GooglePack
The Google Pack
The GooglePack is a software developed by Google to keep your computer with updated software for several areas, such as web browsers, antivirus, photo management, and Google earth, to mention a few.
Using the GooglePack, you will have a much better time in keeping your computer protected against viruses and spyware. The software automatically looks for updates for these important software categories, and applies the updates whenever necessary.
The GooglePack also comes with cool programs to make your life simpler: the Google Desktop offers search capabilities similar to Google Search for your desktop. Google Desktop looks into any file, finding the content of the file, and constructing a database of words that you may be looking for.
Other cool software includes Google Picasa (to keep your photos well organized), and even a screen saver, that can be used to show your pictures on the desktop, while adding nice effects.
Configuration of GooglePack
The Google pack can be easily configured. All data and information is available online. In the following steps you will see how it is easy to configure and use.
The features that we can easily notice are:
- Google pack will not reinstall a program that you already have in your machine;
- It will reinstall only programs that need update;
- You can maintain the pack up to date using the Google updater feature.
The Googlepack is divided into two categories: Google programs (Google earth, Google Picasa, Google desktop, and IE toolbar, plus the new Google screensaver), and third party programs (Firefox, Norton antivirus, Acrobat reader, and Ad-ware SE).
Google Programs
The main programs from Google included in the Google pack include:
Picasa: a photo management software that can be used to create albums for all pictures in your hard drive. Picasa displayes your photos organized by date or by topic, depending on how you classify the pictures. With Picasa, you can also make quick fixes to your photos, such as red eye reduction, and changing brightness.
Google Earth: a revolutionary mapping software that delievers geographical information that is easy to use. With Google Earth you can see maps, satellite images, and other geographical data. The program also has a mode where you can "fly" over an area. This is very useful when checking directions to a location.
Google Desktop: with Google desktop you can add search to your local machine. The program can also display gadgets on the desktop, such as a clock, stock information, and blog headlines.
Programs not from Google
The Google pack also includes software that is not written by Google. They are included as a convenience for PC users:
Norton antivirus: Google pack includes a free version of Norton antivirus. The goals is to keep your PC protected against viruses, for free.
StarOffice: if you don't have Microsoft Office installed, and don't want to spend hundreds of dollars in the full version, you should better get the free StarOffice. It does everything MS office does, but is free. And with the Google pack you can keep it updated automatically.
FireFox: another problem that PC users have is the inadequacy of the standard web browser bundled with Windows. Internet Explorer is an old browser, that doesn't offer the best safety and standards compliance. You can use the Google Pack to install FireFox automatically, and keep it up to date with new versions, thus avoid the danger of viruses and spy ware.
