Google Pack fails to impress

Google’s bundle of disparate applications has been described by one analyst as a ‘ragtag package’

Google’s decision to launch a desktop software bundle has left many industry observers underwhelmed and confused about the company’s long-term strategy.

Google Pack beta, which was announced during the closing keynote at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on Friday, packages Google software with other desktop applications, such as Firefox and Adobe Reader.

The software bundle also includes Google Updater, a tool that downloads, installs and maintains all the software in Google Pack, alerting users when updates become available.

Google claimed in a statement that Google Pack lets users “painlessly install all the essential software they need” and that the applications included in the package are “considered best in their class”.

But David Bradshaw, a principal analyst at Ovum, said on Monday that he was unimpressed by the product.

“I’m a bit underwhelmed with Google Pack ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äù it seems like a ragtag package of software,” said Bradshaw. “I’m not sure what they’re trying to achieve with this.”

Full story: ZDNet UK