Michal Ždanský When Google presented the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean operating system at its I/O conference last year, it also introduced the new Google Now service. It predicts information relevant to the situation with the help of the obtained data about the user, the same that Google uses to target advertising, and the location. Although some have considered Google Now to compete with Siri, the service works on a completely different principle. Instead of voice input, it processes data about your web browsing, received emails, calendar events, and more.
They have now received this service after earlier speculations and iOS users as part of the Google Search update. After installing and launching the app, you'll be greeted right from the start with a short tour of the new feature that explains how Google Now cards work. You activate the service by tapping or pulling out the protruding cards at the bottom of the screen. After a nice transition animation, you'll be greeted by an environment familiar to Android device owners, at least those with version 4.1 and above.
The composition of the cards will be different for each user based on the information that Google has about him (to use the service, you need to sign in with a Google account). The first card is the same for everyone - the weather forecast. Furthermore, on my first visit, the service offered me a restaurant near me, including a rating. The very useful Public Transport card showed the arrivals of individual lines from the nearest stop. However, information about public transport will probably only be available in a few supported Czech cities (Prague, Brno, Pardubice, ...)
[do action=”citation”]Not all cards work in our region.[/do]
Google Now also told me to come back later for more information. This is the whole charm of the service. The cards dynamically change based on your location, time of day and other factors, trying to offer you relevant information at the most convenient time. And if you are not interested in the given information, you can hide it by dragging the card to the side.
The number of card types is more limited compared to Android, while Google's operating system offers 29, the iOS version has 22, and in Europe there are even only 15. Specifically, weather, traffic (congestion, etc.), events from the calendar, flights that Google recognizes from your emails from airlines, travel (currency converter, translator and attractions abroad), public transport, restaurants and bars, sports information, public notices, movies (currently playing in nearby cinemas), current news, photo attractions and alerts for birthday.
However, not all cards work in our region, for example Czech teams are completely missing from the sports information, you probably won't see movies in the nearby cinemas either. Each of the cards can be set in detail, either in the preferences or directly on the individual cards by tapping the "i" icon.
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In order for the application to be able to offer the most relevant information regarding your location, it constantly maps your position, even after closing the application and exiting it in the multitasking bar. Although Google Search uses more battery-friendly triangulation instead of GPS, the constant tracking of your location will still be reflected on your phone, and the icon of active location tracking will still be lit in the top bar. Location can be turned off directly in the application, but Google will then have a problem with mapping your movement, according to which it determines where you go to work, where you are at home and what your routine trips are, so that it can inform you about traffic jams, for example.
The concept of Google Now is amazing in itself, although it causes considerable controversy when you consider what Google actually knows about you and will certainly not hesitate to use this information for more precise ad targeting. On the other hand, when the service starts working properly with its gradual use, you probably won't care, on the contrary, you will admire how the application can guess exactly what you need. The Google Search application, which also includes Google Now, is like other applications available in the App Store for free.
[app url=”https://itunes.apple.com/cz/app/google-search/id284815942?mt=8″]
what I don't like the most is that the app uses GPS even when it's turned off.. it eats up the battery badly.. does this happen to anyone else?
Yo, me too
Official Google Now bug. :-/ Hope he fixes it soon. I have banned them from the position for now. A bit of Stalk Now and forgot to turn it off.
I looked for an address on google maps, and I immediately had it on the card on my phone, solid, I like it :)
but now I found out, as it says in the post below me, that the GPS is running even though I turned it off...what the heck?
What would? That's what the Google brother, who you let into the iPhone because of unnecessary cards, reconciles you. As if it wasn't enough that you have to use google search and maps ;)
The GPS system really turned on the killer app. Did apple fall asleep during the approval process, or did they allow a private api? This is Google, it's definitely not a "bug".
absolutely useless app