Applications in Google Pack

There are thirteen applications in Google Pack at the moment and here’s a bit about them all, in alphabetic order.

Adobe Reader

There comes a time for every new PC where someone wants to look at a PDF file and that’s when Adobe Reader becomes an essential download. Then it just sits on a PC and is used every time you view a PDF file. It’s one of those programs we all take for granted. Google Pack includes this mainstay of computing.

Google Chrome

 

Google Chrome is an advanced browser from Google for free download. The layout of Chrome is very simple. At the top there’s just a Web address bar and a bookmarks bar, plus a separate box for the recent-bookmarks. Another thing I really like about Google Chrome is that it shows the last 9 visited websites in thumbnail form as a way to quick launch them. Check out our full review of Google Chrome beta here.

Google Desktop Search

 

Google Desktop Search allows you to search for the location of a file that you know is somewhere on your PC but you’ve just forgotten where it is. It requires Windows XP or Windows 2000 with at least Service Pack 3 (Vista users are stuck with their pesky index search instead). Google Desktop Search will set up itself as a system tray icon and run a memory-resident application so as to catalog new documents as they are created. Desktop Search can search for MS Word, MS PowerPoint documents, email, text, HTML files and recently opened web pages. The why and how escapes me but it uses Google’s know-how when it comes to searching for something, so it can prove useful if the standard search using Windows Explorer fails you.

Google Earth

 

If you haven’t checked out Google Earth yet then come out from under your rock and then go view your rock on your PC! The detail at close zoom is pretty outstanding. It is one of the most fascinating applications, letting you observe the actual earth via aerial and satellite images from a variety of perspectives and heights, with overlays of roads, terrains, buildings and borders. Google Earth can be used to create maps, find directions for driving and locate someone or your own house (or rock) through the satellite images. Google Earth also comes with Google Sky which allows you to view constellations, planets, stars and far away galaxies.

Google Photos Screensavers

This is like an advanced version of the My Pictures Slideshow in Windows. Its display photos either from your PC or from a photo sharing website. When the screensaver starts a cinematic slideshow will run, displaying your photo collection. There are animated transitions between individual photos with a collage effect, a wipe or a cross-fade. This app is available only with Google Pack.

Google Talk

 

People I have found tend to either use Skype or Google Talk. They both have very similar features. Google Talk is great for chatting, whether it’s text, voice or video chat. It provides instant messaging and VoIP support and allows you to call or send instant messages to your friends for free.  You can login with your Gmail account or any Google account. In addition to IM and PC to PC voice calls it also offers sending and receiving voice mails and unlimited file transfers. The Gmail notifications are also a worthwhile feature; it updates you briefly with all your Gmail, without actually opening your Gmail account.

Google Toolbar for Internet Explorer

You either love it or hate it, Google toolbar comes with loads of features such as a faster search from any webpage, auto fill forms list and info about the Google page rank of any webpage. It also helps in blocking irritating pop-ups.

Mozilla Firefox with Google Toolbar

When Google pack was first released, Google’s own browser, Chrome, was still on the drawing board so Firefox was an integral part of Google Pack. Now they’re both in it so let’s see for how many days Firefox and Chrome both will be a part of Google Pack. Firefox makes web browsing a lot safer and quicker than IE. We highly recommend it here at tkArena. Check out our guide to it.