Google Essentials app to be bundled on new HP Windows PCs, brings back the days of shovelware

In context: Remember the days of shareware and MS-DOS? Computer magazines and companies used to sell CD-ROMs filled with software programs of questionable quality. In a world of shovelware, quantity often trumped quality. The mobile market today seems to be heading in a similar direction.

Google is jumping on the shovelware bandwagon with its new Essentials app. Despite being a tech giant, Google is looking to make its internet services more accessible on PC systems, starting with the Google Play Games app that was launched a few years ago.

The first PCs to come preloaded with Google Essentials will be HP models, including popular brands like Spectre, Envy, Pavilion, and Omen. Users can easily access the Essentials app from the Start Menu when setting up a new PC, allowing for seamless transitions between phone and laptop computing.

Google Essentials aims to bridge the gap between mobile platforms and Play Games by syncing in-game progress and rewards for games like Clash of Clans and CookieRun. This feature is reminiscent of Apple’s Game Center, enabling users to start a game on their Android device and pick up where they left off on their PC.

In addition to gaming features, Google Essentials offers access to Google Photos and Google Messages, as well as shortcuts to productivity tools like Google Docs, Drive, and Calendar. Subscribers may also enjoy a two-month free trial of Google One, providing 100GB of cloud storage.

Google assures users that they have full control over Essentials. They can uninstall any Google service, be it a dedicated app or just a link, or remove the entire Essentials package at any time.

While Google has not specified a release date for Essentials on custom PCs, it is likely that a standalone app will be available in the future. The company plans to expand Essentials to more laptop and desktop brands in the coming months.

For those curious about the heyday of shovelware, the Internet Archive’s shareware CD collection offers a glimpse into the past.