10 Comments

Google is your friend: Download the Google Pack

February 17, 2007 by in Tech with 10 Comments

A friendly reminder for those who may not have known or have forgotten about the Google Pack, a free collection of of "essential" software.

The free software package provides users with the standard Google applications including Google Earth, Google Desktop, Picasa, Google Toolbar, and the Google Pack Screensaver. Additionally, Google also bundles Firefox, Ad-Aware, Adobe Reader 7, and Norton Anti-Virus 2005.

Probably a good idea for anyone who does a clean wipe on their machines wishing for a single download to get their machines up and running without searching the net for single downloads.

The software bundle is completely customizeable with optional software including Real Player, Skype, Google Video Player, and Google Talk. Customize and download your personal Google Pack here.

Although the bundle is tailored for Windows users, Google does offer a link to Mac related software found here. Pickings are slim though.


  • David

    Of course Google wants to be your friend. Google collects userdata through cookies and keeps it forever. By ‘giving’ you software for free, they are able to keep more data on you, even if you erase cookies. More info here: http://www.google-watch.org/bigbro.html

  • Chris

    This is a pretty obvious way to ask for adsense money.

  • Dan
  • http://acecombine.com dov

    Google’s getting know more about people, than secret services do.. :D

  • Paul

    Google pack has been out for years now so it is nothing new.

    As for logging personal data, why pick on google. Not defending them here but Yahoo offer a mail service and search. They also collect personal information. Not just what you search but if you open yahoo in a browser log in and then go off and surf other sites everything is recorded and sent back. More than google I would say. Yahoo I see is the cream of the crop when it comes to amassing personal details not google.

  • http://is.derekpunsalan.com Derek

    I’ve accepted Google into my daily work flow. If we all want to enjoy the convenience of a web based lifestyle, there are certain degrees of uncertainty that we must all accept. Google is no different than any other major company operating in the world. In order to deliver targeted service, some monitoring is required.

    Note that the Google Pack is not all Google sfotware. Ad-Aware and Skype are distributed in the pack as well. is there something to worry about using those types of applications?

  • David

    I also use Google on a daily basis. However, I am increasingly worried about my privacy, and what happens to data collected from my searches. I do not want to be labeled ‘potential terrorist’ because, as a writer, I researched information on guns, just as an example. The problem might not even be Google, but the fact that they collect data is worrisome simply because one day, someone COULD use this data. And yes, Yahoo, MSN and others, all collect personal data, so we really don’t have much of a choice, or do we?

  • Dan

    I see Derek lives in the good ol’ USA – “Just be a good citizen, roll over and play dead. We’ll bring you plenty of pretty little things to play with. Don’t worry if things break either, we’ll just charge you for new ones.” And one way or another, you will pay.

    Paul:
    I haven’t seen any data on Yahoo’s record collection, so that is why I have not picked on them. I also suppose Google’s CEO should be congratulated for daring to be honest about his compnays intentions, then damned for carrying them out.

  • David

    Dan: Yahoo collects about 10 terabytes of data a day, mindblowing eh? And Google is bigger than Yahoo, so that makes you wonder just how much data is being collected each and every day by the big 3.
    This is interesting btw: http://news.com.com/%20Bill+would+force+Web+sites+to+delete+personal+info/2100-1028_3-6036951.html

    and this:
    http://news.com.com/Feds+take+porn+fight+to+Google/2100-1030_3-6028701.html?tag=st.rn

    I think the last word about data collection hasn’t been said, it is an interesting discussion though…

  • Jon

    I thought dan was at odds with the 800lb Gorilla in the room.

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