January 6, 2006

Google Pack Offers 1-Stop Downloading Of Software

Information on Google Pack already went live briefly on Google earlier today, but now the software bundling and updating system has been formally announced. It pulls together popular Google software applications along with those from other providers. An overview of the package is below, and a longer version of this post for Search Engine Watch members goes into more depth from Google about how products were selected, whether others might come and some of the business reasons for doing the pack.

The genesis for the pack, said Google vice president of search products and user experience Marissa Mayer, was the frustration of Google cofounders Larry Page and Sergey Brin having to track down and register software for computers they were setting up a year ago.

"They spent all afternoon setting them up. Hundreds of clicks and license agreements later, they had it the way they wanted," Mayer said.

OK, skip past the idea that the duo should just be able to snap their fingers and have someone configure their computers for them. I can understand the frustration. I've had to bring up three computers from a "clean" state this year and have my own list of essential tools and software that I always have to put on. So the idea of a magical way for Google to do this for me? Nice!

Does it work? I haven't had a chance to actually test it yet, since I was briefed about the system earlier this week, before the software was live. However, I've got a newly repaired laptop that I'm going to give it a go on in a few days.

One downside is that you can't add software not already on the Google Pack list. I despise Norton AntiVirus after being a long-time user who tired of its bugginess. But that's the antivirus package of choice in what Google is offering.

Of course, you don't have to choose to install any particular component. Google's just giving you a menu, and ala carte is fine. Here's what's on the table:

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

Google says all of the programs were added because they are considered "best of class" and that no payments for inclusion were involved.

Two programs from Google are new. The Google Video Player is described more here. The Google Pack Screensaver lets you use existing photos on your computer as a screensaver, something Google says they've seen demand for.

One downside to the new Google Pack. It doesn't remember your preferences. If you set up a suite of software on your computer, then need to bring up an entirely new computer, there's no way to save a profile of the programs you like. Hopefully, something like that will come in the future.

Looking for the official word? See the Google press release here

Want to comment or discuss? Visit our SEW Forums thread, Google Pack Live.

Postscript from Gary: This is not the first time we've seen Google bundle their own software and make it available from other providers. Three examples come quickly to mind. First, a recent deal to include several pieces of software on Lexar Flash Drives. We've also posted about Google software being distributed with WinZip and InterVideo's DVD duplication software.

Postscript from Danny: Paul Thurrott has a nice recap of the downloading tool in action in this review.

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 7:00 PM | Permalink

Google Pack Information Live

Reader Paul Prijs sends me some additional Google Pack URLs that outline the service in all its glory. Here's the About page, describing the Google Updater that downloads software from the Google Pack to your desktop. Info on the original URL leaking is over here

Postscript: Please see full details at Google Pack Offers 1-Stop Downloading Of Software

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 1:03 PM | Permalink

Google Pack URL & Info Live

If you absolutely, positively can't wait for Google to formally announce the expected Google Pack, here's the URL. Dirson's the first I know to have spotted it, and it's popping up in other places. InsideGoogle references Dirson here, but the actual page itself at Dirson is down. Yeah, I know -- if pack.google.com is just redirecting to Google Accounts, perhaps that means it's no more real than calendar.google.com redirecting to Google.com. Rumors, rumors, right? Well, over at the New York Times, we've got unnamed Google executives being cited as confirming the Google Video plans while the official Google line is to say nothing. The story later gets into Google Pack. To be clear, the New York Times isn't saying just that unnamed sources are spilling the beans -- it's specifically saying that unnamed executives within Google are doing so.

Postscript: I should add that we're under embargo about the news that will come out today. Technically, our policy is that if a company briefing us itself breaks that embargo, we consider it off, as explained more here. And technically, Google execs themselves giving out details even unnamed pretty much should have us feeling that an embargo has been broken. But we'll stick with it. However, fair to say Google Pack is definitely coming giving that Google itself now has info available about it.

Postscript 2: Please see full details at Google Pack Offers 1-Stop Downloading Of Software and Google Video Store Opens

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 11:18 AM | Permalink

January 5, 2006

Google Pack Software Bundle & Pay Per View Video Coming From Google, To Be Announced At CES

Via Threadwatch, Google to Offer Video Downloads, Software That Rivals Microsoft's from the Wall Street Journal says that Google cofounder Larry Page will announce in his CES keynote this week that Google will offer pay-per-video downloads through Google Video and a new "Google Pack" bundle of software that people can download.

Per-per-view video or video for purchase is no surprise. Google's already said it would do this. It's simply been a matter of timing, so perhaps the time -- Page's first CES address -- is right. Rumblings supporting the Wall Street Journal's story are out there. Garrett Rogers has spotted per per view screens in the wild, along with perhaps a new video software program coming.

The Google Pack would bundle Google software along with other software such as Norton AntiVirus, RealPlayer and Trillian. Google's given no previous indication something like this would be coming. However, the company did recently do a bundling deal to put its applications on Lexar flash drives, the latest in a series of deals.

There's also an arrangement with Sun for distribution of the Google Toolbar, a bundling deal with WinZip to distribute the Google Toolbar and Google Desktop, a similar one with InterVideo and a long-standing one from 2004 to put the Google Toolbar with RealPlayer.

Interestingly, one of the bundled applications within the Google Pack will be the Adobe Reader. Adobe already has a partnership with Yahoo to include a cobranded Yahoo Search toolbar within copies of reader that Adobe hands out.

Postscript: Please see full details at Google Pack Offers 1-Stop Downloading Of Software and Google Video Store Opens

Posted by Danny Sullivan at 6:47 AM | Permalink