Google Introduces Google Now

Google has introduced a killer new platform for Android, and they're dubbing it Google Now. You can think of it as Siri with smart reminders, prediction and automatic information lookup.

First, the voice functionality. Like Siri, you can ask Now where good nearby restaurants are. You can ask for directions or set a reminder. But in addition to that, you can ask it how tall the Eiffel tower is, and it will return an answer. Or on what day Neil Patrick Harris was born, or when the next solar eclipse is due. Now takes advantage of Google's Knowledge Graph to chart information and return results. And the information is spoken in a voice synth that is remarkably human, much better than Siri's stutter.

Google Now also prompts you with "cards" of relevant information, basically small notifications (taking advantage of the improved notification system)with information Google thinks relates to you. Happen to follow the Giants? Google Now can tell you the scores automatically when they come in.

Leaving for work? Google will automatically adjust your alarm to wake you up early if there is traffic, and provide you with an alternate route to get around it, if possible. It will tell you the next train to arrive at a train station, it will learn where you like to eat and predict which restaurants you will enjoy, and much, much more. Basically it strives to be a personal assistant for you without you having to hire a real one. And it looks like it does a decent job.

Needless to say, I can't wait to get my hands on this. This is a big win for Google. Not only is it more powerful than Siri, it is a more interesting concept, one which seems like it has been in the works for a long time.

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