These programs are free and do not require subscription, unlike Norton AntiVirus.

Google says that they have no monetary agreement with the makers of the above software, and that they offer the programs for the ease of Google's customers, not for any financial reason(s). In fact, Skype is actually a product in competition with Google's own Google Talk.

Former third-party programs

Ad-Aware
Trillian
Norton Antivirus Special Edition 2005 - with 6-month subscription

Google Updater

Google Pack comes with Google Updater to assist in the downloading, installation, and updating of the programs. It is a mini "Add and Remove Programs" Manager, except that it only manages the programs that are a part of the Google Pack. If you uninstall the Google Updater all the programs part of the Pack will still be on your system and will not be modified. If you want to uninstall all the Pack programs either uninstall them from the Windows Add and Remove Programs or through the Google Updater Program.

Article Details

Article ID:

107

Created On:

22 May 2007 03:32 AM