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Google Pack

{{Short description|Google software}}

File:Google Pack Logo.png

Google Pack was a collection of software tools offered by Google to download in a single archive.{{Cite web |url=https://www.google.com/support/pack/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=28062 |title=What is Google Pack? help page |access-date=2010-02-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090318024809/http://www.google.com/support/pack/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=28062 |archive-date=2009-03-18 |url-status=live }} 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.

In September 2011, Google announced it would discontinue a number of its products, including Google Pack.{{cite web |url=http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/fall-spring-clean.html |title=A fall spring-clean |author=Alan Eustace |date=September 2, 2011 |accessdate=September 2, 2011}} 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.[http://pack.google.com/ Google Pack] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060110050124/http://pack.google.com/ |date=2006-01-10 }}

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.[http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2007/03/google-pack-cures-pc-blues.html Google Pack cures the PC Blues] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091230184449/http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2007/03/google-pack-cures-pc-blues.html |date=2009-12-30 }}, March 27th, 2007 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.{{cite web|title=What is Norton Security Scan? |url=http://service1.symantec.com/Support/sharedtech.nsf/docid/2007031405260913?Open&docid=20070316120920934&nsf=SUPPORT%5CINTER%5Csharedtechintl.nsf&view=8afb95bde732827a852567350055c8fd |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100510200622/http://service1.symantec.com/Support/sharedtech.nsf/docid/2007031405260913?Open&docid=20070316120920934&nsf=SUPPORT%5CINTER%5Csharedtechintl.nsf&view=8afb95bde732827a852567350055c8fd |archivedate=2010-05-10 }}

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,{{cite web | title = How do you decide which programs are offered through Google Pack? | url=https://www.google.com/support/pack/bin/answer.py?answer=28078&query=free&topic=0&type=f.}} although Miguel Helft in his New York Times blog reported that an unidentified source{{cite news | title=Google goes after Microsoft again | url=http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/08/14/google-goes-after-microsoft-again/ | work=The New York Times | first=Miguel | last=Helft | date=August 14, 2007 | accessdate=May 3, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110814174314/http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/08/14/google-goes-after-microsoft-again/ | archive-date=August 14, 2011 | url-status=live | df=mdy-all }} August 14, 2007 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.MercuryNews.com [http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/16543323.htm Strong holiday sales bolster ebay earnings] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070127104611/http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/16543323.htm |date=2007-01-27 }}. January 25, 2007. (Article commenting on the inclusion of Skype in Google Pack)

Some industry observers claimed that the release was little more than a collection of software "that Google's wrapped a rubber band around".ZDNet.co.uk [http://news.zdnet.co.uk/software/0,1000000121,39246247,00.htm Google Pack fails to impress] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070126050339/http://news.zdnet.co.uk/software/0%2C1000000121%2C39246247%2C00.htm |date=2007-01-26 }}. January 9, 2006

= 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/support/pack/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=28074 |accessdate=June 13, 2009 }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic|fix-attempted=yes}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Google LLC}}

Pack

Category:Beta software