Google's new desktop app, Essentials, is a new addition to Windows laptops. This application is designed to bring a selection of Google's popular services directly to your device, starting with HP laptops. Google is gradually rolling out this feature, ensuring that its suite of apps is more accessible on Windows.
What is the Essentials app?
The Essentials app is Google's latest offering for Windows users, aiming to make your experience with Google services even more seamless. This app bundles several Google services together, allowing you to explore and install them easily. According to Google, Essentials lets you “discover and install many of our best Google services,” which include direct access to Google Photos for managing your photo library and Google Messages for sending and receiving texts directly from your laptop.
While Google hasn't provided a complete list of apps available through Essentials, the announcement did highlight a few key services. These include Google Sheets for spreadsheets, Google Drive for cloud storage, Nearby Share for file sharing, and Google One, which offers a two-month free trial for new subscribers. This app is a convenient way to bring your favourite Google tools onto your Windows laptop without the hassle of individual downloads.
HP leads the charge
HP will be the first manufacturer to include the Google Essentials app on its range of laptops. Whether you purchase an HP Envy, Pavilion, Omen, or another HP model, you can expect Essentials to be pre-installed and ready to go. However, Google is keen to stress that you're “in control of your experience.” If you don't want some or all of the Google services included, you can uninstall individual apps or remove the Essentials package entirely.
One of the exciting features bundled with Essentials is the Google Play Games app. This addition lets you download and play popular Android games on your Windows laptop, such as Clash of Clans. Your gaming progress is synced across devices, so you can pick up where you left off on your Android phone or tablet. The Google Play Games app can be accessed through Essentials or the HP Omen Gaming Hub app, giving you flexibility in how you engage with mobile games on your laptop.
Future availability on other Windows PCs
While HP is the first to offer this new app, Google plans to expand the availability of Essentials to other Windows PC brands. If you're already a fan of Google's ecosystem, this could be an appealing way to bring those services closer to your daily workflow on a Windows device. However, it remains unclear whether existing Windows PCs can download the Essentials app or if it will be exclusive to new devices.
Google's move to bundle its apps with Windows laptops is a clear step towards making its services more integrated into the Windows environment. For those who rely on Google's apps for work, communication, or entertainment, this could be a convenient way to enhance your laptop experience.
