Google has announced a new app called Google Essentials designed to make it easier to find and access Google-based services straight from the Windows Start menu. Google Essentials is also designed to make installing some of the popular Windows apps, including Google Photos and Google Messages, much easier. Google’s productivity tools aren’t left out either, with Google Drive and Google Calendar both being included.
For now, the app will come preinstalled on all consumer-based HP laptops, and as a nice bonus, 100GB of Google Cloud storage will be free for two months.
You can also access Google Photos and Google Messages from Google Essentials, making it easier to enjoy your photo albums and respond to texts from friends and family. For those times when you need to get tasks done, Google Essentials includes shortcuts to our popular productivity tools — like Google Docs, Drive, and Calendar. Plus, eligible Google One subscribers can get access to a 2-month trial of Google One 100GB for their cloud storage needs, on us.
Google wants to make it clear that consumers have full control over the experience and can remove any apps at any time. Google says they will soon announce the availability of Google Essentials to more laptops. Interestingly, the app isn’t made generally available to all Windows users regardless of the system. It’ll be interesting to see where Google goes with this one.
