Convince me to start using Google Now

[Kahroo]

Like the tittle says convince me on why I should start using Google Now. And why do you like it?

 

[Rxpert83]

I won't aim to convince you to use it, but only hope to enable you to understand why I do.

When I get up in the morning, the weather is displayed in my notification bar.

When its time to leave, Google now let's me know what time I need to leave my house in order to get to my bus stop on time. It even tells me how long the commute will take and what transfers I need to make.

When standing at the bus stop, it presents me with the schedule for that stop, letting me know what time buses will arrive and what future stops any one of those particular buses makes.

If there's any particular sporting team playing that I like, the current score is conveniently placed in my notification bar.

If I've ordered something online, it tracks the shipping for me.

If I have plane tickets booked, it let's me know if the flight is on time, cancelled, or delayed

That's just what I personally use it for, but Google Now is much more powerful than just that.

In the end, if you think you could benefit from it, give it a go. The choice is up to you. :thumbup:

 

[dontpanicbobby]

USE GOOGLE NOW OR WE'LL SHOOT THIS DOG!​

 

[codesplice]

I won't aim to convince you to use it, but only hope to enable you to understand why I do.

When I get up in the morning, the weather is displayed in my notification bar.

When its time to leave, Google now let's me know what time I need to leave my house in order to get to my bus stop on time. It even tells me how long the commute will take and what transfers I need to make.

When standing at the bus stop, it presents me with the schedule for that stop, letting me know what time buses will arrive and what future stops any one of those particular buses makes.

If there's any particular sporting team playing that I like, the current score is conveniently placed in my notification bar.

If I've ordered something online, it tracks the shipping for me.

If I have plane tickets booked, it let's me know if the flight is on time, cancelled, or delayed

That's just what I personally use it for, but Google Now is much more powerful than just that.

In the end, if you think you could benefit from it, give it a go. The choice is up to you. :thumbup:

I'm lazy, so I'll just add to Rxpert83's list:

- Google Now has learned what TV shows I like to watch (based on IMDB searches, I assume), and will now remind me (without prompting) when a new episode is about to air.

- Google Now lets me know when news stories I have read have been updated, and keeps me up to date with other stories I may be interested in (mostly about Android - shocking).

- Google Now alerts me if there is particularly heavy traffic on my usual commute routes, and it can now even suggest alternate routes to avoid the jams.

- Related: the Commute Sharing feature lets my wife and I know when the other has left work to head home - no more hasty "on my way" texts.

- The Voice Search function works just-about flawlessly, and responds to a lot of my queries with a handy Knowledge Graph display so that I don't even have to dig through the results.

- Related: Google Now can quickly tell me what song is playing on the radio or in a store.

- Also related: Google Now can listen to what is on my TV and tell me what show/movie it is.

 

[KENNECTED]

Like the tittle says convince me on why I should start using Google Now. And why do you like it?

Why should we have to convince you? Why don't you set up the system for your needs and try the service?

Your post may be "tongue and cheek" but the way you posted i'm not sure, hence my response.

 

[saptech]

I'm lazy, so I'll just add to Rxpert83's list:

- Google Now has learned what TV shows I like to watch (based on IMDB searches, I assume), and will now remind me (without prompting) when a new episode is about to air.

- Google Now lets me know when news stories I have read have been updated, and keeps me up to date with other stories I may be interested in (mostly about Android - shocking).

- Related: the Commute Sharing feature lets my wife and I know when the other has left work to head home - no more hasty "on my way" texts.

- The Voice Search function works just-about flawlessly, and responds to a lot of my queries with a handy Knowledge Graph display so that I don't even have to dig through the results.

- Related: Google Now can quickly tell me what song is playing on the radio or in a store.

- Also related: Google Now can listen to what is on my TV and tell me what show/movie it is.

How you get it to do those things? Some works for me like the commute to work & home, sports scores and reminders of appointments I added in Calendar.

 

[mikedt]

Sorry I can't convince you, I just get a message saying "Google Now is not available.". Is it US only, or only available in certain countries?

 

[codesplice]

Sorry I can't convince you, I just get a message saying "Google Now is not available.". Is it US only, or only available in certain countries?

I want to say it is based upon the language/locale that is configured on the device - but I could be wrong. A quick search couldn't find any solid information regarding Google Now availability either.

 

[codesplice]

How you get it to do those things? Some works for me like the commute to work & home, sports scores and reminders of appointments I added in Calendar.

For the most part, those things Just Work (TM). Often, searching for a topic/show/movie on Google is enough to get it to suggest a relevant card later on. Tapping the microphone button while music is playing will change the icon to a music note; tap again to get Google to identify the song. Sometimes a similar action will get it to listen to the TV as well, but I haven't determined what exact conditions will trigger that.

 

[electricpete]

U

How you get it to do those things? Some works for me like the commute to work & home, sports scores and reminders of appointments I added in Calendar.

1-At the bottom right of Google now is a magic wand. It will allow you to define some of your preferences of what you are interested in.

2-Also there is in android google settings app a checkbox to allow all Google apps to access your location.....this may help it deliver location-context based cards.

3-There is also in android Google settings app some ad settings...maybe uncheck the one that it's out if interest based ads (to opt in).

4-Also somewhere on my pc when viewing Google/chrome/gmail account I vaguely recall it asking if it could use my search history and read my email to give targeted ads. I think you need to give those permissions so it can read your Gmail and searches to figure out good (non-ad) stuff to send you.

Example of reading from gmail- I booked a flight and simply by reading the confirmation, it knew my flight details and on the day of the flight it gave me MORE info than was in the confirmation...specifically we have a big airport with many terminals with separate departing passenger dropoff (for terminal a, b, c) locations...It told me the terminal so I didn't have to rely on reading confusing signs while driving into airport.

Also of course use Google for searching (along with giving it permission)....that helps it learn.

Last ingredient is time. It learns over time so delivers more cards over time based on your specified preferences, gmail, searches. Although I have to admit from looking at the results it's sometimes still a little mysterious how it decides which particular cards to send me...

 

[electricpete]

http://www.androidauthority.com/how-to-setup-configure-and-use-google-now-98749/