.........Good article from Google ................
Google Unwraps the Google Pack
Free Software Package Offers Users One Stop to Discover, Install and
Maintain a Wide Range of Essential PC Programs
CES, LAS VEGAS, Nev., January 6, 2005 - Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG)
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.
"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.
Users can easily select which programs they want to install. For
programs already installed on a computer, Google Updater checks whether
the latest version is running. If not, Google Updater will install the
latest version.
Every program included in the Google Pack is free, has earned a
reputation for excellence, and was evaluated to ensure it meets
Google's Software Principles. Google respects users' rights to
control their own computers and does not include software that is
spyware, generates pop-ups, or that is difficult to uninstall.
Additional information on Google's Software Principles is available
at http://www.google.com/intl/en/corporate/software_principles.html.
Google Pack beta is available in English, runs on Windows XP, and
supports Firefox 1.0 and higher and Internet Explorer 6.0 and higher.
More info on Google Pack is available at http://pack.google.com.
About Google Inc.
Google's innovative search technologies connect millions of people
around the world with information every day. Founded in 1998 by
Stanford Ph.D. students Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google today is a
top web property in all major global markets. Google's targeted
advertising program provides businesses of all sizes with measurable
results, while enhancing the overall web experience for users. Google
is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices throughout the
Americas, Europe, and Asia. For more information, visit www.google.com.
###
Google is a registered trademark of Google Inc. All other company and
product names may be
trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.
Additional Information from Google Pack Partners
Adobe Systems Incorporated
Free Adobe Reader 7.0 software enables users to view, print, search,
and interact with Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) files. "Google
Pack is a convenient, easy way for consumers to be sure they have the
latest versions of important, free software applications," said Kurt
Garbe, vice president, Platform Business Unit, Adobe Systems
Incorporated. "By including the ubiquitous Adobe Reader in Google
Pack, Google is helping ensure consumers will be able to reliably view,
print and interact with Adobe PDF files, the de facto standard for
electronic documents exchanged on the Web and over email."
Cerulean Studios
Trillian is an award-winning communications software client, with
support for interoperable IM, voice and video. "We're very excited
for Trillian to be included in Google Pack, as we at Cerulean Studios
have always been very focused on giving end-users the highest quality
experience possible," said Scott Werndorfer, Co-founder, Cerulean
Studios. "We believe this goal aligns Trillian perfectly with Google
Pack."
GalleryPlayer Media Networks
GalleryPlayer Media Networks programs the world's finest HD art and
photography to high resolution displays for the residential and
commercial markets through a variety of distribution platforms
including Cable and Satellite, Internet and Private Networks.
"Today's Digital Consumer wants easily accessible tools, services,
upgrades and downloads at their fingertips," said Rusty Citron,
GalleryPlayer Media Networks vice president of marketing. Google Pack
defines the essence of this new model, and as the line between online
media and software continues to blur, it is products like GalleryPlayer
that will drive traffic and brand loyalty."
Lavasoft AB
Ad-Aware SE Personal is an antispyware program from the industry
pioneer Lavasoft AB, offering solid protection against online
trespassers prying on Internet activities, enabling users to maintain a
high degree of privacy while surfing the Web. "Lavasoft is excited to
team with Google to include its award-winning and industry-leading
antispyware solution in Google Pack," said Merja Turpeinen, Marketing
& PR Coordinator at Lavasoft AB. "We are pleased to help Google
deliver a privacy protection package to their users."
Mozilla
Firefox is the safer, easy-to-use, and innovative Web browser from
Mozilla. "We are excited that Firefox will be included in the Google
Pack," said Christopher Beard, Vice President of Products at Mozilla.
"Enabling easier access to Firefox through the Google Pack means many
more people will get to enjoy a better Web experience."
RealNetworks
RealPlayer offers an easy-to-use product for consumers to access and
manage all their digital media from one convenient place. "For nearly
two years, RealNetworks and Google have been working together on new
ways to give consumers easy access to our products and services," said
Jeff Chasen, vice president of RealNetworks' RealPlayer division.
"We're excited that RealPlayer, already an integral part of
consumers' web experience, will now be available as part of the
Google Pack of essential software."
Symantec
Norton AntiVirus 2005 Special Edition provides home users who are using
the Internet, exchanging emails, Instant Messages and downloading
content with essential and continually updated protection against
viruses and other common Internet threats. Google Pack users will
receive an introductory 6-month subscription to Symantec's virus
protection updates and, once the subscription expires, will have the
option to purchase a 12-month subscription renewal. "Symantec
estimates that 30-40% of all connected consumer systems are not
adequately protected," said Enrique Salem, senior vice president,
security products and solutions, Symantec Corp. "We are pleased to
work with Google to provide a Special Edition version of our
market-leading Norton AntiVirus to help Google users surf the Internet,
use email and exchange instant messages free from worry about Internet
viruses and other threats."
........ Can I now say we love you Google ..........
