Google has released a new desktop app called Essentials that brings together Google services like Messages and Photos, and includes links to interact with other Google services. The app will ship with new Windows PCs from a variety of manufacturers, with HP laptops being the first to include it.
“Discover and install many of our best services,” Google said in a statement about the Essentials app. Currently, Essentials allows users to view images stored in the Photos app and send and receive messages through the Messages app. While the full list of services available has not yet been announced, images from the release suggest that Sheets, Drive, Nearby Share, and Google One will be included. As an added bonus, Essentials offers a free two-month trial of Google One for new subscribers.
Pre-installation and User Control
HP will soon begin pre-installing Google Essentials on all new computers released under various brands, including Envy, Pavilion, and Omen. Users will have the flexibility to remove individual components of Essentials or the entire application if they don’t need it. At present, it’s unclear whether users will be able to download Essentials themselves on their existing computers, notes NIX Solutions. We’ll keep you updated as more information becomes available.
One notable feature of Essentials is the inclusion of the Google Play Games application, which allows users to download popular Android games such as Clash of Clans to their computers. Google Play Games can be accessed not only through Essentials but also via the HP Omen Gaming Hub service.
As this new app rolls out to more PC manufacturers and potentially becomes available for individual download, it represents a significant step in Google’s efforts to integrate its services more deeply into the Windows ecosystem. The combination of productivity tools, communication apps, and gaming features in one package could appeal to a wide range of users. We’ll continue to monitor the development of Google Essentials and provide updates on its availability and features as they emerge.