While Google Docs has been ramping up recently, it seems the Google Pack has been cutting back. Sun’s $70 productivity suite StarOffice, which was added to the free Google Pack just over a year ago, is no longer available as part of the Google Pack download.
With no formal announcement from Google, StarOffice seems to have quietly disappeared into the night. Other products, such as Norton Security Scan, Adobe Reader, Skype, Spyware Doctor, Real Player and Google’s own products remain part of Google Pack.
While this is yet another blow to Sun Microsystems, which reported dismal sales last month, it is one more small step on Google’s part to remove the option of desktop applications and take consumers into the cloud.
As Google’s Dave Girouard declared at the Web 2.0 Summit last week:
“It’s Google’s mission to bring users “entirely into the cloud” and not just to create a “cloud-like” experience.”
Thanks: Digital Inspiration
