Google Pack

Google Pack was a collection of software tools offered by Google to download in a single archive.[1] It was announced at the 2006 Consumer Electronics Show, on January 6. Google Pack was only available for Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7.

Google Pack logo

In September 2011, Google announced it would discontinue a number of its products, including Google Pack.[2] Google Pack is no longer available for download.

Available applications before discontinued service

Users could choose which of the following software applications to install. If the application was already installed, Google Updater checked to see if the user had the latest version and upgraded it, if necessary.[3]

The software applications that were available to download depended on the language, locale, and operating system.

Google-branded

Mac Software

Third-party

In March 2007, Google added two new applications to the Google Pack: Spyware Doctor Starter Edition and Norton Security Scan.[4] These programs were free and did not require a subscription, unlike Norton AntiVirus. However, Norton Security Scan does not offer continuous protection against viruses. Norton Security Scan scans the computer and identifies if there are existing viruses, worms, spyware, unwanted adware or Trojans residing on it.[5] The program's functionality is similar to Microsoft's Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool.

Google has stated they have no monetary agreement with the makers of the above software and they offered the applications for the ease of Google's customers. They didn't receive any payment for providing the software pack,[6] although Miguel Helft in his New York Times blog reported that an unidentified source[7] stated that Google may pay Sun for each copy of StarOffice. StarOffice was no longer part of Google Pack since November 2008.

Google has included the VoIP application Skype in the pack, even though it is a competitor of Google's own Google Talk.[8]

Some industry observers claimed that the release was little more than a collection of software "that Google's wrapped a rubber band around".[9]

Former third-party before discontinued service
  • Ad-Aware
  • GalleryPlayer
  • Norton Antivirus Special Edition 2005, which included a 6-month subscription
  • Norton Security Scan
  • Trillian
  • Spyware Doctor Starter Edition

Google Updater

Google Pack came with Google Updater as a package management system to assist in downloading, installing, removing, and automatically updating the Pack's applications. Updater could be uninstalled without removing the applications.[10]

References
  1. "What is Google Pack? help page". Archived from the original on 2009-03-18. Retrieved 2010-02-08.
  2. Alan Eustace (September 2, 2011). "A fall spring-clean". Retrieved September 2, 2011.
  3. Google Pack Archived 2006-01-10 at the Wayback Machine
  4. Google Pack cures the PC Blues Archived 2009-12-30 at the Wayback Machine, March 27th, 2007
  5. "What is Norton Security Scan?". Archived from the original on 2010-05-10.
  6. "How do you decide which programs are offered through Google Pack?".
  7. Helft, Miguel (August 14, 2007). "Google goes after Microsoft again". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 14, 2011. Retrieved May 3, 2010. August 14, 2007
  8. MercuryNews.com Strong holiday sales bolster ebay earnings Archived 2007-01-27 at the Wayback Machine. January 25, 2007. (Article commenting on the inclusion of Skype in Google Pack)
  9. ZDNet.co.uk Google Pack fails to impress Archived 2007-01-26 at the Wayback Machine. January 9, 2006
  10. https://www.google.com/support/pack/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=28074. Retrieved June 13, 2009. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
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